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Booker felt like he had his life’s worse hangovers when he woke. And it didn’t help that his entire body felt like he had been hit by a truck.
“Seb?” Nicky said from the bathroom. “I think I mixed up the shampoo and balsam once again. “
When Booker stood up his entire world was spinning.
“One moment, Nicky,” Booker said. It took longer than he liked to get to the bathroom because he had to support himself against the wall. “What’s the problem?
“Sorry,” Nicky said with a sad look on his face. “That I got it wrong.”
“Don’t be,” Booker replied. “Tell me what you did.”
“I took the bottle to the right first,” Nicky said. “And then the bottle to the left.”
Booker looked at the bottles. He realized he had mixed up the system last night.
“It was my fault, Nicky,” Booker said. “You used soap as shampoo.”
“Should I was my hair again?” Nicky wanted to know.
“No need,” Booker replied. “You got sport today in school. You can shower there again.”
Nicky sighed dramatically. He hated sport.
“Get dressed,” Booker said. “And then there’s breakfast.”
Booker coughed and sneezed very loud.
“Are you ok?” Nicky wanted to know.
“It’s October and I got a cold,” Booker replied. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
After getting Nicky to school, Booker decided to take a sick day so he could sleep the entire day.
“Seb?” Nicky asked when he got home at 4 PM. “Are you home?”
When Nicky didn’t get an answer, he walked into the living room and stepped in something wet. After picking it up he conclude it was paper napkins.
“Nicky?” Booker asked as he sat up while sleeping. “What’s the clock?”
“Just after 4 PM,” Nicky replied. “Are you ok?”
Booker sneezed five times.
“I’m getting Miss Rosa,” Nicky said. “She knows what to do.”
“No need,” Booker replied before blowing his nose. “It’s just a cold.”
Before Booker could stop Nicky, Nicky had left the flat, and Booker laid down with a sigh feeling like he was dying.
Nicky knocked on Miss Rosa’s door.
“Nicky,” Miss Rosa said. “What brings you here?”
“I think Seb is sick,” Nicky replied. “He says it’s nothing…”
“Your brother is like all men,” Miss Rosa said. “Let me have a look at him.”
Miss Rosa took Nicky’s hand.
“What did you mean with like all men?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Men usually don’t want to admit they’re sick,” Miss Rosa replied. “Promise me you won’t grow up to be one of those.”
“I’ll try,” Nicky replied. “Thanks for helping me.”
Nicky opened the door to their flat.
“Don’t mention it,” Miss Rosa replied. “Hello, Sebastien.”
“Hej Miss Rosa,” Booker said. “It’s just a cold.”
Booker tried to sit up but Miss Rosa forced him down again before placing a hand on his forehead.
“You got the flu,” Miss Rosa said. “Nicky, do you have a bucket?”
“Yes,” Nicky replied. “One moment.”
Nicky walked out into the kitchen to find the bucket.
“Now, you stay in bed,” Miss Rosa said. “Then I’m taking Nicky with me to get herbal tea and chicken soup.”
“Please no,” Booker protested. “I promise to stay in bed if you won’t force that in me.”
“That’s not up for discussion, young man,” Miss Rosa replied as Nicky returned with the bucket. “Thank you. Now try to aim for the bucket after you have blown your nose.”
Then Miss Rosa took Nicky’s hand in hers.
“Where are we going?” Nicky wanted to know when he felt they were walking.
“To get food that will help your brother to get better,” Miss Rosa replied. “And then you can sit on him while I get it in him.”
“That does sound like fun,” Nicky smirked as he took his hoodie on.
“I heard that,” Booker said from the living room.
An hour later they were back again. If Booker had had the strength for it, he would have run away.
“You drink this and take these two pills,” Miss Rosa said but Booker looked at the herbal tea with disgust. “I’m not moving before you have done that.”
Nicky was leaning up against the door frame and was giggling.
“Just wait until you get a cold,” Booker said before he drank the herbal tea.
“I don’t mind tea,” Nicky replied. “And I think it tastes good.”
“You have always been a strange kid,” Booker said.
“What do you mean with that?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Mister who eats sardines on his pizza,” Booker replied.
“Says the one who mixes jam together and calls it homemade jam,” Nicky said.
“It’s homemade jam because I made it,” Booker replied before he sneezed.
Nicky handed Booker another roll of toilet paper.
“Thanks, brother,” Booker said.
“Don’t mention it,” Nicky replied. “We help each other.”
Nicky smiled at Booker before he went out into the kitchen to help Miss Rosa.
“Miss Rosa?” Nicky asked. “Are you sure Seb will be ok again?”
Miss Rosa stopped stirring in the pot and took Nicky’s hands in hers.
“He just needs some rest,” Miss Rosa replied. “And then he’ll be back to himself.”
Nicky nodded.
“Now, be a dear and force your brother to take a shower before dinner,” Miss Rosa said. “Then we can change the bed linen.”
Nicky walked into the living room and pulled the duvet of Booker.
“Hey,” Booker said. “I was using that.”
“Geez you smell,” Nicky said.
“Sorry what?” Booker asked. “What do you mean with that?”
“Your farts,” Nicky replied. “Shower now.”
Nicky pointed towards the bathroom.
“You do know I’m sick,” Booker said.
“And a shower will help,” Nicky replied. “So please, Seb.”
Booker ruffled Nicky’s hair.
“Yes, Sir,” Booker said. “I’m going.”
While Booker was showering, Nicky changed the bed linen before putting it in the washing machine. When Booker returned, Nicky tucked Booker under the duvet.
