The Wadhams: Spots of Bother
We’re delighted to bring you the continuing adventures of Life & The Wadhams, featuring the younger members of the family. Not yet met the Wadhams? Read the background on My Weekly’s best-loved family, then come back and enjoy the next generation’s adventures as Mike and Polly Wadham’s elder grandson, Alex Clark settles into family life with wife Natalie and toddler son William in their flat above Pretty Polly’s, the hairdressing and beauty salon which Natalie runs. If you’ve missed any instalments, you’ll find them here.
It had been a busy morning at Pretty Polly’s, and Natalie and her young assistant Iris were enjoying a welcome five-minute break when the bell across the door pinged to herald the arrival of Natalie’s friend Keisha.
“Sorry,” she said, “I know I’m a little bit early but I was in town getting… something… and decided there was no point going home just to come out again.”
“No problem,” Iris said sunnily, draining her teacup, and beckoning Keisha towards a chair. “I’m all ready for you.”
This would be the first time Iris had done Keisha’s hair – Natalie’s friend was very particular about her crowning glory and usually went to the city to have her hair done, but Iris had all the necessary qualifications to treat and style Afro textured hair, so she’d decided to let her loose on her gorgeous locks.
If she made a good job, Keisha had declared, she’d even let her style her small daughter’s hair. Iris was looking forward to that! Little Kayla was a sweetie.
“What were you getting in town?” Natalie asked. “Couldn’t have been very much, you’ve no bags with you.”
Her question was casual, so she was surprised to see her friend’s cheeks darken in a blush.
“I shouldn’t say, really… not till I’ve spoken to Robbie. But…” Shyly, she opened her handbag, to let Natalie and Iris catch a glimpse of a small pharmacy bag.
“Oh, Keisha! Is that what I think it is?” Natalie exclaimed, “When did you suspect? Oh, I hope it’s positive.”
It was no secret to her that Keisha and Robbie had been hoping to add to their family for a few months now. It had even made her and Alex consider whether or not they wanted a little brother or sister for William. But the timing wasn’t right for them yet.
“I’m just a couple of days late,” Keisha confided. “I wasn’t going to say anything, as Robbie should know first. I’m going to do the test later, then tell him when he gets home.”
“How will you tell him?” Iris asked excitedly.
“There won’t be balloons and banners.” Keisha grinned. “I’ll probably hand him the results while I carry on making the tea.”
“Oh no you won’t!” Natalie declared. “I’ll take Kayla off your hands this evening, then you and Robbie can have a proper celebration. She can even stay over tonight, if you like.”
Keisha looked pleased. “Aw, that would be lovely of you, Natalie. If you could have her a few hours this evening, then I could treat Robbie to a meal out, and deliver the news in style.”
“But we’ll pick her up later. She’s been a bit girny and gripey the past couple of days – I think her back teeth may be finally coming in, so I won’t inflict that on you overnight.”
“Funny,” Natalie said. “William has been the same. Not unwell as such, but just a bit out of sorts. But Pinky and Jennifer are taking him and Ruby swimming after nursery today, so that should tire him out to sleep tonight.
“I’ll swing round for Kayla after I pick him up from Pinky’s.”
“Great.” Keisha smiled. “Right, Iris, get on and make me even more gorgeous than I already am. If I’m out celebrating tonight, I want to look my best.”
In the changing rooms after their swimming session, Natalie’s mother-in-law Pinky had charge of her own four-year-old daughter, Ruby, while Alex’s sister Jennifer took care of her two-year-old, William.
At first, the children had had great fun in the pool, splashing and playing on the miniature water slides, but both had tired quickly and begun whining to get out.
As Jennifer towelled her small nephew dry, he let out a little yelp, as if she had inadvertently hurt him. Surprised, she took away the towel to check him over, and discovered a small red spot on his back. Oh no, surely she hadn’t been too rough with her rubbing and bruised him?
“Mum, what’s this mark on William’s back?” she asked.
Pinky didn’t look up from her task of drying Ruby, who was struggling to get free of her mum’s grasp.
“You’re a nurse, you tell me,” she said teasingly.
“I’m a nurse in training,” Jennifer pointed out. “And I’m specialising in older folk. I don’t know what a spot on a kid’s back means.
