No school for you..

When The Boy came home from school yesterday, he was hacking and wheezing like he'd been smoking 2 packs of unfiltereds for about 20 years. Half of it was sincere, half was over-dramatized. His eyes were hopeful when he asked, "No *hackhack* school *coughcough* tomorrow?" To which I answered, "Drink some water, suck on a candy and we'll see."

Periodically he'd return, same hopeful expression, same question. I'd look him over-- a mom knows how sick her kid is just by looking at him-- and give him the same answer.

At bedtime, he came to kiss me good night. That's when I saw it. The bright eyes, pale yet flushed skin and I knew it. "Fever," I told him, "Sit and let me take your temperature." Sure enough, he had a low-grade fever. The bugger actually said, "Phew. So no school, right?" He didn't even try coughing this time.

Today, the fever's gone. He's slightly restless. I'm making him park his little buns on the couch. He pouted a bit. He wanted to cuddle with the cat. I allowed that since he would be forced to sit still during that time. I've been plying him with water and soup and other sick foods. But he's bored, mom. Bored. I told him that he was supposed to be too sick to be bored. I even threatened him with homework if he doesn't rest. I got a thoroughly evil look for that one.

This is why they usually have a very good attendance record.