Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 13:26:42 EST
From: Djedoric58@aol.com
Subject: THE ONLY WAY TO FLY CHAPTER 13

Dear readers

I found I had serious created a continuity flaw at the end of chapter
twelve. For those who read that chapter before I submitted a revised
version, please read the last part again before reading this new chapter,
otherwise the continuity of the story would not make sense. Thanks to those
of you who have emailed me with your comments. I am greatly encouraged to
carry on writing.

DJ
Djedoric58@aol.com

THE ONLY WAY TO FLY
 By DJ

CHAPTER THIRTEEN


 I've witnessed street brawls at their worst, and even taken part one or
two, to aid a friend in trouble, and I've watched many a martial arts
display, but never like the one Billy displayed that morning. He was about
the same size as his opponents, so size was no problem, but there were six
of them and only one of Billy. I would never have gone to war against three
let alone six. No way. But Billy had the guts of ten men that day. The
thugs jeered, and Shorrocks stood behind than like the coward he was. I
watched his face pull into a cunning smile; just like him to let his boys
do all the rough stuff. Where had that guy come from? I learned yesterday
that he had two more sons, but the twins were the eldest. I wondered what
the other two were like. When the twins did not move, Billy moved
closer. The twins conferred with each other, smiled and suddenly charged,
but Billy was elsewhere, then spinning to let loose with hands, elbows and
knees. It took him about thirty seconds to put them on the ground, his last
strike being when they rushed him from either side. He dropped to his knees
as they crashed into each other, and then shot up straight to drive his
fists up into their jaws while they were still stunned. Bruised and
whimpering, they lay at his feet and their Dad roared at them to get up and
stop acting like ninnies. Already, Billy was beckoning to the other louts
to have a go, two of them did and got the same treatment, but not before we
made our move and came closer to the action. As soon as we did, Shorrocks
backed away. The other two started to move forward but suddenly found
Indian and Rob smiling down at them. They pushed their way past Shorrocks
and disappeared back into the house. But the twins didn't; they got to
their feet and turned on the father. We all heard their angry tirade,
informing him they weren't going to listen to him anymore, they were fed up
to being forced to fight, that he could fight his own fights from now
on. They turned to face Billy and held their hands up in defeat. Billy
shook hands with them and they turned to pull their father out of the
house, went inside and slammed the door. Billy took one step towards
Shorrocks and the man backed up to the door. Billy signalled to Daley who
went forward and gave Shorrocks a little pep talk about raising a family of
louts. Shorrocks said he was going to call the police. Billy put two
fingers up at him and turned to walk back down the drive with a satisfied
smirk on his face, leaving the two last thugs crawling bout, trying to get
to their feet.

"Where did you learn all that stuff?" I wanted to know as we climbed back
into the van.

"His dad was a martial arts expert," Daley said as he switched on the
engine. "Taught him a lot of stuff for just this kind of situation."

I glared round at the band. "And you lot let me believe Billy was a
gonna. Well thank you very much!" Billy just grinned and I had to endure
the teasing all the way home. I was really miffed and felt like a fool, and
let him know it till after lunch when he came to me in the barn. I had to
get some solo practice in and was making the most of my time alone. Billy
walked in and came straight up to me, signed, "I'm sorry, Mags, forgive
me?" All the bravado had vanished, and al I saw was a vulnerable young man
trying to get himself psyched up for his hospital appointment. I did the
only thing I could. I took him in my arms and held him close. "You're
scared about this afternoon?" He nodded against my chest and tightened his
arms round me. What could I do but hug him to me and give him my
unconditional love and support.



*

Dr. Brent sat us down in his office and looked down at Billy's notes, his
expression one of solemn concern. Daley and I exchanged worried glances and
waited for him to speak. He rose to his feet and switched on a wall viewer,
showing several pictures of a brain. I looked at the side on picture and
recognised the shape within the skull. At a point at the back of the head
was a white patch. Brent pointed to it and addressed his remarks to
Billy. "This is the tumour we found. It's located in the Occipital lobe
that governs one's sight and is the cause of the visual problems you have
started to encounter. Unfortunately, although we can operate to remove most
of the tumour, it's wrapped round the occipital nerve."

"Which means?" Daley asked.

"If we operate we can't guarantee Billy will retain his sight."

"And if you don't operate?" Daley asked.

"Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy can be tried but we would still need to
reduce the size of the tumour as much as possible for them to have any
effect, especially if the tumour is found to be a fast growing one. And we
still can't guarantee he won't lose his sight." He turned back to
Billy. "I'm sorry to give you such bad news, Billy. What I would like to do
is to admit you to the Oncology unit for a few days and perform a biopsy to
find out exactly what kind of tumour it is and how fast it is growing. That
will give me a clearer picture on the proper form of treatment. Depending
on what we find, we might operate straight away, but only if you agree to
it. Mr. Roberts will have to sign the consent form as well. Meanwhile, I'd
like you to see our resident Optometrist. I've already had a word with him
and he's arranged to see you at four o'clock. Now, are there any questions
you would like to ask me?"

Bill was too stunned by the news to reply, unable to take at all in, and he
just stared at the pictures of his brain. Brent looked as if he wanted to
retract his words. It must have just as hard for him to tell Billy his
diagnosis as it was for us to hear it.  "We have a hospitality suite next
door, Billy. You will probably wish to sit quietly with Mr. Roberts and
discuss all this in private while I finalise your admittance to
Oncology. I'll have some tea brought to you, and my secretary will bring
you the forms to sign. If you'd like to follow me?"

We got to our feet and started for the door, and I watched Billy sign to
Daley who interpreted for Brent, "Blind if I do, blind if I don't."

Brent looked as if he was about to burst into tears. "That seems to be the
case, yes. I'm so sorry."

As soon as the door to the hospitality suite closed on us, Billy flung
himself into my arms and I felt him tremble as I hugged him tight.  Daley
came to us, his eyes filling with unashamed tears and he put his arms round
the two of us. That set Billy off and we held him while he cried, and I
felt my own eyes misting over. What a hell of a way to go! The kid was too
young to have such a rotten thing happen to him. I hated the idea of us
just going him and leaving him there after suffering such a shock, and so
soon after losing his dad. Daley was of the same mind and in the end, he
went to see Brent and arranged for us to take Billy home and bring him back
tomorrow.

 The band was devastated when they heard the news, and made a real fuss of
him, all of them wanting to hug him, so much it turned into a mass hug for
everyone with Billy and I in the middle. After a very subdued tea, during
which Billy hardly ate anything, I took him up to bed where I helped him
take a shower, sex being the farthest from our minds, and took him to
bed. He cried a lot, and so did I, and when, at one point, I asked him what
was troubling him the most, he whispered in my ear, "I won't be able to see
you any more."



Dear readers

Sorry this is such a short chapter but I couldn't find a better way to end
it. Competition - hands up who used the most tissues????

DJ