The awfully funny truth

While being forced to do her least favorite thing in the world–homework–Em started to tug, press, and fuss on her ear. “It hurts so bad…”

Now, being skeptical by nature and sometimes just for the enjoyment of it, I hardly believed her. Her self- prescribed remedy to “just go lie down and watch TV for a while,” deepened my doubt.

But, given she has had a cold (and this experience) I sent Ben off with Larry and headed for the closest Urgent Care.

While we were checking in I asked how she felt. “Oh, a little tired but…” she started. “No Em, how’s your ear?” “Fine,” she said before she could stop herself.

**insert THAT mom look**

As she squirmed around on the chair in the room the nurse asked, “What ear, honey?” She looked at her, blinked, and slowly pointed at her right ear, “I think it’s this one.”

**insert THAT mom look with head shake added for effect**

When the nurse left the room I pounced, “Were you telling me the truth when you said your ear hurt SO bad or were you just trying to get out of homework?”

Shocked at the very idea, she said, “No, it really hurt, it just feels better now.”

“Well, the doctor can tell in a second if you have an infection and if you don’t we’re going to have a long talk (which is the threat you give when you have no idea what the punishment would be),” I explained, “We’ll just wait and see what she says.”

On cue, the doctor came in and did her “doctor-y” things and then she raised the otoscope to her ear. Em had her eyes pensively on me.

“Oh, yeah. It is really bad in there. She has an infection,” the doctor said, settling it.

With the instrument still stuck deep in her ear, Em smiled the biggest smile right at me.

I started to laugh, hard.

She started to laugh, harder.

The doctor didn’t know what to make of us as she wrote out the prescription.

In the car Em said, “I’m so glad I have an ear infection.”

“Me too, babe,” I said, as I squeezed her little, bare knee.

&&&& Drawing by adorable Miss Avocado on awesome Etsy. &&&