#underdressed

Whumpee loves playing in the snow. They don't care if most adults only play in the snow with kids. Caretaker sometimes would join Whumpee, but they often stay in the house. They like seeing Whumpee excited about the season's first snowstorm like a child.

"They say two feet of snow dumped last night," Caretaker says while cooking breakfast, "you're eating first." Whumpee is more eager to go outside for the day.

"Wear your coat. You'll catch a cold," Caretaker argues, seeing what Whumpee is wearing. "I'm wearing three layers. I'll be fine," Whumpee argues, "besides, that's just an old wives tale." Whumpee leaves the house before Caretaker can say anything else. They'll be back in an hour. Caretaker believes, noting it's ten in the morning. They decide to start making homemade soup.

Ninety minutes pass, Caretaker stands before the stove with a pot of soup. Caretaker thought Whumpee would be in the house by now. They try not to worry until they realize they didn't ensure Whumpee wore gloves and boots. Should I worry they might be in the early stages of frostbite? Caretaker questions. They wait another thirty minutes before going to find Whumpee.

Whumpee sits on a log, shivering and too cold to move. Even though they know they'll end up with hypothermia if they stay here. Caretaker is going to be pissed. Whumpee believes. I think I'll have more than a cold at this point.

Whumpee doesn't know what happened or how Caretaker got them back in the house and on the couch. They wonder if they passed out. Caretaker walks into the room with two bowls of soup. They put a tray on Whumpee's lap and the bowl of soup on the tray. Whumpee is freezing without the blankets but can't figure out how to eat and stay under the blankets. Caretaker wants to scold Whumpee for not listening and scaring them. Instead, they turn in the TV. Within a couple of hours, Whumpee is warm. The rest of the day goes on as if nothing happened.

Whumpee feels a little sick when they wake up, but it's not too bad. They're glad they don't have to tell Caretaker, which would result in the day they had planned being canceled. They get ready for the day and go downstairs.

Caretaker is cooking breakfast when Whumpee gets downstairs. They are also ready for the day. "We'll head out after we eat," Caretaker says. Whumpee nods and sits at the table. They're starting to feel unwell and need to lie down. They remind themselves that they need to act like they're ok no matter how much they want to go back to bed. "You ok?" Caretaker asks. "Just a little tired."

"Are we going to get lunch now?" Whumpee asks. "The only place we're going is to the pharmacy," Caretaker replies, "you look awful, and don't say you're tired," Caretaker takes Whumpee's hand, "you're freezing."

When Caretaker gets to CVS, Whumpee can't take being sick. Caretaker has to leave the car on to have the heat on full blast. Whumpee wants to go back to bed. Caretaker is back in five minutes. "Ok, I got the medication. Let's get you home."

Caretaker has to help Whumpee up to their room and into bed. They take Whumpee's temperature and give them the medication. "It's a cold, but you feel terrible because you weren't resting," Caretaker explains, "I'll check on you in an hour."

Whumpee sleeps for three hours. They feel much better when they wake up. They walk out of their room to go downstairs when Caretaker stops them. "You're going back to bed. I'll get the soup I made yesterday." "Cold soup." "I'll heat it up, smart ass. Then you'll take a shower. That'll help the congestion." Whumpee gets back into bed, waiting for Caretaker.

Whumpee feels better after eating and a shower. They go downstairs to watch TV with Caretaker. "You definitely will not be going to work tomorrow," caretaker comments, "I know you'll be asleep most of the day, but maybe I should call in." "You'd be lying," Whumpee argues, "I'll be fine." The rest of the day is a lazy Sunday.

Whumpee is up before Caretaker has to leave, which relieves Caretaker. Now they can endure Whumpee is eating something good for breakfast. In case they do not feel well enough to heat up the remainder of the soup. "Soup for dinner?" Caretaker asks. "Sure." "Then I'll be home a little later. I need to buy half the ingredients needed." Caretaker leaves while Whumpee eats, wishing they had taken the medicine before coming downstairs. Even if they are going back to bed.

Whumpee slept all morning. They're awake in time to answer the Caretaker's call to check on them. After the ten-minute call, Whumpee heats up what's left of the soup and watches TV. They're not enjoying the day off from work. Laughing at how they'd rather be at work while many would gladly work less as long as pay kept up.

Whumpee ended up sleeping all afternoon. Regretting they didn't take more medication before falling asleep. They walk upstairs to get more medication. Glad they left their water bottle on the nightstand. They take the medication and lie back in bed.

Caretaker is home an hour later than usual. Whumpee lies on the couch, bored. "I'm tired of sleeping all day," they complain. Caretaker laughs at the complaint. "Sorry, but I think you should still stay home tomorrow." .Caretaker laughs at Whumpee groaning and goes to make Dinner.