“Noooo.” Angelica pushed the cup away with her right hand, her left hand not letting go of her ear and the crying escalated as she moved to bury her face on her mother’s shoulder.

Bette sighed and put the sippy-cup on the coffee table. She patted Angelica’s back trying to calm Angelica while simultaneously now trying to calm herself. She closed her eyes for the moment, quieting the fact that she was beginning to feel desperate for any solution or preferably the conclusion to all this crying.

She suddenly remembered she had to call but was afraid to even slightly move in fear of Angelica screaming again just from a slight change in position. Momentarily grateful for Angelica’s low crying instead of the high pitch screaming and writhing, she gently leaned forward and pulled the phone closer to her on the coffee table. Steadily holding Angelica with one hand, she dialed the number with her free hand.

It was late but she had promised to call as soon as she could and the doctor had said even a late night call with an update as to how things are going would be fine.

“Yes…” The doctor picked up right away and got straight to the issue. “Hello Bette. How did it go?”

“Hi Doc. It went well. She’s still very fussy, but I’m hoping she’ll calm down soon.”

“Good. What did they do?”

“They put a tube in the left ear and Dr. Greene gave her a shot.”

“Oh great. She’ll be okay soon. Is that her I’m hearing?”

“Yes.”

“Ahh. Poor little thing.”

Bette gently bounced Angelica hoping Angelica would quiet down even for the moment while she talked to the doctor.

“What was it Bette?”

“Hmm. I’m sorry?”

“The shot, what was it?”

“Oh…uhm.” Bette rubbed her forehead. She absolutely forgot. She was so exhausted, she could hardly think straight. “It has slipped my mind right now. I have the papers in my purse…” Bette cringed at the thought of getting up with Angelica to go get the release papers to see what the shot was. “…But I don’t have my purse close by."

“It’s okay Bette, I’m sure it’s just a low dose of amoxicillin or something. Dr. Greene is a great pediatrician and soon Angelica will be as good as new.”