Sun Dec 15

Bobbie was still chuckling about Maddy’s Santa visit on Saturday at the market. There was so much excitement around the commercial and the arrival of Santa and Maddy was squarely in the middle of it. Maybe it was just too much.

On Friday Bobbie packed a wagon with a soft blanket, a couple of snacks and bundled in Maddy and Fossie and headed over to the market grounds. Johnny was already there and so were all the people that were decorating the trees on the big stage. Charlie was there with volunteers from the hospital. George was there representing the hardware store. More people with boxes of decorations were arriving by the minute. Maddy was happy to sit in the wagon, looking around and snuggling with Fossie.

The motel market stall was not escaping the decoration. Personally, Bobbie erred on the side of sparkle and the market stall was not disappointing her. Will took her advice and used all the outdoor decorations Bobbie already had in storage. She recognized lights and Christmas ornaments from her old family home in Cit City. Will and Johnny built an extension for the stall that was for the hot chocolate and cookie station. They planned to feature small cups of hot chocolate and cookies free for kids and more gourmet hot chocolate for sale. Currently it held a help-yourself dispenser of hot chocolate for the volunteers and Bobbie got some for Maddy and herself. She moved over to a bench where they could watch the action and sip their chocolate.

Will saw them and came over. “Hi Bobbie it looks like Christmas threw up all over the market.”

Bobbie blew on her hot chocolate. “Threw up in a good way Will.”

“Ha-ha. Jane had an idea to bring a big table down and put it in the space beside the motel stall. She wants the kids to decorate cookies there.”

“That’s a cute idea, as long as it’s not too cold. We don’t want kids decorating their mittens instead of cookies.”

“Anyway, Mink and Jane are cooking something up; including cookies. Mink wants to dress up as an elf. So we’ll see what they come up with.”

The big tree by the main entrance gate of the market was the decorating committee’s responsibility. Chuck, the owner of rafting company and market grounds, was on a ladder installing lights. Beau and Dorey were holding the ladder. Bobbie was happy they were deciding to take the lead on the decorating. She pulled the wagon over and half-heartedly offered to help.

Dorey came over. “Hi Bobbie, and hi Maddy, you and Fossie look so cozy. Do you want me to help you fasten a ball to the tree?”

Maddy was ready to move, she put her arms up and Fossie resentfully moved to the edge of the wagon. Dorey helped her with a few balls and then Maddy went over to the stage to see Charlie. Bobbie followed with her wagon.

They left around noon and Maddy was happy to get back in the wagon. Bobbie was tired of dragging the wagon around but they made it home. Johnny drove up and slowed down beside them. “Hey ladies, we’re all heading to the restaurant for lunch will you join us?”

Bobbie looked at Maddy who understood and was nodding. “Sure, we’ll see you there.”

Everyone was at the restaurant and it was practically a party right there. They stayed all afternoon and Maddy missed her nap. That may have started her trouble because on top of that, Johnny came back to Bobbie’s to practice some Christmas songs so Maddy didn’t get to bed until late.

She didn’t want to get up on Saturday morning and was a little grumpy when they dressed and went to the market. She didn’t want to get her face painted, she didn’t want to decorate a cookie or drink hot chocolate and she didn’t want to visit with Santa.

Santa arrived with great pomp and circumstance; Bobbie and Johnny were on stage in their Christmas clothes singing and Maddy just wasn’t having it. She wouldn’t even get close to Santa or sit on his knee. She was sitting with Charlie, June and all the cousins and all Maddy would do is bury her face into Mink’s fuzzy coat. In the end she went up on the stage with Suzy and stood beside them when Suzy sat on Santa’s knee. Bobbie wanted a picture of Maddy with Santa but she’d have to be happy with Maddy and Mink, the elf that Saturday. Santa would be back the next weekend so maybe Maddy would like Santa more then.

So, Sunday morning, Bobbie checked on her coffee and crept past Maddy’s door. She didn’t want to wake her. She went into her office and put her headphones on and checked on her knitting spreadsheet and started getting the things she’d knitted all year organized for presents. She worked at that for almost an hour. It was 9:30 and Maddy was still asleep. Bobbie put away all her presents and went to check on her. She decided to pick her up and put her on the toilet in case she needed to pee. Then she put her back in her own bed and got in beside her and read until Maddy was fully awake.

