Kelpie turned back and sat straighter.
"I… I tummy hurt," he blurted, his voice trembling. "It hurt… so much. A-all day…"
His eyes got even wider. "I couldn't swim. Or sit. Or blink."
Alina blinked. "You couldn't blink?"
Kelpie nodded furiously. "My eyelids felt… tired."
The class room was silent for a second.
Then Boo floated past and muttered, "That's the worst kind of sickness."
Sable nodded beside him.
Alina covered her mouth to hide her smile. "I see. Well, I hope your eyelids are feeling better now?"
Kelpie nodded seriously. "They're okay now… I think."
Alina smiled, her heart melting a little at the way he was still dripping nervous water.
"Alright," she said softly. "Thank you for telling me."
Then she looked toward her next target.
Little Rocky… who was already halfway hidden under his desk.
"Rocky, sweetheart," she said gently, "why didn't you come yesterday?"
The second she said his name—
Rocky froze.
Completely.
