CYRUS THE VIRUS
The character Cyrus the Virus was created in 1979 when the author was nine-years-old and welcomed a new baby brother. Always fond of cleanliness, she was especially careful to keep her two brothers and the family home disinfected and deodorized. In science class, she learned that a dirty environment breeds disease, especially viruses; what better name for a virus than Cyrus? The responsible big sister was keen to make sure her baby brother, five-year-old brother, and all their friends kept clean and safe from foul, fetid Cyrus the Virus. After two or three patient years, the author’s mother told her, “Enough of your Cyrus the Virus stories! It is not nice to frighten your brothers and friends.”
After an intermission, Cyrus the Virus was reborn in 1991 when the author became a mother welcoming her own baby boy. She had never abandoned her love for cleanliness and was enthusiastic to keep her son, her two brothers, and the family home superbly sanitized. Once again, two or three patient years elapsed. Her mother again said, “Enough already with your Cyrus the Virus stories! What kind of mother frightens her own child?”