THE CHICKEN SOUP TONIC!

Annie was moping around the flat. How could she help her friend, she wondered? She had looked so sick this morning when she left. She hated to see her so sick. It was really worrying.

Her best friend Mary had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia and had been going through chemotherapy for the past few weeks. She'd lost all of her beautiful auburn hair and had been very depressed and wondering 'why me' at every turn, although lately, after the worst of the procedures were over, she'd developed a sort of calmness about her. Everyone said so. Her personality had changed, and sadly that 'devil-may-care' attitude she was known for, was gone.

"Mary's really sick again," Annie had rung her friend hoping to get some advice, she was really upset. "I wish there was something I could do to help her!"

"How's her appetite now?" Jerri answered. "Is it any better since she's come off the drugs?"

"Well, I suppose it'll take time, that chemotherapy is a 'killer' so to speak!" Annie made a face, she knew that Jerri would agree with her. Sometimes she forgot that the person she was talking to wasn't in the same room as her.

"Well," said Jerri, thinking quickly, "Something you could do for her, is make her some homemade Chicken Soup! My mother used to swear by that when we were kids and feeling a bit poorly!"

"Chicken Soup?" Annie was doubtful. "That seems like too simple a solution, although, mind you, I've never actually made Chicken Soup before, so it might be very complicated for all I know!" now she laughed. "Do you think it might help, though?"

"Listen, take it from one who knows! As soon as us kids got even a whiff of that wonderful brew, we were 'straining at the bit' to get up and about." Jerri laughed now too, thinking of the antics she and her younger brother used to pull on their poor mother, but she knew that Chicken Soup had some really healing properties.

Annie thought about it for a minute. "Actually that sounds like a brilliant idea. Have you got a recipe? The one your mother used would be great if you know it?" Her enthusiasm was boiling over a bit, Jerri thought, but she knew that Annie was so desperate to help her friend, and what better way to make Mary feel better than to stimulate her appetite.

"Hmm, well, it was a long time ago but I'm sure there're lots of recipes on the internet," Jerri answered.

"Oh, yeah! I always forget about that." Annie chuckled.

"Let me know how you get on! Talk to you soon!" They hung up.

That was the beginning of a great plan for Annie, something to make her feel she was helping.

The 'Let's Get Mary Well Again' Project came into being the moment she put down the phone. She googled a fairly simple recipe for Chicken Soup, wrote down the ingredients, and made her way to the supermarket to get all the provisions.

While she was there she edged her way to the ready-made Chicken Soups on the shelf. She was really tempted to buy some of those instead, because the index on the back of the packets and tins listed the exact same list of ingredients she was buying, but thinking back on what Jerri had said - it's the 'homemade' component that was the key here.

Righto! I can't stint on this. Mary needs me! she thought to herself.

When she got home she put the full chicken in the largest pot she could find, filled it up with water, and waited for it to boil. Next came the peeling and dicing of the vegetables. The recipe called for the chicken to boil for quite a considerable time to make a nourishing stock, so while that was happening she texted her friend and told her to expect a lovely dinner when she got home.

Please don't go to too much trouble, Annie. Not sure if I'll be up to eating anything, to be honest, Mary texted back.

That message made Annie wonder if she was doing the right thing after all. Maybe Mary might not be ready for soup yet, she thought dejectedly.

"No, I'm not going to give up. I know this will be good for her so I'm going to carry on! I have to do this!" she said aloud feeling more determined than ever.

Mary wasn't due back until 7pm that night so that gave the chicken heaps of time to cook and fill the house with wonderful aromas of the stock, the vegetables, and herbs. Annie even looked up which herbs were good for awakening the taste buds, she had left no stone unturned in her effort to help her friend.

At 7pm Mary came in the front door. She looked frail and deathly white. Annie was dismayed.

So that her friend wouldn't feel guilty, she said, "Look," trying as best she could to keep any sound of disappointment out of her voice, "I'll understand if you can't eat anything tonight. I'll freeze the soup for you to have over the next few days."

"Perhaps I could try a little bit. It smells so wonderful." Mary smiled. She knew how hard her friend had worked to please her, Jerri had called her.

On the first night, she could only manage a couple of spoonfuls, but she kept it down, so that was a bonus. Gradually the volume was increased and by the end of the week, a fairly sizable bowl was being consumed once a day. Mary hadn't been sick all week and her colour was looking better.

"Jerri! Jerri!" Annie called into the phone excitedly. "You were right! I don't know what's in homemade Chicken Soup to make it so nutritious, but it works! Mary's looking so much better. Thanks for the wonderful advice."

"I'm so glad to hear that, Annie!" she replied with relief "My mother knew her stuff! Sometimes these old remedies are the best. I'll be over later to have a look for myself if that's alright!" she laughed...