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It was sweltering outside. There’d been a heatwave across England for the last week or so. The news had been preaching caution for days, encouraging people to stay inside as much as possible.
Georgie was stood by the front window, holding her glass of water to her cheek. Jamie was due home from his dads. She couldn’t wait to see him. They’d been doing the shared custody thing for almost a year, and it had not gotten any easier for Georgie.
Jamie spent most of hsi time with her, but got some weekends and school breaks with his dad. He’d been there the last week and a half and Georgie could barely stand it.
He should have been home after training today. She was angry that the coach was still running training, though he’d assured them all that the boys would be well hydrated and spend time in the shade between drills. Training had ended over nan hour ago, which was concerning.
She had tried to call Jamie on his cellphone but he hadn’t answered. She was about to get in the car to go find her boy when she spotted him down the lane. He was wearing a heavy sweatshirt under his bag, and joggers. He looked very out of place in the heat.
Georgie slammed the door open and ran towards him. She threw her arms around him, frowning when he only weakly returned her embrace. Normally he almost knocked her over. She pulled back, holding him at arm's length. He looked about ready to pass out.
“Come on, Jamie. Let’s get inside,” Georgie said, pulling her son’s heavy pack off of his back. She grabbed his hand and led him towards their home. Jamie followed, feet dragging a bit.
Once they were inside, door shut, Georgie began fussing over Jamie. “Sweetheart, what the hell happened? You’re overheating. This isn’t safe, baby.”
He mumbled something, but the only word she picked up on was ‘dad’. Her blood was boiling. She knew this was that bastard’s fault, somehow. Even without the confirmation from Jamie.
Jamie looked about ready to pass out while Georgie began pulling his sleeves so he could duck out of the heavy fabric. His kit was drenched in sweat underneath, the skin on his neck flushed bright red. His face was pale, and not nearly as sweaty as she would have expected.
Georgie was honestly beginning to panic. Her son didn’t look good. She wanted to get some information from him about how this came to be, but she needed to get him comfortable first. Jamie groaned, burying his face in his hands when she tugged his trousers down.
“Sorry, Jay. I need to get you cooled off, baby,” she said. “Nothin’ I haven’t seen, anyways.”
Jamie rolled his eyes but lifted his feet obediently, one at a time, so he could kick out of the heavy joggers. “M’ fine, mummy,” he said.
“Bullshit.”
Jamie looked sheepish. “Sorry, mummy.”
Georgie stood up tall, looking Jamie right in the face. “You have nothin’ to be sorry for. Your father? He’s a different fucking story.”
She pulled him in for another hug.
“Okay. I’m feeling pretty worried about you. I’m going to call my friend Jackie and you are going to tell me everything you're feeling. She’s a nurse and if she thinks I should, I’m bringing you to A&E.”
Jamie started to protest but all Georgie had to do was level him with her ‘I’m not being funny’ look. He sighed heavily and sat down on the sofa. Georgie pulled out her phone and dialed.
While it was ringing, Georgie filled up two glasses of water and put both in front of Jamie, giving him a look until he picked one up and started drinking.
After a few rings, Jackie picked up.
“Hiya, Jackie. I need some medical advice,” Georgie started. “No, no. I’m fine. It’s Jamie.”
She explained the situation in detail, describing the clammy, pale skin, the lethargy.
Jackie sounded concerned, which caused Georgie’s own concern to spike. She asked to be put on speaker phone so she could ask Jamie some questions.
“Hi, Jamie,” she said.
Jamie mumbled a greeting, looking uncomfortable. He hated showing weakness.
“Jamie, how do your legs feel? Any cramps?”
Jamie nodded and Georgie translated.
“Gotcha. Okay, did you throw up?”
Another nod.
“Honey, I’m concerned about heat exhaustion. It doesn’t sound like it’s progressed to heat stroke, but that wouldn’t be far off.”
“What should I do?” Georgie asked. “I already stripped him and made him drink some water.
“That’s exactly what I was going to tell you to do. Go ahead and get some wet cloths and and put them on his skin. Or just have him take a cool shower. Not cold, but also not cozy warm. I don’t think we’re at the frozen peas in the groin point, so Jamie can be grateful for that.”
Jamie cringed, either in embarrassment or in imagining that experience.
“Got it. Anything I need to watch for? Like if it gets worse and I need to take him in?”
“Take his temperature. If it gets above a 39.5 or if he starts acting weird or passes out, for sure bring him in. That is really unlikely at this point though, now that you’re taking the steps to get him cooled off. I’m glad you called me.”
“Thank you so much, Jackie,” Georgie said.
“I’m happy to help. Jamie, I’m so sorry you’re feeling shitty. Listen to your mum and you’ll start feeling better, got it?”
All she got in response was a grunt, which Georgie translated as a thank you and hung up.
“Alright, baby. Feel up to a shower?”
Jamie grumbled an affirmative answer, and Georgie couldn't’ decide if he was moping or lethargic. Probably both.
