Today, Maria woke up shivering. Yesterday's night was especially cold then the usually ones. She walked down the stairs to eat breakfast as usual, but in the way, her legs buckled and she sank down. She felt dizzy, she felt hot, she felt... Maria couldn't even think now. She laid her head on the stairs and closed her eyes.
"Maria! What's wrong?!"
A sudden cry made Maria oped her eyes. She was laying on a soft thing like a bed, but she wasn't so sure. She wanted to look at the person who had called her, but she had no strength to lift her heads. She tried to say something, but her lips were numb and she couldn't open it. So, she just made a "a" sound with her throat. The person, or people were sitting on the soft thing with her. A hand what seemed to be mother's, was stroking her head softly. "What should we do?! Is Maria that sick?" "I have called the doctor. Don't worry." Mother said to someone. "Will... she die?" a trembling voice said. Maria thought that it belonged to Ava. "No daring. She will get better as soon as she drink some medicine." mother said, sympathetically. "Now, I think you should prepare for school. It is no excuse to miss your school because your sister has a cold." "But..." a voice which she thought that belonged to Bella tried to argue. "Maria will get better. Don't try to argue with me and get on preparing for school." Mother closed the door behind her as soon as the children leave to change into their clothes. "M...mot.." Maria tried to say "Mother" but her voice was stuck in her throat. "I think you have caught a cold. It will be okay." Mother assured her.
Exactly 20 minutes later, the doctor arrived to check on Maria. He looked in Maria's eyes, throat, nose, and ears. Finally, he went out the room to talk privately with mother. They spoke silently, so Maria couldn't hear what they were talking. After a long talk, mother came in. Maria couldn't see her face, but she knew the sound of her footsteps. "Maria, you have the influenza." she said, quietly. Influenza is a disease that caused strong headache, high fever, and muscular pains.
Maria have influenza, so she might spread the disease in the school because influenza is infected by air, and that meant she couldn't go to school until she got better. 'Oh why, oh why should I have this awful disease!' Maria thought. Today is Maria's favorite day of the week! And, Maria had promised Emma that she would play with her at Emma's house! What would Emma think if she will break the promise with Emma again? (Maria had once broke a promise with Emma, but that's a long story and I'll tell you some other times.) Just then, Maria noticed the door of the bedroom was opening. 'Strange.' she thought as she rolled her eyes to see the stranger.
After all her siblings were informed about Maria's disease, mother had forbidden them from this room. Mother definitely didn't another influenza patient. So, it wouldn't be her siblings. 'Maybe it's mother.' Maria thought. But, mother had left a minute ago to buy groceries at the market. She didn't needed to think more because the stranger had just entered the room. Maria's breath got wilder as she recognized the faces that stared down at her; Bella, Ava, and Jack's faces. They were all wearing masks to protect them from the virus.
At the surprised face of Maria, Bella quickly explained. "We were all worried about you, but we didn't dared to enter the room. Then, Ava suggested that we all wear masks and look how you're doing." Maria smiled. She was very appreciated that she had her siblings right now. There was an awkward silence after Maria's smile. Then, Ava broke the silence by saying, "Maria, can you get better before Christmas?"
Maria had forgot about Christmas party at her school! She tried to shout, "I am so foolish! How could I forget about the Christmas party!"
Bella shot Ava a furious glare and tried to stabilize her frantic sister. "Maria, I am sure if you eat well and rest, you will get better before the Christmas party." You may get confused about Maria acting so frantic and crazy, but the Christmas party they were talking about was not an ordinary Christmas party you can think of. This Christmas party contains Christmas treats from all over the world, fruits shaped like reindeers, Santa Clauses, and even Christmas Trees. There is always a music playing Christmas songs and everyone have to dress up like Christmas. This part sounds tricky but if you had attended the Christmas at Fliaroe, you would know what it means.
As soon as Maria remembered all this fun stuff, she began to hate her self from being ill. 'Why should I be the person who is ill? Why can't it be someone else?' she thought miserably. Only Bella noticed the sudden change in Maria's feelings. Although the two Hernandez girl fought a lot, they were the most close sisters anyone could have. They could some times read one another's minds.
Then, the door of the bedroom opened again. This time, it wasn't one of her siblings, they meant only one person. Mother.
"What are you kids doing in here!" mother shouted as she saw her pupils leaning over Maria. The kids were quiet startled because they had never seen mother act so strongly. They thought, (or Maria thought anyway) 'Oh, no'. "I said not to enter this room! What should I do if you kids all got sick!" mother's fury seemed to set fire on the house. The kids mumbled, (except Maria because she was too ill to say anything.) "We're sorry... we just wanted to check how Maria is doing...." But, that didn't help them. They had disobeyed mother's rule and whether they like it or not, they were going to get punished.
As usual, mother drew them one by one and quietly. The children's faces got pale as mother told them their punishments. Mother had told Bella that she wasn't allowed to go to parties until Maria gets better. Ava's punishment is that she isn't allowed to go outside and play or exercise in the house. Jack's punishment was the weakest. Jack always acted kind and loving. So, there was not much punishment mother could give. So, instead, she gave chores to do around the house. Mother didn't give Maria a punishment because not going to the Christmas party was punishment enough.
The kids all got used to their punishments. Until the day of the Christmas party I mean.