— That’s it, Sarah! I got my second shot today! — James said joyfully as he returned from the clinic. — Now I’m going to lie on the couch and loaf around all day.
His wife blinked in shock, then asked with fear in her voice:
— And when did you manage to get the first one?
— A while ago. I didn’t tell you because I knew you were against vaccines. But now, I’m not afraid of anything!
— Have you lost your mind?! — instead of being happy, Sarah groaned. — Haven’t you heard what smart people say about this vaccine? And the rumors going around?
— That’s just silly gossipers talking nonsense, — James smirked. — They believe rumors and mess with other people’s heads. Everything will be fine, Sarah. I’m not the first. Even the country’s top guy got vaccinated.
— What, are you naive? — Sarah groaned even louder. — Do you think they injected him with the same thing as you?
— With what then? — James asked, surprised.
— I don’t know what, but definitely something different! — Sarah sat next to her husband and stared at him with despair. — What am I supposed to do now? How do I save you?
— Sarah, please don’t panic, — James asked his wife as gently as he could. — Your words are making me feel like I’m getting a fever.
— It’s not my words, it’s your foolishness, — Sarah was on the verge of tears. — Listen, James, you’ve got money in the bank, right?
— Yeah, it’s there, — he nodded.
— You need to withdraw it right now.
— Why?
— Because if something happens to you, I’ll have to wait a whole year to get it!
— Have you gone crazy? — James stared at Sarah in disbelief. — Are you already writing me off?
— You’ve written yourself off! — Sarah exclaimed. — Come on, turn on your phone, log into the app, and withdraw the money. Do it online and transfer it to my account.
— Get away from me! — James snapped at his wife. — You’ve completely lost it! Don’t bury me before my time. I’ll outlive you now, got it?!
— Don’t yell, James, don’t yell, — Sarah suddenly jumped up from the couch and grabbed a medical thermometer from the cabinet. — Here, check your temperature. And… how’s your breathing? Can you smell things?
— Ugh… — James took the thermometer with a grumpy look and stuck it under his arm. — I ought to give you a piece of my mind…
— It’s fine, it’s fine, Jimmy, I’ll be checking your temperature every hour now. And if anything happens, we’ll transfer the money right away, okay?
James stayed silent, clearly offended. A couple of minutes later, he pulled out the thermometer and handed it to his wife.
— Here, look…
— Seems within normal range, — Sarah muttered. — Alright, you lie down, rest. Maybe it’ll be fine? But if anything happens, you call me right away. I’m going to the kitchen to call Mom.
— Go call, go cheer up the old lady… — James turned to face the back of the couch so he wouldn’t have to look at his wife.
— Cheer her up with what? — Sarah pretended not to understand.
— Don’t play dumb, — James smirked bitterly. — She’s been waiting forever for me to set you free. I only got vaccinated so she wouldn’t get her hopes up.
— Oh, James, you’re so mean, — Sarah said reproachfully and hurried to the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes later, James dozed off and then fell asleep.
He woke up about an hour later to the sound of a lively conversation coming from the kitchen.
— Here comes the vulture… — James muttered irritably, recognizing his mother-in-law’s voice.
The two women were animatedly discussing the latest COVID news and rumors, who got infected from whom, and whether it was even possible to survive in this uncertain world.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, his mother-in-law asked:
— Does James have a decent suit to be laid out in?
— Oh, Mom, why are you starting this again? — Sarah’s voice came.
— You need to think about it now while there’s still time! — her mother exclaimed.
— Mom, his temperature is normal.
— And you haven’t heard how it happens? Normal at thirty-six point six in the evening, and by morning—he’s already cold.
James couldn’t take it anymore and jumped up to storm into the kitchen and give his mother-in-law a piece of his mind, but then the front door slammed, and he heard his son’s voice:
— Hey, Grandma, hi! Mom, congratulate me—I got my COVID shot today!
For a few seconds, the kitchen fell silent.
Then his mother-in-law’s voice rang out:
— Sweetie, what’s that? You’re only twenty…
— Oh, who are you and Dad leaving me with?! — Sarah wailed suddenly.
James, pleased with his son, lay back on the couch and put his hands behind his head.
— Dad, what’s up with Mom? — his son peeked into the room.
— Don’t mind her, — James chuckled. — But here’s the thing… Don’t you usually log into her government services account?
— Yeah, — his son nodded.
— Log in again. Right now. And sign Mom up for a vaccination. Do it in her name.
— On it! — his son laughed.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, oblivious to it all, Sarah was still mourning her husband and son.
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