Apr 24, 2005
This is my first attempt at an AR Story, but I certainly hope you enjoy it.
"Mrs. Robinson?" The doctor asked.
"This is she," Carol replied gently as she pored over a Reader's Digest.
"Yes, I have your blood test back... It tested negative for about a dozen illnesses on this list... But there is one area of concern."
Carol snapped to, closing the book."Yes? What would that be?" She said with concern.
"You've tested positive for AR Virus." He said plainly.
Carol mulled this over for a moment or two."Oh no..."
That was three years ago. Eric is now 16, and Carol's illness had progressed steadily. She had taken it with as much grace as could be expected, and Eric had developed quite a patience for his mother. Her body had recently capped three years a few months ago. Eric sat down at the kitchen table while Carol was at the counter preparing waffles while standing on a stool. She put a plate of them before Eric, another at her place, and sat down in the chair with a booster seat in it.
"So, do we need to go to the grocery store today?" Eric asked while cutting his waffles.
"Yes, yes we do..." Carol said as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
At the store, Eric pushed their shopping cart, Carol following beside him. She was dressed in a blue floral-print shirt with a brown skirt and red velcro sneakers, carrying a purse to match her skirt. After a little while, she tugged at Eric's shirt to get his attention.
"I'm gonna head to the bathroom, dear... You can meet me there in a little bit."
Eric nodded as she walked toward the bathrooms. Unfortunately, though Carol ran as fast as she could, she had already wet herself by the time her hand was at a stall door.
"Oh no..." She said under her breath.
Blushing, she stood outside the bathrooms waiting for Eric to get there. When he spied his mother, Eric frowned.
"Did you make it?" he asked quietly.
Carol shook her head some.
"Do you think... ?"
By the time Eric got out that much, Carol was already in deliberation. She knew what he was asking. After a short period of thorough contemplation, she said, "I guess now's as good a time as any."
Eric nodded, and pushed the cart into the infant supplies aisle. Carol looked around for a moment, finally pointing to a package of Pampers. Eric put it into the cart.
"Okay... Well, let's go."
At home, after packing away the groceries, Eric put the Pampers on the foot of her bed.
A few days later, Carol started her day as she often did then by making waffles. She was wearing a purple t-shirt and a blue pair of shorts. After setting a plate in front of Eric, she sat down in the chair with a booster seat in it. A fairly quiet breakfast was interupted by an odd piddling sound. Carol left the table and waddled in the direction of her bathroom. Eric followed after her and opened the door. Carol's shorts were bunched around her ankles. An open cabinet showed a package of Pampers. A wet diaper lay discarded on the floor, and Carol was struggling with the tapes of a fresh diaper.
"Do you need any help... ?" Eric asked.
Carol looked up at Eric. Her expression was laced with anger.
"No. I don't need any help." She said sternly.
Eric shut the door, and slight crinkling sounds informed Eric she had gone back to struggling with the diaper.