Mom lies in bed and tries to call her brother. She phones thrice with no answer.

Mom: (sad sigh) Lena, would you please give your uncle a call? I haven’t heard from him or the girls in a week, and they’re not answering their phones.

Lena: (shouts from her room) No, why don’t you call them later? If they’re not answering your calls what makes you think they’ll answer mine?

Mom: Please, Lena. I don’t want to ask Granny if she’s heard from them because you know how she worries.

Lena: (sighs) Why don’t you ask Bree to call them?

Mom: Bree’s busy.

Mom’s phone vibrates.

Mom: Never mind, he just messaged.

Mom reads the message, her eyes widen, and her face begins to look sad.

Mom: Uncle Jesse and Cleo have Covid.

Lena: (shouting from her room while TikTok plays on her phone) OK. How did they even get it? Uncle Jesse even puts his money in the washing machine. (giggles)

Mom: I don’t know. He says he’s struggling to breathe but not to worry. 

Lena doesn’t respond and continues to watch TikTok’s on full volume.

Tell us: What do you think of Lena’s response? Have you ever received bad news about a loved one’s health? How did you react?