Journey

The Wake-Up Call

Back to present date now that you have been caught up, it is June 26th, also known as summer. The Robinson's no longer need me to babysit their 6 and 8 year old as they continuously go on family trips in the summer. I still dogsit, but mostly on the weekends so I get an excuse to have the dogs overnight with Jackie. Jackie sometimes gets lonely because we are always busy. My boss at Jane's, Natalina, let me take today as my holiday. My plans are, reminding y'all that I have yet to get out of bed at 5:30 AM, which is late for me, is to read, sleep, and pack for all of us, which includes Jackie. Lucky for me Esme is a clean freak and makes sure we each always do our part and do not slack off. It feels like even in death we would be assigned chores.

It is the sound of silence up until, I think: Nope, not doing it. I am so done with being the sick person. I DO NOT WANT TO CLEAN UP VOMIT ON MY ONE DAY OFF. The responsibilities never end. Maybe if I fall asleep the non-hurling one will not alert me of this. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...

Someone then knocks on my door. I know all of that hope is over with, they say it is practice for the future of being a doctor. I think they are semi-lazy and full of it.

"Come in." I said.

Cam opens my door and says, "Good morning, it is nice to see that someone can read through this." The she sits in a furry, comfortable, chair diagonal from the bed near the dresser/bureau area.

I process that this is Cam, and then reply, "Well hello to you to. I can only read through it because I just got to a really good part. I know what you are here for this early. So I am at least bargaining a little. Here is the proposition, you take on making breakfast and the early straightening up the house, and I will clean the vomit and treat Es."

Cam smiles and says, "Sure thing. This is the easiest deal I have ever had to make."

Cam then stands tall from the seat, goes over to shake my hand and after exits. Minutes later you can hear faint 80s music streaming in from the kitchen, Cam's voice humming Kiss, by Prince, and the sound of pots and pans and chopping. I just hope she does not get side tracked and burn the whole flat and/or food down.

I then set my book down on my side table and shut off my faint blue reading lamp. I find myself dizzy as I am always in the morning and taking a left towards the kitchen and living room. After several paces, I turn left into the kitchen and set up an in-bed tray. While in the kitchen I also pour some ginger ale into a cup, make some toast and broth, then plate it. I put it on all on the tray. I grabbed a cloth and ran cool water over it, rang it out and set it on the tray. I finally stepped into the living room grabbed some DVD's that were her favorites (mostly the marvel movies and some musicals. (A.K.A. Phantom of the Opera and do I even need to go on). With the movies in one hand and the tray in the other I walked towards her room, to find her half in the hallway and the bathroom located diagonally from her room. Continuing to her room I set the tray on her side table, and popped a movie into the DVD player. From there I got it all set up, and headed to the bathroom.

Suddenly, she stops her puking. When I approach her, she is burning up and kneeling in the doorway of the bathroom. I assist her to a standing position and escort her to her room. Once inside I give her clothes to change into, and while she changes I clean up her mess.

After I have finished, I knock on her door to find her just hopping in the bed. From my first glance she looks pale, but it looks to be no more than a cold; however, if it spans longer than two days I am taking her to her primary care physician. I walk over to her and put the cloth on her head, reach for the home phone and alert her boss, Carolina, she will be out for at least two days on her sick leave she never uses. We are not often the hooky type. When I get off the phone I press play and bring the tray over to her.

I say to her, " Hey, if you need anything let me know. You do not have to thank me I already know I am awesome. Rest up, text me if you need me. I will try to tire Jackie so she'll rest with you and keep both girls out of your hair."

You can barely see the faint smile on her face before she starts to cough. Well, that was short lived. I make my way out of the room when she practically yells in her hoarse voice, "WAIT!"

I halt and turned to face her to simply state, "And how may I help you?"

Esme speaks, " Ooh ha ha, I need you to go to a meeting for me. Remember I told you I was privileged with covering a huge case at work. I was supposed to be interviewing a rich know-it all today. Trust me, I would totally ask Cam to do it if she did not need the kiss-up points at her internship. I owe you. Muchas gracias señorita."

I (sarcastically) answer, " Ooh gee, thanks. What every girl wants to hear, I am just going to pretend to be deaf you and sign the whole time. (I see the look on her face.) Just kidding, I will try to the best of my ability to woo him. Especially since he is a millionaire, also known as he is paying for my student loans, bills and personal library. Text me the details. Bye."

I walk to the medium-size granite kitchen to find Cam and Jackie arriving. When they enter the house I have Jackie's food ready, and our food ready on the island in the kitchen. She takes Jackie off leash and I start training her.

"Jackie," I say firmly, " sit and wait (she complies).... Break!"

At that moment Jackie scurries toward the food, and I sit down with Cam and eat. She actually made delightful pancakes, bacon, eggs and cookies for later. Ugh, I feel like such a proud teacher they are catching on after the eleven plus year friendship.

I start the conversation with, "I do not know which I cannot believe more, that is already 8:15 AM, or that you accomplished all of this wonderfulness in such a short amount of time."

Cam replies, " Don't get to excited the cookies are from work. (Great, leftovers!) "

I blurt out, "Well that makes sense. I mean.... In the time allotted you did exceedingly well. I totally see how we made it into the advanced classes." (Saved it!!)

Phone buzzes.

I narrate, "It is Esme with the deats..."

Cam interrupts, "Yeah she texted me about it when I asked how she was, (She reenacts a scene) I'm like totes jealous."

I continue, " I see the 15,000 questions she was delayed by typing, and then finally the important information. Interviewee is a multi-millionaire, name is Zay Benjamin Adrian Pollock, ooh shoot I have to refrain from calling him Benji, or going 'Yo, yo Adrien,' this is a real toughie. He is also blah blah blah, and does not like blah blah blah."

Cam adds, " Wow! You just keep making him sound like a real page turner. Honestly, make that into a book. It will be a best seller, just do not get our friend Freddy Frederick to publish that for you."

I finish, " Ooh why, I would not want to keep him from being responsible for putting America's new favorite book on the market. (*winks sarcastically*) Anyway, oh, good finally I see the end point. OH SHOOT! I need to get ready and like move like now!"

Cam finishes reading the text a loud, "Meeting is at 9:30 and is about an hour's drive, the address is.. Oh shoot you better get moving, I will finish everything here. I was going to be late for work anyway."

I yell as I proceed half dressed out the door, " Yeah, yeah thanks I owe you. Bye, Jackie, I love you!"

Cam stops me and says, "Go fix yourself, the last thing Esme would want is to see you go to her meeting for work dressed like crap."

I did not feel like arguing so I just smirked my evil smirk and went to go get dressed. The second time's the charm. I took extra time for hair, make-up, and the rest of stuff you see in 90's rom-coms. Thank you Jennifer Aniston and best classic romance author Jane Austen.

Goodbye Flat and Jackie plus the rest, for realsies.