POEM - Ralphing

Sometimes I get that call

The one from the nurse’s office

To tell me one of the kids is sick

Sometimes it is expected

We’ve sent the kid to school

With our fingers crossed

Hoping they will make it through

Because three days of a sick kid at home

Makes you question your existence

But other times, like today

It comes from out of the blue

And the nurse informs me that EzP is sick

He has thrown-up

In the classroom

Please come pick him up

So my wife goes

And then I hear about it

It took an extra ten minutes

Once she arrived at the school

Because he had another “incident”

The nurse had extra bags for the ride home

How considerate and necessary

Another release on the way to get lunch

Again on the way home

Then he eats one bite of food

Walks in the kitchen door

And makes a deposit on the table

The worst must be over

I foolishly think

Until the phone rings

“You’ll be glad to know,” she says

And I know that I am not

“It is coming out of both ends now!”

I just remembered

I will be home late tonight