The oral examination was coming up in a few days. Jessie was still coughing. She was slowly losing her voice. Jessie was worried she would not be able to speak clearly on that important day. That would be disastrous as she did not want to miss it. She wondered if there would be a make-up day for the examination if she missed it.

Jessie had been at home the last few days nursing a bad bout of flu and a nasty cough. It had started with a slight sore throat. When her condition worsened, her mother had to take her to the clinic.

“Are you feeling better?” Jessie’s mother asked, full of concern in her voice.

“A little… my throat still hurts and I think I’m losing my voice,” Jessie croaked. Her mother put her arms around her and comforted her. Jessie was glad she had a mother who took such good care of her when she was ill.

“At least your fever has gone down,” Jessie’s mother said, while gingerly placing her palm on Jessie’s forehead.  “Don’t worry. You’ll get better in time to sit for the examination.”