The Liminal Librarian

Strep throat with a 4-year-old, a play in one act

(subtitled: Can I have a sick day, please?)

Scene 1: Mom stumbles back from the dr. with amoxicillin prescription in hand.

Boy: What's that?

Mom: Medicine for my throat.

Boy: I can't hear you! Why are you so quiet?

Mom: Because my throat hurts and I can't talk loudly.

Boy: What?!?

Mom: My throat hurts.

Boy: Why does your throat hurt?

Mom: Because I'm sick. See, I went to the dr. and got medicine.

Boy: Did you get a shot?

Mom: No, just medicine.

Boy: TALK LOUDER I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

Mom: I can't talk louder, sorry, my throat hurts.

Boy: I DON'T LIKE YOUR QUIET VOICE! TALK LOUDER NOW!

Mom: I can't, my throat hurts.

Boy: What did you say?

Scene 2: Mom pouring apple juice in kitchen.

Boy: Whose juice is that?

Mom: It's for me, to help my throat.

Boy: That's MY juice. You can't have any.

Mom: Do you want some juice too?

Boy: TALK LOUDER

Mom: Juice?

Boy: I want THAT juice. [points to cup Mom is drinking]

Mom: This is my juice, I'll give you your own cup.

Boy: I want YOUR cup.

Mom: No, I'm sick, there's germs on my cup, let's get you your own cup.

Boy: I LIKE GERMS! I want THAT cup! That's MY juice!

Mom: No, you can't have my cup, but you can have your own juice.

Boy: What did you say?

Labels: illness, jacob, strep