Read Online Winners and Losers by Linda Sole - Free Book Online

hour . . .’
    â€˜Take me to his house,’ Alice said. ‘She has been screaming ever since you left the house this morning. I can’t stand it, Dan. It’s different this time and I want the doctor to look at her. You know what happened to Frances’s son . . .’
    â€˜I took Fran straight to the hospital. If you think it is that serious, perhaps . . .’
    â€˜I trust Doctor Parks,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t like hospitals. They put poor Mr Giles outside and left him because they said it was healthy and he died of pneumonia three days later.’
    â€˜He had consumption,’ Dan reminded her. ‘Fresh air is supposed to be good for people with tuberculosis.’
    â€˜Not when it is freezing cold. I want to see Doctor Parks.’
    â€˜All right, love. Go and get ready, then. I dare say he will give you something to help with the fever. She’s burning up, poor love.’
    He kissed the top of Sally’s head. She was hot and sweaty and she smelled of pee and vomit. Alice was a good mother but she couldn’t cope with Sally’s constant crying and sickness. Maybe they should have taken her to the doctor weeks ago when all this started . . .
    â€˜Sally has chicken pox,’ Doctor Parks said after examining her. ‘The rash is coming out on her body, Mrs Searles. You just need to keep her quiet and leave her to rest.’
    â€˜She keeps crying all the time,’ Alice said, feeling tired. ‘I know Danny had this when he was two but after the first day he was fine and I had a struggle to keep him indoors. The other two haven’t had it yet.’
    â€˜You will probably find they catch it this time,’ the doctor told her. ‘I can give you a soothing lotion to smooth on her body, and you can give her a little of this medicine. Only a teaspoon in water, mind – and be careful not to give more than one dose every six hours.’
    â€˜Will it ease her?’ Alice asked anxiously. ‘She has always been one for crying right from birth. My other children were happier. I’m worried that she has something wrong with her.’
    â€˜I assure you she is a perfectly healthy young lady.’ Doctor Parks smiled. ‘Some children do cry more than others, and it is very worrying for the mother. You look worn out, Mrs Searles. I’ll give you a tonic for yourself. It would do you good to get away for a bit of a break. Is there anyone who could look after the children for you?’
    â€˜My sister-in-law would have the elder three, but I couldn’t leave Sally; she cries if I’m gone for more than a few minutes.’
    â€˜Perhaps that is because she knows you will pick her up. Sometimes it may be a good thing to let her cry it out – but that is up to you, of course.’
    â€˜Frances told me I should let babies cry, but I’ve always worried that there might be something wrong. I don’t want one of my children to die because I didn’t notice he or she was ill.’
    â€˜I am sure you would never do that.’ Doctor Parks handed her a prescription. ‘Take this to the chemist, Mrs Searles, and come to see me again if you are still tired in a month’s time.’
    â€˜Thank you, Doctor.’ Alice picked up Sally, who had stopped crying the minute the doctor had started to examine her and was now sucking her thumb, her eyes wide.
    Daniel was waiting for her when she went out to the van. He jumped out and opened the door for her, looking anxious.
    â€˜What did he say?’
    â€˜Sally has chicken pox. He has given me some lotion to smooth on her skin and medicine – and he has given me a tonic. He says I need a break from the children . . .’ Alice was thoughtful as Daniel took the baby while she got in and then put the child into her arms. ‘I was thinking that perhaps we should try to get away, Dan. I had another letter from