Amelia and the Flu

Chapter Six: Unicorns Don’t Get Sick (But Amelia Does)

Amelia Jean Stratton lay on the couch, buried under a pile of blankets. Her nose was red, her head throbbed, and she was convinced she might actually be dying—or at least turning into a human tissue dispenser.

“Mo-oooom,” she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think I need ice cream. For… medical reasons.”

Mom appeared in the doorway, holding a steaming cup of tea. “Amelia, you’ve got the flu, not a cavity. No ice cream.”

“Fine,” Amelia muttered dramatically, sinking deeper into the couch.

“Amelia Jean,” Spark announced, trotting into the living room, her mane shimmering like she’d just stepped out of a shampoo commercial. “Why are you moping? Illness is no excuse for gloominess!”

“Spark, I’m sick,” Amelia groaned. “It’s not moping. It’s suffering.”

“Humans are so dramatic,” Spark said, hopping onto the arm of the couch and shrinking herself down to hamster size. “If you’re stuck at home, we should make the most of it! Video games, all day!”

Amelia perked up slightly. “Video games?”

“No,” Mom interjected, giving Spark a look that could freeze lava. “She’s not spending the whole day staring at a screen. You’re going to rest and read some books.”

Spark tilted her tiny head. “Books? You mean those ancient, paper-based things?”

“Yes,” Mom said firmly, placing a stack of books on the coffee table. “These are Amelia’s favorites.”

Amelia groaned. “Mom, I’ve already read all of those.”

“Well, then, maybe Spark can find you something new,” Mom said with a raised eyebrow, daring Spark to argue.

Spark’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. “Challenge accepted.”

Mom left the room, and Spark hopped onto the coffee table. “Books it is! Stand back, Amelia Jean. Prepare to be amazed!”

The Fourth Wall Break (and Some Sparkle)

With a flash of her horn, Spark conjured a stack of books onto the coffee table. Amelia wiped her bleary eyes and squinted at the titles.

“Amelia and Her Unicorn’s Glittery Adventures? What is this?”

“Classic literature,” Spark said, puffing out her chest. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”

Amelia picked up the first book and flipped it open. “Spark, this is literally about me. Look! Chapter One: Amelia Complains About Math.”

“Accurate, isn’t it?” Spark said proudly.

Amelia raised an eyebrow. “And what’s this one? How to Train Your Unicorn to Behave (Spoiler: It’s Impossible).”

Spark nodded solemnly. “A gripping tale of perseverance and inevitable failure. Very relatable.”

“And this?” Amelia held up a book titled The Unicorn Who Always Gets Her Way.

“That one’s autobiographical,” Spark said with a wink.

Amelia groaned, tossing the book onto the pile. “These aren’t real books, Spark. They’re just ways for you to show off.”

Spark gasped, clutching her chest like she’d been mortally wounded. “Amelia Jean, I am deeply offended. These are works of art! Look, this one even has illustrations.”

Amelia flipped through the pages of The Glitter Revolution and paused. “Wait, is this about Googlyopia?”

“Ah,” Spark said, her voice reverent. “A tale for the ages.”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Mom’s going to kill me if I don’t actually read something normal.”

Mom Returns

A few minutes later, Mom reappeared with a fresh cup of tea and a suspiciously knowing look.

“Did Spark find you something to read?” she asked.

Amelia held up The Unicorn Who Always Gets Her Way. “Apparently, this is now considered classic literature.”

Mom’s eyebrow shot up as she glanced at Spark. “Is this what I think it is?”

“An undeniable masterpiece?” Spark offered.

“It’s not staying on the bookshelf,” Mom said flatly.

“Fair enough,” Spark said, hopping down from the coffee table. “I’ll just write the sequel.”

Amelia buried her face in her hands. “I’m going to be sick forever, aren’t I?”

Lessons in “Rest”

By the end of the day, Amelia was too tired to argue anymore. She lay back on the couch, half-watching as Spark conjured another pile of ridiculous books, each more absurd than the last.

“Amelia and the Case of the Stubborn Math Teacher?”

“A thriller,” Spark said, not looking up from her latest creation.

“101 Ways to Sparkle in Any Situation?”

“A self-help guide.”

Amelia groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“And you,” Spark said with a grin, “are my favorite patient.”

As Amelia drifted off to sleep, Spark curled up on the coffee table, humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Mom walked in one last time, pausing to adjust Amelia’s blanket. She glanced at Spark and sighed. “You know, for all your chaos, you’re not so bad.”

Spark smirked. “Don’t let that get out. I have a reputation to maintain.”

Mom rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she left the room.

The End (until the sequel hits the shelves…)

Disclosure: These prose were written with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4o.