the virus

In case you haven't been told, in recent weeks we've been sick. We have not been outstanding. In Tartu, most friends have been ill, one way or the other. We had some warm spring weeks and then a cool patch set in, which I think contributed to a lot of coughing and sneezing.

But our illness was contagious. It started one day when Martha, our 13-year-old baby sitter who watches Marta during hectic workdays, came by. She was only downstairs alone with Marta for a minute, but then she had to leave because she felt sick.

That night, both Marta and Martha were vomiting in their respective homes. Just when Marta was feeling better, the virus somehow leaped to Epp, who also began puking her guts out. In her weakened state, she was reliant on me. Then, unfortunately, I also fell ill. However, I had the coughing, sneezing, aching kind of sickness, mostly the product of too much work and too little hot fun in the summertime. So there we were, Epp, Marta, and I, all sick. Only little Anna, with her protective yellow helmet, managed to avoid the disease.

But here's the weird thing, I never threw up and Epp never got the coughing sneezing part. Marta got both, and, sadly, even Anna's little yellow helmet couldn't protect her from the coughing and sneezing. We are all still grappling with it, though it's getting better.

But it doesn't stop there. One day, several days after attaining all signs of wellness, Marta went to play with her friends Elise and Jaan. That night, both adorable little Elise and Jaan began throwing up. Then Elise and Jaan's mom Ilona caught the virus. This was really amazing. Was it in Marta's snot? Did one just start throwing up after being in her presence? And, if so, how come I had yet to vomit myself? Was I immune to the virus?

Days after that Epp, Marta, and Anna all went to visit Pille and her two children -- Jakob and Roos. And, you guessed it, that night Roos and Jakob passed their time by vomiting. Marta also spent time at Leenu's place, and they too started puking. An exorbitant amount of time had already passed between Marta's first puke and the latest victim's infection. But it keeps happening and we're really scared. When will the virus end? Who will be its last victim?

We decided this weekend to not visit Epp's grandparents as we do not wish the virus to prove fatal. However, I am afraid that wherever we go, if we go to the supermarket for example, the cashiers will wind up vomiting within hours.