She pulled him up and led him to the bathroom, turning the shower on but leaving the temperature lukewarm. “Hop in. I’ll bring you some fresh jimjams, alright? We’ll talk once you’re sorted, yeah?”
“I missed you, mummy,” Jamie said, hugging her tightly. Georgie easily matched his grip before pushing him towards the shower again.
Georgie was sitting on the sofa when Jamie emerged from the bathroom clad in the shorts and shirt she’d set out for him.
She had a few sports drinks bottles placed on the ottoman. “Pick your poison,” she said, gesturing to the colorful array. “Wasn’t sure what flavor you would want.”
Jamie nodded, grabbing the red bottle and sitting next to her. She grabbed the thermometer from the side table and Jamie opened his mouth obediently. When it beeped and she checked the readout, she pursed her lips. “Still hot. Not A&E level, but we gotta keep cooling you off.”
He just took a few sips and laid down on the sofa. Georgie sighed, hating seeing Jamie so unenergetic and empty. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a handful of flannels, running them under the coldest water their sink could produce. When she returned, Jamie had curled up in the corner of their sofa.
“Sweetheart, let’s get some cool cloths on you. See if we can get your temp down a bit,” Georgie said. Jamie shook his head and turned further into the cushion.
“Come on, baby,” Georgie encouraged. She poked his side a few times, causing him to squirm and swat at her.
“Wanna sleep, mummy,” he whined.
“You can sleep in a minute,” she answered, taking one of the flannels and placing it on his neck.
Jamie whined again and pulled himself into a sitting position. “Too cold!” he gasped.
“I know, I’m sorry. Gotta cool you off though. Just a few minutes and then you can throw them at me, yeah?” When Jamie didn’t protest, she placed the cool cloths on any skin that wasn’t hidden under his pajamas. Jamie was full on pouting now, and Georgie was split between giving in to him and laughing at him. RIght down the middle.
They sat quietly for a while, someone on the television talking about the weather. Jamie laid there looking miserable. “‘M cold, mummy,” he mumbled, tugging one of the flannels off and throwing it on the floor.
Georgie sighed, feeling his forehead and neck. He was feeling cooler, and was actually starting to shiver. This made Georgie nervous, but a quick text to Jackie assured her that he was fine, it was just time to let his body start to regulate its own temperature. She could even cover Jamie up with a light blanket now.
He shivered for a while, curling up against Georgie’s side while she continued to play with his hair. They sat in silence for a while. The weather segment had ended and now it was reruns of some murder show. Even with the assurance from Jackie, Jamie was shivering so much that Georgie was still pretty concerned.
Eventually, Georgie broke the silence.
“Sweetheart, what happened today? You showed up nearly passed out, hours after you were meant to have been home. Why were you wearing all those layers? I know you don’t like being cold, but it’s a bloody heatwave outside, baby.”
“M’ sorry,” he mumbled, turning his face against her. She adjusted the now warm cloth on his neck.
“Don’t make me ban that word again,” Georgie said, hand pausing where it was stroking Jamie’s hair. “You are a smart boy. I need you to tell me why you’re all bundled up. I’m never going to question your fashion sense, son, but I know that’s not why you’re wearing all this.”
Jamie sat up, looking irritated. “Dad said I need to shed some weight to be at my fastest. Said I’m slowin’ down and gettin’ too fat. Said that’s why coach fuckin’ benched me last week. So I’m trying to sweat it out. That’s why I’m late, yeah? Had to run all the way here.”
Georgie’s eyebrows shot up. She felt deep anger settling in her chest, felt her fingers start to go numb as she forced herself to breathe. She was quiet long enough that Jamie turned back towards her, looking concerned.
“Mummy? ‘M so sorry. I know it was fuckin’ stupid. I’m so fuckin’ stupid.”
Georgie stood up suddenly, hands on her hips as she tried to get a full breath in.
“You’re scarin’ me, mummy,” Jamie said, standing up as well. This snapped Georgie out of it. She looked at him before pulling him into a tight hug again.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said, pulling him to sit down with her again. “And you’re not stupid. Please don’t talk about yourself that way, yeah?”
Jamie nodded. He took another few sips of the drink.
“Your dad is wrong. Absolutely dead fucking wrong. You are not getting fat. He has absolutely no right to speak to you in that way. No fucking right. You are perfect. You are sixteen years old. You are growing. You are strong. You are brilliant. I will start doing those cheesy affirmations with you again every morning if I have to.”
Jamie huffed a laugh, but then began to cry, tears soaking into Georgie’s shirt.
“What your dad asked you to do today was absolutely unsafe. I was so close to dragging you to A&E when I saw you. I still might,” she added, rolling her eyes as Jamie protested. “You’re done with your dad. For a good long while. I’ll go to the judge if I have to.”
Jamie sat up again. “He’s gonna get mad.”
“I don’t give a fuck, to be completely honest. He had his chance. This isn’t the first time you’ve come home to me in worse shape than when I sent you off. It’s unacceptable.”
Jamie looked nervous but nodded. “Kay,” he said. “I love you, mummy.”
“I love you so damn much, baby.”