One fine day in the Creighton Ward Mansion, mummy was just having a little sit down with a mug of tea, with her adorable little pug Sherbet by her side, when Parker burst through the door. Mummy threw her mug and all the tea straight onto the floor out of surprise, and Sherbet had to lick the rest up.
“Quick, milady, h’our little girl’s not wanting to get up!” cried Parker. Mummy put a finger to her lips and went,
“Ssssssshhhh, Parker, you’ll wake our little one up with your shouting. Tell me slowly, please.”
Parker cleared his throat, took a few deep breaths to tell mummy he wasn’t panicking, and then said:
“None of us ‘ave ‘ad a wink of sleep all night last night. H’it’s because Sybil was up all night crying and screaming ‘er ‘ead off because she ‘ad a stonking great ‘eadache. I ‘ad to give ‘er some paracetamol until she finally got to sleep.”
“Hmmmm, this is serious.” said Mummy, always wanting to do what’s best for me.
“I don’t know about you, Parker, but you had a cold last week and Sybil might’ve caught a little bug. That explains why she was up all night last night, crying. Come on, Parker, wake up Alan, Brains and MAX and lead them all into the room I share with my little one. I’ll enter first. Remember, we must all be very quiet. Understand?”
“Yes, milady,” Parker whispered with a gentle salute, and even Sherbet nodded, his waggy tongue lolling about. Mummy giggled just seeing Sherbet’s internet-dog-like intelligence and antics. He can be very smart, although he can be a bit mischievous at times.
When mummy finally entered the room she shared with me, she saw me sprawled out in the large soft bed she wanted to share with me, looking like I had collapsed after a drunken night out, even though I was too young to drink. When I slowly rolled over to her, my eyes opened. They were tired, bloodshot and crusty.
“M….m….mummy….” I whimpered, not sounding like I have faked it. Mummy stroked my curly bed hair from my rough night last night.
“Oh dear, darling, there. That headache must’ve had a rough grip on you. You feel completely blasted out. There’s so much crustiness near your eyes that it could feed a whole hen house.”
“Eeeewww, gross!” cried a young teenage voice from outside the door.
“Ssssshhhh,” went Lady Penelope to Alan, who entered alongside Brains, Parker, Sherbet and MAX. All of them except Parker were still in their pyjamas - MAX never wore pyjamas, though, he was a robot.
Mummy went:
“Ssssshhhhht,” in a gentle and soft way again, this time to everyone, who nodded, their eyes still bleary. Sherbet leapt out of Parker’s arms and jumped onto the bed, almost startling me awake. I giggled as Sherbet trotted around me above my head and almost climbed onto my tummy but then, remembering I might vomit, kept away from me just in case.
“Good boy,” smiled mummy. She turned her attention to me as Sherbet continued walking around me.
“Look, Doctor Bertie is here to see you. He understands that you’re not feeling well.”
She turned to Parker.
“I may record the whole thing on Suki, but surprisingly, she would often flash lights when she’s angry. By the way, what does Doctor Bertie recommend?”
Parker drew his gaze to me. I was cuddling Sherbet with incredible toddler softness.
“To keep away from germs. Also, cuddles,” admitted Parker, as Sherbet jumped down from the bed and into Alan’s arms to avoid germs going into his squished up nose.
How everyone laughed. Sherbet always knew when I wasn’t well, and his ways of examining me always brought a smile to the faces of all my family - even if it did mean getting muddy pawprints on the duvet.
Then mummy was really worried about something.
“Parker, how in the name of Horrid Henry am I going to still stay with Sybil in her room even when she is sick? I can’t sleep next to her. I might catch her bug.” She gazed sadly at me as I lay motionless in bed, like I had been turned to stone or something.
Brains raised his hand. He was always full of ideas when he did that. And when he does raise his arm, it means a new idea has sprung into his head. And what are those new ideas? Well, he’s explaining them to ‘er ladyship right now:
“I have an idea, your ladyship.” He stuttered in that Indian accent of his.
“I will ask Parker here to get out the extra mattress from the extra storage emergency cupboard in the hallway. And MAX and I can make a set of walkie talkies, so Sybil can tell Ellie what she wants when she’s hungry, thirsty or needing a rest.”
Everyone agreed it was a great idea. Mummy had some ideas of her own.
“And I will stay with Sybil to keep her company, just in case she feels restless. She needs to be warm and comfortable, and she mustn’t spread her bug to anyone.”
“H’it’s all sorted then,” said Parker, “Brains and your ladyship, I’ll let you get on with it.”
“And what about me?” asked Alan.
“You can help Ellie prepare the food for Sybil.”
Upon that slight mention, I weakly murmured,
“Food…”
Parker leaned towards Alan like he was sneaking in a suspicious remark or conspiracy theory.
“I think she wants a sandwich.”
“I may not be a good cook, but I sure know how to make the perfect sandwich. Got any baguettes and any cheese? I will make her the perfect sandwiches, with no trimmings added.”
“I’ll get ‘er a can of fizzy drink,” said Parker proudly.
“The one with the red and white stripes on it?” asked Alan. “Oh and also, do give her a nice orange straw from Ellie’s cupboard please.”
“Right away, Alan,” said Parker, pretending to be overworked.
As everyone left to do their jobs, I felt mummy’s soft hands take hold of my own small ones.
“Mummy,” I sniffed, feeling like my face had been stuffed with mashed potatoes, but mummy once again put a finger to her lips and ruffled my hair slowly and gently.
“There now, pet.” she said in a soft, gentle manner, “Everyone’s going to do all they can to make you feel all better.”
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