a first

bean is home sick today. when i called her school to let them know, the person on the phone said, "does she just have a cold? or...?" i've never been asked that question before when calling my kids in sick (honestly, half the time the answer would have been "no, just a little sick in the head today!" or "just sick of school!"). i can't help but interpret that ellipsis as "the-virus-that-shall-not-be-named."*

*she has a cold.