Small Sick People

Writers: Arale, Mirren
Date Posted: 8th August 2012

Characters: Elona, Jelitta
Description: Elona is asked to babysit.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 7 of Turn 6

"Elona!" Jelitta called to the young woman further down the corridor.
"Wait!" She picked up her pace to catch up with her, without moving
quickly enough to wake the sleeping toddler she carried. Her little
brother, who would turn three in a little more than a month, was
starting to get heavy.

Elona stopped at the sound of her name and turned so fast her pony
tail slapped her cheek. "Yes? Oh, Jelitta. Is something wrong?"The
sides of her eyes crinkled with a frown of concern.

"I'm glad I found you," the girl replied when she caught up. "There
is, actually. I was hoping I could ask a favor."

Elona was always happy to help. "Of course. What can I do for you?"
She looked questioningly at Jelitta.

"Well, both Jerlen and Talen are sick with a nasty head cold. I need
to take care of them so I don't have time to watch the baby too. Plus,
I'd rather he not catch it. Do you mind taking him for a few days?"She
smiled hopefully at the older woman. She was usually in charge of her
younger siblings and she hated the idea of anyone else doing it, but
she knew Elona and trusted her.

"Well, I can," Elona said slowly. "but he'll have to stay with Elonus'
foster mother while I have classes and chores. I only have him at
night and on rest days these days," she sighed regretfully. "But I'll
do what I can to help."

The girl thought about that with a frown but then sighed, what choice
did she have? "That'll work, I suppose. It's the nights that're more
important anyway."

Elona smiled. "Of course it is. You need all the rest you can get by
the sound of it!"

"That would be nice, wouldn't it?" The girl laughed. It wasn't likely
with two sick little boys to watch over.

"There's always someone around to watch over the other two if you need
a break!" Elona said firmly, reaching out to take the little one from
her.

She handed the baby over and grinned, "Well, I'll be fine I think. As
long as I don't catch the cold too anyway." Taking care of two small,
ill children was one thing. Doing it while ill yourself was a whole
other thing.

"Oh I hope not!" Elona cried. "It's hard to avoid with so many people
in a small space as they are in the lower caverns though!"

"That's true. Especially when small sick people like to crawl into
your bed in the middle of the night," she grinned a bit, a mix of
exasperation and affection in her tone.

"I'm sure!" Elona laughed. "All right, go and have a break. This
little one and I will be just fine!"

Jelitta smiled her thanks before leaning in to give her baby brother a
kiss on his forehead. "You be a good boy for Elona, now, hear? No
trying to eat her candles or scale her bookshelves." The toddler had
was good at getting into things he shouldn't.

"Thank you again, Elona." The girl turned to go check on her other two
brothers before going to pick up the medicine for their cold that the
healer was preparing for them. They'd been asleep when she'd left, but
who knew if they still were.

Last updated on the August 11th 2012

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Small Sick People