My daughter got sick this weekend, and she tried so hard to be well. I thought we’d get by with a day, or two at the most, but she’s been hit hard by some pesky bug.

Today, she felt better and when her friend came home, she took a bath; got dressed; and head out for some jump rope.

It didn’t last long. As I lay in bed trying to recover from my own aches and pains, I heard her feet slap up the stairs. She dabbed her eye with a handkerchief:

Why can’t I be better? I want to play!

We hung out in bed and played a game of Go Fish. Then she heard voices outside. The jump rope games had ensued.

Why do I have to be sick? I want more normal life back! I’m just mad at this fever.

She dabbed her eyes some more, and we moved on to a few games of tic tac toe.

I can relate, I said, I can relate.