“Actually,” she added thoughtfully, “make that spots. There are two more lower down.”
“What!” Pinky dropped her teasing act, let Ruby go and turned to inspect her grandson. Her hands flew to her mouth.
“Get him dressed quickly, and let’s get out of here!” She looked round furtively.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“He’s got chicken pox! And we’ve just had him swimming in a public pool. He’ll have infected half the town before we know where we are.”
She turned her attention back to Ruby who had very uncharacteristically begun to cry.
“I think he may already have infected this one,” she said, swooping the little girl up for a cuddle. “No wonder they’ve both been so grumpy.”
By the time Natalie arrived at No. 23 Elderslie Terrace to pick up her son, both children were well and truly dotted with the tell-tale signs of chicken pox.
“It’s amazing how quickly the spots come up,” Jennifer observed idly as Natalie gasped in horror.
“You’ll have to get some Calamine lotion in.” Polly Wadham, the family matriarch, has joined them from her granny flat upstairs. “Those spots will be itchy for a few days, but you mustn’t let them scratch at them, or they could leave scars.”
Polly was remarkably calm about the whole thing, unlike her daughter and granddaughter-in-law.
“Should you be even be down here, Mum?” Pinky asked. “I don’t want you or Dad getting shingles.”
“Shingle comes from a dormant virus inside you,” Polly said. “Your dad and I have both had chicken pox so if we get shingles, it’s just bad luck – nothing to do with Ruby or William. But I wonder where they picked it up from?”
“It can’t have been nursery – they would have let us know,” Natalie replied. “I’ll have to ring them tomorrow and tell them.”
“I suppose they won’t let William or Ruby back until they’re better.” Polly nodded sagely. “Not like in my day. We would have thrown a chicken pox party!”
“What?” Pinky, Natalie and Jennifer all looked at her incredulously.
“Oh yes, it was thought that every child was going to get it, so they might as well get it over with.” Polly chuckled. “I never took any of your three along to any of these parties, but they did go on, quite a lot.”
“Well, I’m not risking William infecting anyone else,” Natalie said firmly. “He’s going back into Lockdown for a few days. Oh my goodness!” She gasped. “I’m supposed to be picking up Kayla in ten minutes. I’d better let Keisha know I can’t do it.”
Suddenly, she remembered something from her antenatal classes with William.
“I really hope Kayla doesn’t get chicken pox. If Keisha is pregnant…” She felt suddenly sick. The virus could be really dangerous for pregnant women if they hadn’t had chicken pox already.
“Keisha’s pregnant? Pinky looked concerned.
“She doesn’t know for sure yet – she’s taking a test today, then telling Robbie tonight. That’s why I was babysitting. To let them celebrate. Oh, I’d better call her now.”
Keisha was surprisingly calm when Natalie broke the news that she’d have to cancel their plans.
“Let me guess,” she said. “William is covered in little red spots that he’s already desperate to scratch.”
“Yes, but how – ?”
“Because Kayla’s the same.” Keisha sighed. “I told you she’d been out of sorts.”
“What about you?” Natalie asked. “How are you feeling? Have you had chicken pox?”
“No,” Keisha replied. “It’s one of the things I managed to avoid when I was little.”
“Oh, Keisha! But what about your pregnancy?”
“Oh that.” Keisha laughed. “I was going to tell you when you got here. False alarm. I didn’t even get time to do the test.”
“Oh, Keisha, I’m so sorry.” Natalie knew how disappointed her friend must be behind her forced jollity.
“Looks like it’s for the best, this time anyway.” Keisha said. “And if I don’t catch the lurgy from madam here, I’ll go and get the vaccine before we start trying again.”
“Though maybe I’ll change my mind and get a puppy instead.”
“What!” Natalie shrieked. “Keisha, you’re not serious.”
“Well maybe not instead of, but as well as,” Keisha said. “We want our kids to grow up with a dog around. And I know a family whose lab has just had the cutest litter…”
Natalie shook her head, laughing, as she put the phone down. Her friend always had the ability to surprise her!
But for now, she would have to get home via the chemist herself. It looked like she and William had a date with a bottle of Calamine lotion.
