Artemis Bedroom:
“How are you feeling sweetie?” Roxana checks Artemis’s temperature as she looks down at her daughter.

“Like someone has drained all my energy out of me.” Artemis was feeling weak and hot.

She came home from school yesterday and took a hot shower, hoping it would help her breathe. Her nose was congested and she could barely breathe. After her shower, she went straight to bed and didn’t even respond when her mother came into the bedroom to check on her.

Artemis hated being sick and missing school. Fortunately, it was the weekend and she could stay in bed and recover. She wonders what her temperature was.

Roxana pulls the thermometer out of Artemis's mouth and notices she was running a fever. She lays the back of her hand on Artemis’s forehead like her mother uses to do with her and felt how hot she was.

“Sweetie, you have a fever and I want you to stay in bed. I’ll check on you during the day to make sure it doesn’t go up.” Roxana was concerned for Artemis.

“Okay, mommy.” Artemis snuggles down under her blankets as she closes her eyes.

Roxana looks at Artemis and could tell she was feeling miserable. She puts a new box of tissue on Artemis’s nightstand and closes her curtains.

“Get some rest, sweetie.” Roxana leaves Artemis’s bedroom door slightly open, so she or Stacy could check on her.

Roxana walks downstairs to the kitchen to start making the chicken soup her mother always made when she and Stacy were sick. She had everything in the refrigerator.

“How is the munchkin feeling?” Stacy had the day off from work, which was unusual for her.

“Besides being congested, and running a fever. She’s exhausted and just wants to sleep.” Roxana knew how grumpy she got when she was sick and when Stacy was sick as well.

“Poor thing. She’s normally, full of energy and working on the bicycles or down at the body shop.” Stacy knew how busy her niece got during the week and on the weekend.

“I know. She must have caught something from one of the kids at school or the body shop.” Roxana fills a pot with water, garlic, salt, onions, celery salt, carrots, and chicken. She starts boiling the water.

“Well, she has been burning the candle at both ends since Christmas.” Stacy knew Artemis has been staying up late either to catch up on her schoolwork or to get some bicycles done.

“Well, that’s going to change.” Roxana watches as the water boils.

Stacy figures they all were going to have chicken soup for dinner tonight. She grabs some celery and onions to chop up. She adds them to the soup, along with some extra chicken broth.

While the soup cooks, Roxana sits at the counter after cleaning up the mess she made. She checks the money the shop has made in the past few months.

“Ho are things going down at the shop?” Stacy knew what her cousin was doing.

“Okay for now. We had some steady work the past few months. However, I’m afraid things might change.” Roxana knew several shops have been having problems getting customers.

The only reason she stays busy is the monthly inspections. She also did use new tires as well.

“Don’t feel bad, we have been slow at the store as well. However, things are bound to pick up.” Stacy knew Roxana depended on the income from the shop to live on.

“I hope so.” Roxana logs off her laptop.

She gets up and checks on the chicken soup she was cooking. She adds some more spices to it and stirs it. Afterward, Roxana goes into
Artemis’s bedroom and gets her dirty clothes to wash. She glances over towards her sleeping daughter and notices she was totally out of it. Artemis was cradling the teddy bear she gave her when she first moved in.

A smile appears on Roxana’s face as she just watches Artemis. She never thought she would ever be a mother. However, things changed when Artemis came into her garage asking to do any type of work, so she could eat. The thing was, Artemis didn’t know she was born a girl.
Roxana walks downstairs with the dirty laundry and gets them going. While they were in the washer, she checks on the soup and let it continue to cook. She notices that Stacy had gone into the living room and was watching a movie on Netflix.

Later in the evening, when Roxana goes to check on Artemis. She finds her sound asleep still. She checks her temperature again and it was still a little high, but it has gone down some. She quietly leaves Artemis's bedroom and lets her sleep.

“How is she?” Stacy looks at her cousin as she comes back into the kitchen.

“She’s sound asleep, but her fever has gone down some.” Roxana scoops up a bowl of soup for herself and sits down next to Stacy.

The rest of the night, Roxana checks on Artemis, before going to bed. She leaves a pitcher of ice water and a plastic cup on Artemis’s nightstand. She figures Artemis will be thirsty.

The next few days, Artemis spends in bed. Her fever slowly goes down. Her sheets were wet from her sweating so much, so while she was in the tub. Her aunt took them off the bed and wash them.

She manages to eat some of the chicken soup her mother made. It was better than the can stuff she used to eat. Her mother and Aunt Stacy wanted her to stay in bed until she felt better. Which she agreed with them. The medicine she was taking for her congestion and coughing was strong. She was taking the recommended dosage, but once she took it. She would fall asleep.

Billy stops by to see how Artemis was feeling. He informs her that several kids at school have come down with something that is going on. They were experiencing the same thing she was. He volunteers to get her homework from her teachers.

Artemis appreciates that a lot. She hates missing school. They play a few boards games Roxana keeps in the house. It makes her feel better. Afterward, Artemis watches as Billy leaves.

By the time Wednesday arrives Artemis is feeling a lot better. Roxana didn’t want Artemis to push herself too hard the first day back to school. So, Artemis is told to just go to school and come home afterward.