Anything but Normal - Melody Carlson [12]
“The nurse is at lunch,” the receptionist told Sophie. And this after Sophie had given her full name and that she might have the flu.
“Okay.” Sophie started to leave.
“But she should be back in a few minutes.”
Sophie studied the gray-haired woman. She had kind eyes and nodded over to what appeared to be a fairly comfortable-looking tweed sofa. “Why don’t you sit down and wait?”
“Thanks.” Sophie went over and flopped down on the sofa. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and imagined she was home and in her room, still sleeping in bed, and this day hadn’t yet begun. Better yet, she was home and in her room, sleeping in bed, and it was still July and she hadn’t gotten her heart broken by Dylan Morris yet. Oh yeah, the good old days.
“The nurse will see you now,” a quiet voice said.
Sophie sat up and blinked into the overhead light, startled to realize that she wasn’t at home in bed but was sitting in the school office. She had actually fallen asleep.
“Mrs. Bernard is back from lunch,” the receptionist said. “She’s in her office now.”
“Oh yeah.” Sophie stood up, vaguely wondering if she had drooled in her sleep, or if she had spittle hanging from her scabby chin. She touched it gently and was relieved to discover it seemed to be dry. Still sore, but not coated in slobber.
“Sophie Ramsay.” The nurse stuck out her hand and shook Sophie’s. “I’m Mrs. Bernard, the school nurse.” She pointed to a chair opposite her desk. “Go ahead and take a seat.”
“Thanks.” Sophie sat down, placed her bag in her lap, and waited.
“Now, what seems to be your problem?” Mrs. Bernard frowned slightly. “Were you in some kind of an accident?”
Sophie quickly explained yesterday’s tumble at the lake and then how she’d just hurled in the girls’ restroom.
“Goodness, you’re having a little bad luck, aren’t you?”
“I guess.”
“Well, it’s a little early for flu season, but you never know.” She was getting something out of a cabinet. It turned out to be an electronic thermometer, which she placed on Sophie’s forehead. After a few seconds, she said, “Just a little over normal.” Then she checked Sophie’s throat and eyes. She poked here and there and finally proclaimed her to be healthy. “Maybe it was just something you ate,” she told Sophie as she closed the cabinet.
“So, I’m not contagious?”
“Not as far as I can see.” Mrs. Bernard peered curiously at Sophie as she folded her arms across her front. “And shall I assume that there’s no chance you’re pregnant, Sophie?”
Sophie blinked in surprise. “No,” she said quickly, “of course not. I mean, I’ve taken the purity pledge and everything.” As soon as she said that, she realized how stupid it sounded. She felt her cheeks flushing, and she just really wanted to get out of there. She stood. “So, I should go back to class now?”
“If you feel well.”
“Yeah.” Sophie nodded. “I feel fine.”
“The receptionist will give you a hall pass.”
“Thanks.”
“Take care. And if you start to feel worse, just come on back.”
Sophie assured the nurse that she would do that, but as she hurried over to the English department with her hall pass in hand, she knew the nurse’s office was the last place she wanted to go. She’d had enough of Nurse Bernard and her nosy insinuations.
Carrie Anne caught up with Sophie again after fifth period. “So . . . are you contagious?”
Sophie forced a laugh. “You should be so lucky. If I was contagious, you might’ve caught some of my intelligence and you wouldn’t have to spend a whole day in school, whereas I am now free to go home. Adios, amiga.”
“Don’t rub it in.”
“Sorry.” Sophie patted her on the back. “But it is a relief to get out of here.”
“Well, you’ve had kind of a rough day.”
“These senior half days seem like a pretty good idea right now.”
“Think of me”—Carrie Anne sighed—“while you’re out there enjoying your freedom. So, what are you going to do to celebrate? Go to the mall? Pig out on junk food?”
“I