The television played another children’s programme as Ben sat watching; unmoving and unseeing on the sofa.  Julie tidied the room around him singing along with the make believe characters as they followed the petty plot of sharing a toy through to the end of the show.  As soon as one finished the next one started and she took no notice of the change, still singing the same song.  The phone rang and disturbed her singing.

                ‘Hello?’                

                ‘Is that Julie?’  A woman was on the other end of the line, concern oozed through her speech, the underlying emotion clear to all.       

                ‘Who’s speaking?’          

                ‘My names Louise, I’m calling from the nursery.  We haven’t seen Ben for a few days and you hadn’t called to let us know that he wouldn’t be in.  Is he okay?’          

                ‘Oh sorry, he’s a little under the weather.  I’m going to keep him off until he perks up a little.’

                The worry dropped from Louise’s voice.

                ‘As long as he’s okay.’

                Julie nodded, funny the other woman couldn’t see her but the reassurance was there.

                ‘Yes thank you.’