Don't Make it Bad – Jenny 16

[For back story go here: Story so far at 27 July 2020.]

"What do you mean we're not going on holiday?"

Helen was looking aghast at her two mums trying to process the information which had just been landed at her feet.

"We can't risk it," said Jenny.

"We can't afford it," said Izzy.

"Obviously we would if we could because we're about going to lose a load of money..."

"Although less money than if we went away..."

"If work would let us go away..."

"Which they really don't want us to do right now."

"So we can’t."

Again, Helen tried to process the information.

“And then there’s Peter…” began Jenny.

"Are you just trying to punish me?" Helen cut in, "because honestly I've suffered enough. My mates know we can only manage to go away once a year and now you’re taking that away too? And Germany,” she added, "It was only going to be Germany."

"Self-catering chalet..." noted Jenny.

"With private swimming pool..." added Izzy.

"And a games room for you and Peter to hang out in."

"Shut up about it!” exclaimed Helen. "We're not going, are we? So it doesn't count.”

"It's not really our decision," said Jenny, gently. "Our travel company has updated it's information and if we post-pone now we can hang on to the money until..."

"Until when?" spat Helen. "Until I'm old and frail and no ones cares whether I live or die? Let alone whether the chalet has a swimming pool or not."

After a pause she added "How big was the pool?"

"Fifteen metres," sighed Izzy.

Helen tutted and turned away.

"And then there's no way we can take Peter anywhere..."

"Oh, of course, Peter. Always Peter. Has to be about Peter. Everything's about Peter."

"He's in the loft with a cough," said Izzy with emphasis. "He might be really ill."

"Yeah," said Helen. "Might. We should get him tested. Right now. Then we'd know if he's really ill or putting it on.”

“We’ve ordered the test,” said Jenny.

The idea that Peter would put something on was a little far fetched, thought Jenny. The poor kid had been on the sofa for most of the past few a weeks and even – even – complained of being a bit bored a couple of times. Being able to get outside into the fresh air had seemed like a new step, a mark of his ambition to come back into the real world. Would he really do something now to ensure he would be banished up to the loft for a fortnight with strict directions to warn everyone when he needed to use the bathroom, to walk around carrying his own hand sanitiser and spray cleaner? 

Jenny was about to say as much when the front door bell rang and she went to answer it.

She didn't recognise Jude, but Izzy did. She invited her 'in' which these days meant circling the house, going though the side gate and into the back garden where a table stood suitably distanced from a few chairs, ready for anything.

They sat down, Helen disappearing into the house in a huff and another comment about how everything was for Peter these days and it wasn't fair.

"Is he really bad?" asked Jude, learning he was in the loft.

"No, not really," said Jenny. "Just occasionally irritating but he’s a teenager so..."

"He has a cough and a high temperature," said Izzy, leaning in and picking up the intended meaning of the conversation.

"Oh, sorry. Yes I see," said Jenny.

"We really didn't go far,” said Jude. "I mean, just to the shops on the corner and he didn't go in. I went in and got stuff, you know? But I wasn't there for long."

"Did you wear a mask?" asked Izzy.

"Yes," said Jude. "Actually can't remember. Shop keeper was but there were a few other people as well who... might not have been."

Izzy and Jenny nodded their heads in an appropriate way.

"Was there anyone in there coughing or sneezing?" asked Izzy.

"No, no. Not that I saw least ways. All quiet and not much going on."

"Well, he's got a fever and a nasty cough now," said Izzy. "Could be the real thing, might be nothing."

"He doesn't tend to just go down with nothing, though," said Jenny. "That's also why this feels a bit strange and worrying."

"There again he hasn't done much recently," observed Izzy. "Which means he could be susceptible to anything out there plus he doesn't have energy to fight it off."

Jude's colour paled. "Is he going to die?" she asked in a near whisper. Surprised as they were by the sudden transformation in Jude's outlook, the parents were reassuring and waited patiently for her to recompose herself. They held themselves back from any physical comforting, however, telling Jude about the embraces they were sending to her.

"I just don't know what we're going to do if he's not here to take care of us."

Jenny moved slightly closer – still not under two metres though – to give her her full attention.

"Whatever happens you'll be fine. You have resilience and thought and practicality and love and..."

She suddenly stopped.

"W-wait," she said. ”Are you... You… You’re… pregnant?"

Jude looked up at her, caught, or having just given out the information she'd been itching to tell since she'd arrived.