(Nora is bundled up against the pillows, looking generally sulky and stopped up)
Storyteller: (enters with a bowl and spoon) All right, here you go. One bowl of radish and potato soup with rosemary on top. Best thing in the world for what you've got.
Nora: (sniffle) Thanks. (starts slurping up soup) So where's Erin?
Storyteller: Out coping with assorted job and school-related stresses.
(door creaks open)
MN: What a day...
Storyteller: There's soup on the stove.
MN: Thank you...Nora, I've got a get well card for you from Mrs. F., and another one from your brother and sisters. (tosses cards to Nora)
Nora: Ahhh! Be careful with that one from Heather and the twins, it could be rigged. (rips open one; it explodes in a flash of blue flames) See?
MN: Obviously they've been taking lessons from Don Sahlin. (goes to kitchen, gets bowl of soup) Oh, and I swung by the Henson offices downtown...and it looks like you're not the only one laid up with a cold. (starts spooning up soup) You see, Linda Lavin was there last week for a show, and she had a cold...and now Richard and Kathy have it...and Dave and Jerry didn't look so great either.
Storyteller: Oooh...I'll save some soup for them. (runs off to kitchen)
MN: (laughs softly) I know; I stopped by to visit them at their homes. They're all sicker than I don't know what.
Nora: Must be an epidemic...(flumps back onto pillows)
Storyteller: (returns with four glass jars full of soup) Do you think you can run these off for Kathy and the boys?
MN: Sure. Just let me finish first.