“I fixed a surprise for breakfast,” Lizzie says, opening the curtains to let light into the room. “Just for you. Breakfast burritos.”
I pull the quilt over my head.
“Come on, Frankie Joe,” FJ says. “The boys are waiting for us.”
“I’m not hungry,” I say through the quilt. I hear FJ sigh.
“He just needs time, Frank,” Lizzie whispers. “Let’s give him some time.”
Creaking stairs tell me they’re gone. I slip out of bed and pull the curtains closed again.
“Dad sent us up to get you,” Little Johnny says. “You have to come down to eat.” Luke and Mark are standing behind him.
“Go away,” I say.
“Tell them I’m not hungry.”
“But you gotta be hungry—”
“Just leave!” I pull the quilt over my head.
FJ sticks a thermometer into my mouth. “Make sure you hold it under your tongue.”
“Could be he’s caught something,” Lizzie says. “He’s been working awfully hard, and this winter’s been a bad one. Might be the flu. There’s a new virus going around, too.”
FJ sighs as he reads the thermometer. “Ninety-eight point six. His temperature’s normal.”
I crawl back under the covers.