A children's short story: THE BARF BAG BRIGADE
- WGON
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
How the team beat the enemy flu
By: Linda Kirby
Grandma was called to come over because Little Tommy had the flu. So she hurried right in and sat by his side, holding his warm, feverish hand while the thermometer peeked out of his mouth. Poor Tommy’s little nose was bright red from blowing it so much. His cheeks were flushed, his breathing was stuffy, and his tummy felt wobbly and upset.
“I feel sick, Grandma,” Tommy whispered.
Grandma brushed his hair back gently. “I know, sweetheart. But you’re going to get through this with my love, your bravery… and a little help from the Barf Bag Brigade.”
Tommy’s eyes blinked open just a bit wider. He had never heard the BARF BAG BRIGADE before.
“What’s that, Grandma?”
“Oh, Tommy, hun,” she said with a soft smile, “that’s a special army troop that comes to help kids get over these things. They fight the battle, and you start feeling better real soon. They’re brave, they’re silly, and they always work together as a team.”
Chapter 2 — Meet the Barf Bag Brigade
Tommy blinked up at Grandma, still sniffling and feeling weak. “But… what’s the Barf Bag Brigade, Grandma?” he asked.
Grandma smiled and pointed to the bedside table. “That’s them, sweetheart.”
Tommy turned his head just a little, and his tired eyes widened. There, standing proudly on the table, was a tiny army of helpers — each one ready for duty.
Grandma leaned in and began explaining each soldier’s job. Before Tommy knew it, she was telling the whole story of the BARF BAG BRIGADE.
“You see right there,” she said, “that bottle of water standing so brave and tall?”
Tommy nodded his head yes.
Right then, Sarg. Water stepped forward, tall and confident. His bottle cap looked like a helmet sitting on his head. With a booming command, he shouted:
“Troops! Front and center!”
The Nasal Spray Twins peeked out from behind the tissue box. They were small, but powerful for their size, and they stood straight and brave as ordered.
Corp. Baby Aspirin marched forward with determination. His job was to beat the fever that made Tommy feel so weak. He was a powerful weapon, and he wouldn’t rest until the fever was defeated.
The Pink Nausea Medicine bottle might have been pretty but she was a fighter. She could take down a flipping stomach in a single blow. She would not rest until his tummy stopped flipping like a fish.
The Tissue Box Soldiers puffed up proudly, their soft white heads sticking out like fluffy helmets. Sarg. Water reminded them, “Be gentle on Tommy’s sore nose!” “Yes, Sir!” they shouted back.
And behind them, leaning forward like brave paratroopers, stood the Barf Bag Brigade — three little bags with big courage. It took a lot of bravery to do their dirty duty but they did it because it was very important.
Sarg. Water cleared his throat. “Listen up, everyone. Little Tommy has the flu, and we’ve got a job to do. We’re a team — and teamwork is how we win this battle.”
The Brigade nodded together. The sprays saluted. The tissues rustled proudly. Even the pink nausea medicine stood a little taller.
One of the Barf Bags raised his hand. “Uh… what’s our job? We’re not medicine. We’re just empty bags.”
“Well,” said Sarg. Water, “when Tommy has to throw up, you catch it in your bag.”
T he smallest bag gasped. “Wait a minute! I didn’t sign up for THAT duty! I’m outta here!”
Before anyone could stop him, he leaped off the side of the table — and just like a parachute, he floated gently down to the floor.
Everyone froze.
The tissues started crying. The nasal sprays began sniffling. Everyone thought he was a goner.
But then they heard a tiny voice from the floor: “I’m alright! I’m fine! Don’t worry about me!”
What a relief.
Sarg. Water shook his head. “Don’t worry about him. He was just a replacement anyway.”
Tommy watched them all, amazed. He had never seen medicine be so silly. And even though he still felt sick, he chuckled at the antics.
Grandma squeezed his hand. “See, hun? You’re not alone. You’ve got a whole team helping you.”
She continued softly, “They’ll do their part, and you’ll be brave like them and do your part. You’ll take your medicine so you can feel better. That’s how teamwork works — everyone doing their job so you can get back outside and ride your bike.”
Tommy wasn’t completely convinced, but he mumbled a tiny “yeah,” even though he wasn’t sure he was that brave.
Chapter 3 — Sarg. Water Briefs the Troops
Sarg. Water called the troops back to order now that the excitement had passed. He stood tall, cleared his throat, and barked out commands like a true leader.
“Alright, troops! Listen up!”
Every soldier snapped to attention.
“You each have a job to do,” Sarg. Water shouted. “And if we work together as a team, this enemy will be flushed out and destroyed. Little Tommy will be riding his bike again real soon!”
All the troops yelled back, “YES SIR, SARG!”
Sarg. Water paced proudly in front of them.
“Now go out there and fight like a team! Tommy will do his job too — he’ll take his medicine — and we’ll do our job and make him better fast. So go get ’um, men!”
The Brigade cheered. The sprays saluted. The tissues puffed up bravely. Even the pink nausea medicine stood tall and mighty.
The mission had officially begun.
Chapter 4 — Mission Accomplished… and a New Assignment
“Wow!” said Tommy. “I can do this! I’ve got the BARF BAG BRIGADE helping me!”
The troops cheered in the background, jumping with joy because Tommy had decided to be part of their team and fight the enemy — the flu. So Tommy took his medicine every day, just like Sarg. Water told him. And in no time at all, he was up, smiling, and playing outside with his friends again.
The troops celebrated with cheers and happy shouts. Sarg. Water stood proudly in front of them and cleared his throat.
“Troops, I couldn’t be more proud of you,” he announced. “Your teamwork was outstanding. And even though the BARF BAG BRIGADE had the ugliest job, they did it bravely and proudly. Team, you did good!”
The Brigade puffed up proudly — well, two of them did. The third one looked a little green around the edges.
Sarg. Water continued, “Now listen up! We’ve got a new assignment. Seems little Cindy next door caught Tommy’s flu, so we have another mission to fight!”
At that very moment, the green around the edges barf bag fainted flat on his face.
The tissues cried. The nasal sprays gasped. The pink nausea medicine rolled her eyes and whispered, “wimp”.
But they all gathered themselves, straightened their helmets, and marched right over to little Cindy’s house to do it all again.
THE END
©2026 Linda Kirby
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