“Thanks, little brother,” Booker said gratefully.
“Glad I could help,” Nicky replied. “Miss Rosa? Do you need some help?”
“No, dear,” Miss Rosa replied. “Sit down at the table. Dinner is ready.”
Miss Rosa carried the pot into the living room and placed it on the table.
“Here, eat it all,” Miss Rosa said as she handed a bowl of soup to Booker, who sniffed at it. “Don’t make that face, young man. It will do you good.”
Nicky had forgotten he had soup in his mouth when he giggled with the result he got soup all over himself and on the table.
“Sorry, Miss Rosa,” Nicky said as he dried himself and the table. “The soup tastes fantastic.”
Booker had taken a mouthful and had to admit it tasted good. After eating two bowls of soup, Booker laid down to sleep.
When Booker woke the next morning, he could hear Nicky in the kitchen.
“Morning, Seb,” Nicky said with a big smile as he placed a plate with toast on the dining table. “I placed the tray next to you.”
“Morning, Nicky,” Booker said. “You do know I could have made breakfast.”
“You’re ill,” Nicky replied. “And I’m going to take good care of you. Be back in a moment.”
Nicky walked out into the kitchen to get the herbal tea.
“You do know I hate herbal tea,” Booker said as the wish for a plant came back again, so he could pour the tea into the plant. “It reminds me of my grandmother.”
“That’s why,” Nicky said as he took the honey. “I got this.”
Nicky put some honey in the tea before Booker drank it.
“Your tea is better than the one my grandmother made,” Booker said. "The honey is a great idea."
“Thanks," Nicky replied as he handed Booker the pills. "Miss Rosa says you have to take two pills. Do that while I make breakfast.”
Booker did as he was told before taking the plate with toast, Nicky handed him.
“So, since you’re staying in bed today,” Nicky said. “I thought we could watch football.”
“You hate football,” Booker pointed out.
“You’re sick,” Nicky said. “And I think we should do something you like.”
“Listen, Nicky,” Booker said. “It’s Saturday, and you should do something else than staying home with your sick brother.”
“Lykon isn’t home,” Nicky replied. “So, I don’t mind watching football with you.”
After breakfast, Booker took a shower, while Nicky changed the bed linen and made sure to get some fresh air into the flat as Miss Rosa had told him to do.
“I thought you could do the socks,” Nicky said when he placed the basket with clean clothes.
“I have to say you’re better at washing clothes than I’m,” Booker admitted. “What is your secret?”
“I listen to what Quynh told me,” Nicky replied. “Maybe you can ask her for help.”
“There was an idea,” Booker replied when he took Nicky’s hand in his. “I know I don’t say this enough, but I’m so proud of how far you have come ever since you started in your school.”
It knocked on the door.
“Thanks,” Nicky said and hugged Booker. “Enter.”
“I see you’re still alive,” Andy joked. “I think it’s thanks to Nicky.”
“You called Andy,” Booker said. “Why?”
“We need groceries,” Nicky replied. “And I need a set of eyes for that.”
Nicky took the basket with clothes.
“I’m ready in a moment,” Nicky said as he carried the basket into his room.
“I’m actually glad to see you,” Booker said.
“You must be dying if you say that,” Andy smirked.
“Very funny,” Booker replied. “Could you take Nicky to the cinema? I don’t think he should sit home the entire Saturday.”
“I can do that,” Andy replied. “Hej Nicky, wanna go to the cinema? I thought we could watch Minions.”
“I don’t know,” Nicky replied. “Seb is still sick.”
Both Andy and Booker knew very well why Nicky wanted to stay home.
“Come here, little brother,” Booker said and Nicky sat down on the bed, where Booker leaned their foreheads together. “I think you should go with Andy and watch the movie. See it as a reward for taking good care of me. And I promise I’ll be right here when you’re back.”
Nicky chewed on his lips.
“Can I call when the movie is over?” Nicky wanted to know. “And before?”
“Yes, of course,” Booker replied. “Someone has to tell Andy she is pouring too much sugar in you.”
“All I’m saying is,” Andy said. “When you go to the cinema it’s ok to empty the snack corner.”
“Ok, I go,” Nicky said. “But I’m leaving Betty to look after you.”
Nicky got his toy snake and placed it in Booker’s bed. Then he took his hoodie on and after hugging Booker, Nicky left with Andy.
Despite being nervous about Booker, Nicky had a good time at the cinema. On the way home from the grocery shop, they decided to get pizza.
When they got home Miss Rosa was scolding Booker.
“I didn’t throw the tea out of the window,” Booker protested.
“Then why is the pavement wet?” Miss Rosa wanted to know.
“Beats me,” Booker replied. “It’s London. People throw the strangest things on the streets.”
“Are there problems?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Your brother is impossible,” Miss Rosa replied. “He threw the tea out of the window.”
Nicky shook his head as he took the pizza with pepperoni.
“Unless you want Andy to eat your pizza, and believe me she will do it,” Nicky said. “You drink your tea.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” Booker said.
“Andy, do you want…” Nicky said.
“Fine, fine,” Booker said. “I’m drinking the tea.”
Booker drank the tea and Nicky handed him his pizza.
“Well played, Nicky,” Miss Rosa said.
“Reverse psychology,” Andy said. “You would make an excellent lawyer.”
“Thanks,” Nicky replied. “But I want to play the pipe organ when I grow up.”
For the next couple of days, Nicky took care of Booker, making sure he drank his tea, ate his soup, and took his pills. The weekend after when Booker was over his flu, he took Nicky to Legoland as a reward for all the help.