#bergen_county

The house is, apparently empty, and Mrs. Thomas realizes that with her younger daughter out with the husband for that dental appointment, and her own part time job on hiatus, and her son no where about that she sees, she puts in the earbuds... and starts to move to the music

_When I dance they call me Macarena
And the boys they say que soy buena
They all want me
They can't have me
So they all come and dance beside me
Move with me
Chant with me
And if you're good, I'll take you home with me_

It is an old dance, an ancient rite, one that goes back to the before time.

_Move with me
Chant with me
And if you're good, I'll take you home with me

Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría why cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Hey Macarena_

And her hands move in a motion incomprehensible to zoomers.

This was, at one time, the mating dance of the millennial.

Or at least the older sisters of millenials

Fortunately, Adam is not there. Nabuni however, gazes upon this and sighs "I could have gained glamour while she did that. Darn it, Adam"

--------------------------

After a solild week of legal battles, arrangements for kids in need of fostering, and her regular house work... Anne Marie isn't ... isn't feeling so well. She sips her coffee, then without being able to stop herself coughs into it, and sways.

Symon steps into the room, one hand shrugging into his favorite hooded jacket, the other holding his phone, gaze locked on it. Sensing rather than actually looking up at her, he remarks, "No breakfast - I'm just gonna grab something." Moving over to "his" cupboard, and starting to paw through the contents.

Sweat beads at her forehead, "oh brreak.. you should have..."

He glances up, a cheese stick that -should- have been refrigerated in hand... and lets it drop to the floor (though his phone IS set carefully on the counter) as he moves over to Ann Marie, reaching out tentatively towards the ever-present Mom-shaped object that he skirts around on a daily basis. "Uh, Ann Marie? Are you okay? Maybe you should sit down."

"oh my .." the coffee mug falls as she breaks into a nother deep racking cough

He shies away from the sudden sharp noise, wincing, but then returns and takes her arm, pushing her gently towards one of the kitchen chairs. "That sounds terrible. Did you remember to get your flu shot?" He thinks back... she dropped both him and Dirk off at the clinic for that, but then ran off on an errand - did she ever get her own?

"Of course I get my flu shot every year...I... got it with you boys didn't I?" No she did not... the office called, needing help.

A scowl, and he starts to whisper something, but then bites it back. A hand pressed against her forehead to see if it's warm, and at the same time, an appraising review - checking how her glamour feels.

Burning hot. Her glamour at least is fine.

"Alright, you're going back to bed. You can't just... you can't just let..." And he falls silent, lips pressed together as he feels a rare feeling... is this.. is this what guilt feels like? He doesn't like that, no. "Here, let me give you a hand." He's not strong, but he can at least steady a lady.

"I ..I have to get to work..." But she lets him lead her, "And..."She covers her mouth "You should stay way. I don't want you boys catching this.,.."

"I got my flu shot. I'll be fine. And if you go to work, you might get your coworkers sick. That's a dic- uh, a jerk move, you know."

Once she's at least in her room, he takes his phone back up, cradeling it in his shoulder as he wipes up the coffee. Dialing the number for Dr. Lee's office.

"I .. I guess.." She coughs "Good boy... you're such a good..." But she coughs again. And he has to make that call

Dr. Lee's office answers, the assistant he has is youngish, pretty, and a touch too chipper "Dr. Lee's office. How may I help you?"

"Hi Betty, it's Symon Lee - is my dad available? He's not in surgery this morning is he?"

"He just got out of an early session and is cleaning off now. One moment, Symon" Betty doesn't ask what it's about. Symon's; not one to make calls for no reason or even sentimentality

More coughing in the master bedroom. Sluagh ears cannot escape it fully.

A kettle is put on the stove, and the mug - he starts to throw away the broken pieces, but then sets them on the counter instead, thoughtfully. Searching through the cabinet one-handed - there's his tea collection, dusty from disuse, but here's some chamomile that isn't that old yet, he puts some into an intact mug.

"Son? What is it?" His father is no nonsense. Dad's always been what Dirk would refer to as a hard ass. But he too knows Symon isn't calling on a whim.

"Appa - sorry to bother you at work. Ann Marie is sick, I think it's the flu. Uh..." He trails off, awkwardly, and can't help the worry that is in his voice. "I don't know what to do. What should I do?"

"Is she in bed?" He asks.

"Yes, and I'm making some tea - there's no medicine for the flu is there? Um. Cough syrup, I know we have that... "

"She will need liquid, water... now listen" And instructions are given "Wash your hands frequenly around her.. you have a shot but that is not always 100 effective. I will be home early today" His father is dumping his afternoon surgery? well, postponing or handing off.

"Mm, hmmm, hmm." He makes some quick notes. "Oh, but your schedule. What if, uh. I can maybe call one of her friends from the PTA? Then you don't need to come home early if they help look after her. And I don't want you to get germs to take back to the hospital.... " he quickly adds, "Not that you don't know best, appa."

"I am coming in today, and do not worry. Contingencies are in place on the off chance I should get the flu. I am more worried about you or dirk getting ill and this intruding on your studies. Symon, you were right to call me. You handle it maturely" Stated matter of fact. Dad is not always big on the obvious signs of affection, but .. this IS praise.

He flushes a little bit, and clears his throat before responding. "Is it okay if I stay home this morning? It's just shop class and study hall. I can work on my assignments here and make sure she's okay?"

"She would not want you to miss class, son. " But is that hesitation?

"I will ask Betty to make a call to your school. Only this once"

"Of course. Thank you. I'll go check on her now. Uh, thanks." Repeating himself, a little awkward, but grateful.

"And Symon, Anne Marie would be deeply touched by this gesture"

He wisely does NOT voice his initial thoughts, "Man, you're not going to tell her are you?" but instead just nods - then remembers his words. "I'll let you get back to work now. See you this afternoon."

"Perhaps sooner than that" And his father hangs up.

Symon gets the thera flu, plenty of water for Anne Marie, and more. The sound of her cough is inescapable, though it gentles some.

Once she is settled, he settles down too - just outside her door, phone in hand to flick through pages of internet, research, and random things, but listening in to make sure all is well - or as well as can be.

Dirk breaks in..well, storms in, not one hour later. Shouldn't he be at school?

"Shhhhh..." He moves over to intercept before he can stomp too loudly down the hall. "Hey. Ann Marie got the flu - try not to wake her up, okay? And you'd better not stick around - Dad is coming home in a bit and he'll be ticked if you're not in class."

"Screw class, I heard she got sick because YOU got out of shop. She's sick. I'm not going anywhere,,, I've bailed for less. You fix it yet?"

"I didn't 'get out of it', I like shop. Getting out of social studies would be a better deal..." He retorts. Then, a shrug. "I can't heal any more than you can fly." A scowl, frustrated. "I was thinking... maybe I should call the Hearth? She could probably whip up a fix in a flash. But they're all busy with Dragon shit... I didn't know if I should bug 'em." A glance at Ann Marie's door, uncertain.

"Can heatherbalm fix the flu?" Dirk says, glaring as if this is somehow symon's fault.. it has to be someone's fault and he would REALLY like a clear cut target.

"I don't know. Maybe? I hate this!" He snaps suddenly before 'biting' his tongue. Also frustrated. "it's just... everyone, you know? She can't help it, boggans gotta do their thing, but she needs more spine so that everyone doesn't treat her as a doormat."