Johnathon came back the following week.
I was feeling better but I still wasn’t allowed to go to work.
I had fallen asleep on the couch watching TV and when I woke up, blue eyes were staring down at me.
“I heard you were sick.”
I sit up a bit.
“Yeah.”
“How do you feel?”
“Better.”
“Good. Why didn’t you go home?”
“I wanted to stay.”
“I’m sorry I was gone too long.”
“It’s okay. How are things?”
“Good. Thanks. I brought you this.”
He hands me a square box.
I open it.
It was a box of chocolates. Raspberry cream filled truffles.
I smile.
“You can have them once you feel better.”
“Thanks. You shouldn’t have.”
“You’re my friend. I know that you like them.”
I put the box on my lap.
“How’s Dharma?”
“She’s fine. She’s at the store with Marcus.”
“So is she going to stay with you now?”
“Yeah, she is.”
“That way you won’t have to miss her anymore.”
“Yeah. So I hear Marcus was being your nurse.”
I laugh.
“Yeah. He was a tough nut to crack but he’s not as bas as I thought.”
“I’m glad you really are okay. I’m sure Thera mustn’t have been too happy to leave you here.”
“She was fine with it as long as someone was here with me.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” He took out an envelope from his pocket. “This is for you.”
“What is it?” I asked taking it.
“Your paycheck. Well, it’s not a check.”
I open the envelope and look at the dollar bills inside.
“How much is it?” I ask.
“Five hundred.”
“John, I can’t take this.”
“Sure you can. You worked and you deserve to be paid.”
“I wanted to help you.”
“And I appreciate it but you did give up part of your summer and I really wasn’t around. So it’s a thank you, good job and get well soon.”
“Those are a lot of things wrapped up in one.”
He smiles.
“Do you need anything?” He asks.
“Maybe some juice.”
“I don’t know that I have any.”
“Marcus went shopping. He bought food but then I got sick so it’s probably not so good anymore.”
