I crouch down next to Sam as I pull out my thermometer. It's one of those ones you point at the forehead, which is easier for younger kids. It comes back at 100.9.
"Make a note of the time and the temperature," I tell Amos. "We'll take his temperature every hour, and if it goes over 102, we'll take him into the medical center."
"Okay." Amos pulls his phone out and types in the details.
"When did you start to feel sick, honey?" I ask Sam.
Amos jumps in before Sam can answer.
"He said he was tired yesterday before school, but I made him go. I shouldn't have made him go. Then he didn't want to go to soccer practice, so we stayed home. Then I noticed how hot he was when he was going to bed, but I thought it was because he had come out of the bath. But he woke up and he came in to see me, and he was all sweaty and hot and bothered. And that's when I freaked out and came here."
"Okay." I give Amos a pointed look to remind him to calm the fuck down, and I turn back to Sam.
"Does it hurt anywhere?"
Sam shakes his head.
"I think you might have picked up a virus, Sam. It's really normal, especially starting a new school."
I turn to Amos. "Have you given him anything?"
Amos shakes his head. "No. Should I?"
"We can give him Tylenol. Just a child's dose. It'll help bring the temperature down and ease his symptoms so he can sleep. What he needs most is sleep."
I measure out the dose, and Sam takes it without any fuss.
"Thank you."
His voice is feeble, and it breaks my heart.
I head to the kitchen to clean out the syringe and put the medicine away.
When I come back from the kitchen, Sam's eyes are closed and his chest rises and falls in the steady rhythm of sleep. His cheeks are red, and his breathing rattles as he sleeps.
"Let him sleep," I say to Amos. "You can stay here and keep an eye on him."
Amos runs a hand through his hair. "Are you sure it's only a virus? A virus sounds bad. Could it be bad?"
I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Amos, kids get viruses all the time, especially when they start new schools. To be honest, I'm surprised it's taken this long. All we can do is make him comfortable and keep an eye on his temperature to make sure nothing escalates."
"What could escalate?" The panic returns to Amos's voice.
"He could develop a cough, or his temperature could go higher, or he could get a rash. Those are the things to look out for. But it's probably just a regular virus, so stop panicking."
"Okay." He lets out a long sigh and rubs his temple. "I'm sorry to intrude. I panicked. I'll take him home now."
I feel for him. I know what it's like to have a sick kid, especially if this is his first time.
"No need to wake him up with a car ride. I'll make up the spare bed in Kyra's room, and we can transfer him there. Then you can stay here on the couch."
Amos frowns. "I'm sorry, Alana. I know you're trying to avoid having strange men in the house."
"You're hardly a stranger now, are you? Kyra's used to you. We're friends. She'll understand. It means Sam gets the sleep he needs. You can sneak in during the night to take his temperature and make sure it's not going up."
"Okay, let's do that."
