#ear thermometer

“Okay,” Redglare said simply. She didn’t want to take off work. They needed her there, and this would screw people over, but in any other situation she’d let a kid who feels warm and unwell stay home. She only hesitated in giving permission because Redglare would need to take the day off, too, since sick Terezi’s senses are dulled so much that she can’t function on her own, even if it’s just a cold.

Redglare felt guilty for what she had just thought. That should only make her want Terezi to stay home more since she had so much shit on her plate because of her disability.

“What’s wrong?” asked Redglare. “Besides what seems to be a low-grade fever, if not a little worse,”

“Sniffles,” said Terezi, taking a quick little breath through her mouth. “…can’t tell where shit is,”

“Oh, of course,” Redglare pouted and ran her fingers through Terezi’s hair. Terezi always got like this when she was sick.

“Well, what do you want me to do about it?” asked Redglare. What she said sounded rude, but her tone was worried and offering help. Pausing, Redglare added,

“Besides call in,”

“Medicine. The strong kind. I don’t care if it makes me sleep,”

“Yes,” nodded Redglare, hugging Terezi. “That’s very reasonable. I want you to be able to sleep through the worst of this”

Terezi flinched a bit as her mom pushed the metal tip of a thermometer in her ear. The sound was obnoxious as it took Terezi’s temperature.

“Hold still,” Redglare requested, soon removing the thermometer and looking at the number on the digital display.

“Hmm…” Redglare shot the cover on the probe into the garbage. “Well, what do you think? Should we see a doctor to see how we can shorten this mess?”

Terezi hesitated before nodding.

“It’s over 100, but not by much?” she asked, vaguely understand her mom’s system on hospital visits.

“100.6,”

“Well, if you’ll take me I’ll go,” asked Terezi.

Sometimes her mother was a bit reluctant to bring her to the doctor. Terezi was usually healthy, but it made Redglare a bit uncomfortable in medical settings that Terezi touches just about everything to feel her way around.

“I’ll call,” said Reglare, taking out a package of medicine. “Hold out your hand,”

“Oh,” A bit surprised, Terezi reached out, blushing. “I think my ears are a little stuffed,”

Redglare hated when Terezi actually acted handicapped. Luckily, she was usually able to make up for things on her own. Her mother always told her to be thankful for her capableness and the blessing that she wasn’t also chronically ill like many who lacked similar advantages in life. Redglare pursed her lips as she poked the pills out of the packaging and into her daughters’ chubby little hand. Terezi’s nails were worn and her hands had scars from her feeling her way around somewhat dangerous situations. Most of them happened when she was really young and Redglare wasn’t paying attention. It was the injuries that happened at daycare that really pissed the mom off, and that was because she couldn’t force herself to realize that she’d been a big negligent for too long. It was easier to be mad at other people.

“What else can I do?” asked Redglare as Terezi swallowed the pills. Her daughter took her mom’s hand, pitifully asking,

“Walk me to bed?”

Redglare smiled and nodded. She knew that even without being able to smell and hear as well, Terezi could definitely manage walking with her cane. This was purely emotional support. Redglare held her sweet girl tightly, holding her waist as she climbed on top of her mattress.

Redglare placed a kiss on the sick girls’ forehead.