Maddy stretched and yawned. “I’m hungry.”

They had breakfast and Bobbie got a few things for a craft and they went into the theatre and watched cartoons while Bobbie made a rustic garland for their tree. Maddy handed her the beads and pine cones. At around noon, Bobbie got up and heated up some stew for their lunch. She gave Maddy hers. Maddy picked at it a bit and handed the bowl to Bobbie. She got a funny look on her face and began to gag. Bobbie quickly picked up a blanket and put it over her shoulder and grabbed Maddy just before she started to get sick. Bobbie let her sit on her shoulder and get sick on the blanket while she rubbed Maddy’s back.

“Poor Maddy, you don’t feel very good, do you? Come on, we’ll get you into some clean clothes and some water and…”

Maddy started to cry. “I have a sore tummy and I have to go potty.”

They didn’t make it to the bathroom so Bobbie stripped her off, wrapped her in a bigger towel and started the water in the bath. She told Maddy to stand in the bath and she hosed her down. Maddy moaned and Bobbie put her dripping wet on the potty. She got yet another towel and swaddled her right on the potty to try to get her to stop shivering. She waited a few minutes, Maddy must have been empty. Bobbie picked her up, ensured she was clean and put a diaper and some little sweatpants and a cotton sweater on her and she put her in her bed. Maddy conked out and Bobbie want back to the various rooms to clean up. She had things rinsed and loaded into the washing machine when the phone rang.

It was Trixie. “Hey Bobbie, do you and Maddy want to come for supper. We’re having a few friends over to help us decorate our tree.”

“Oh, Trixie thanks for the invitation but Maddy is under the weather, she’s sleeping now but she emptied her tummy and her bowels and is feeling miserable.”

“Oh no Bobbie, can I drop anything off for you? Some electrolytes or something?”

“No thanks, Trixie, I’ve got everything I need. You have a nice evening.”

She went back in Maddy’s room and put her hand on her fore head, she wasn’t warm so Bobbie wasn’t worried about a fever just yet. Maybe it was just a flu bug, she better be careful and wash her hands again, she didn’t want to catch it and be unable to care for Maddy.

It wasn’t even half an hour later when Bobbie started feeling really bad heartburn. Nausea set in and Bobbie was sick. She had wicked diarrhea too. She felt awful. She didn’t know what to do so she went into Maddy’s room picked her up and carried to her room. Then She and Maddy collapsed in Bobbie’s bed. They both got up a couple times in the night but mostly they slept. They slept until Bobbie heard someone banging on her door. She got up, feeling groggy and opened the door. Trixie was there with a tray of drinks and a bag of bagels. It was Monday already.

“Oh no, Bobbie were you sick too?”

“I was, I’m sure it was just a 24-hour thing. It came on suddenly and we slept for about 15 hours and now I feel better.”

Maddy came out of the bedroom rubbing her eyes. “I’m hungry.”

“Hi Maddy, are you feeling better too? Do you want some bagels and tea.”

She nodded and Bobbie suggested they go to the washroom first. They both seemed to have recovered. Trixie warmed a cup of milk in the microwave and added a little tea; just like their grandma used to do for them.

Maddy was put up into her chair and sipped her tea and ate most of a half bagel. Bobbie ate a bagel and had an Earl Grey tea and hot milk mixture called a London fog. “You’re a life saver Trixie.”

Trixie smiled. “No problem, Bobbie, I figured you might be sick too. I sent a few texts and got no answer so I thought I’d come over and see if you guys were OK. If you feel like going out later, they’ve decorating the gallery, restaurant and courtyard.”

Bobbie looked over at Maddy who was looking woozy and starting to slump over in her high chair. “Thanks Trixie, can you give William a message for me. Can you let him know that Maddy and I are recovering today.”

Trixie frowned. “It looks like you two need more sleep. Bobbie, take your phone in your room with you. I’m calling later to check on you two.”

Bobbie nodded. “Thanks Trixie, sorry I’m not better company.” She picked up Maddy and they went looking for Bobbie’s phone before they went back to bed.