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– If you want a story with lots of sex, look elsewhere. This is
a love story. Seeing, as it is a love story, sex is in there, but it
is in realistic balance in the characters’ lives. The story
contains sexual encounters between high school age minors, and has
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Trails
and Tribulations
Chapter
10
Dreams and Visions
The
silence in the room was kinda terrifying. I didn’t expect to be
yelled at; I mean, I knew that they all loved me, but I wasn’t
expecting the complete silence that filled the room. I didn’t
sense anger or disappointment in the air from Dad, Aunt Alice, or
Uncle Steve. However, after my announcement, their attention
immediately shifted from Joey and me, to Roger, and I didn’t
know why. Joey nervously squeezed my hand. I squeezed back leaned and
into him, trying to reassure him that everything would be okay. Of
course, I had no clue what was wrong.
“Uh guys?” I
raised my voice bringing everyone’s attention back to me.
“What’s up here? Roger didn’t do anything.”
“Son,”
Dad shook his head, and smiled, “We’re all fine with you
and Joey dating. In fact, we all thought it was just a matter of
time. I told you last week I would love you no matter what. As for
Roger, he was supposed to keep us updated.” Dad said looking
back at Roger, who was trying to sink into the couch we were sitting
on.
“Please don’t be mad at Roger.” I said,
pleading with my eyes as I looked at my father and then at Roger’s
parents. These people meant so much to me, and I just wanted them to
understand why Roger hadn’t told them. “We made him
promise not to say anything to anyone. He is the best friend anyone
could ever have and he kept his promise. So if you want to be mad at
someone, then let it be me.”
“And at me too,”
Joey interjected. There was no way he’d let me take the blame
for something like this by myself. “Please be mad at me, not
Roger. We asked him not to tell, and he did it more for me than
anyone.”
There was silence as Aunt Alice and Uncle Steve
looked at each other and smiled. Dad looked over at them and nodded
before he stood up. For a moment everything seemed off, until I seen
the smile on my father’s face.
“Come here boys,”
Dad stood up, throwing his arms wide.
Joey and I both stood
and went to him. He drew us both into the tight and loving embrace
that only a father is capable of giving.
“I’m so
proud of both of you.” Dad smiled as he kissed us both on the
forehead. I could see the tears in his eyes as he looked at us.
Aunt
Alice and Uncle Steve came over to us and hugged us too, soon
followed by Roger in a six-way family hug. My family.
* * * *
* * * * * *
JT pushed himself back into a sitting position on
the floor and raised his right hand to his mouth, wiping the blood
from his split lip as he looked up into his father’s
eyes.
“Boy, I told you never to sass me again. You’ll
do as you’re told or else.” Mr. McCray growled at his
son, scowling menacingly.
“But Poppa, I’ll be
kicked off the football team, if I’m not already.” JT
pleaded, shivering in fear at what else his father might do to
him.
“You listen to me boy, either you uphold the family
name and take care of that faggot that dishonored you, or you don’t
come home, and that’s final.” His father towered over JT,
watching to ensure that his son would follow orders.
JT nodded
and got up off the floor. He kept his head down as he passed his
father. Leaving the living room, he headed for his bedroom. Tomorrow,
he would do as his father ordered. He had no choice- at least, he
didn’t think he did.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Thank
you, Dad, it means a lot to me that you accept Joey and me. I’ve
been scared for a little over a year, when I shouldn’t have
been. I love you,” I whispered in Dad’s ear, as I hugged
him tighter. I took a step back and looked into my father’s
eyes. They were overflowing with his love for me and his smile was
filled with pride.
I turned to Aunt Alice and Uncle
Steve.
“Please don’t be mad at Roger.” I
watched Aunt Alice shake her head a moment. Then she stepped forward,
took me into her arms, and hugged me tightly.
“Don’t
worry sweetie, we aren’t mad at him.”
I hugged her
a little tighter, relief flooding throughout my body. I kissed her
cheek and told her, “Thank you.”
That only left
one member of my family to talk to. I turned my head to look over at
Uncle Steve. He smiled and winked at me.
“Come here.”
Uncle Steve reached out his arms for me. I walked into his fatherly
embrace.
“Thank you, Uncle Steve. You have no idea how
good this feels.” He hugged me tighter, and all I could think
was that my family had to be the best in the entire world.
I
turned looking for my boyfriend, and found him being hugged by my
dad, which brought huge smile to my face.
“Boys, it’s
a school night, so we better break this up,” Aunt Alice said
looking between Roger, Joey, and me.
I turned to Dad. “Is
it okay if I walk Joey home?”
“Before you guys
leave, can I ask what you plan on telling your friends about the two
of you?”
I looked at Joey to make sure it was alright if
I answered for the both of us. The gentle nod that he gave me told me
I could.
“We’re not going to tell anyone yet. When
we do, it’ll only be after we both agree to do so.”
All
three adults smiled and nodded their approval.
We all left
Dad, leaving by the back door and crossing over through the adjoining
backyards. The Banks’s went on in, leaving Joey and me on the
back porch. As we faced each other, holding hands, there was a
brilliant full moon lighting Joey’s angelic face causing my
heart rate to increase and leaving me totally breathless. Joey leaned
in, and I met him half way. As our lips touched, I felt our souls
connect.
“I better go in,” Joey said as he broke
the kiss.
“I love you, angel boy.” I smiled and
nodded.
“I love you too. Good night, Andy.”
“Good
night, babe.”
He smile and went in, leaving me feeling
like a million bucks. As I was walking back, the feeling Joey left me
with had me smiling from ear to ear, and the joy from knowing that
Joey loved me back just increased, and I couldn’t hold it in
any longer. I pumped my fist in the air and yelled at the top of my
lungs, “YES!” My entire family now knew the truth and
supported us. Who could ask for anything better?
I didn’t
sleep well that night at all. I had a nightmare and woke up from it
drenched in cold sweat and screaming. I don’t remember
screaming, but Dad heard me, and came running in to check on me. I
dreamt I was on High Rock and could see for miles and miles. On the
horizon, I could see a gathering of dark clouds. As I turned and
looked in any direction, all I could see were dark, ugly, greenish,
clouds. Yet if I looked straight up, the sun was bright and warm
overhead. As I looked around, the storm clouds seemed to be getting
closer, and the wind was picking up. At first, I thought I saw rain
falling from the clouds, but as the clouds neared, it looked more
like fingers were reaching down from the clouds toward the ground.
They danced from hilltop to hilltop, all the while closing in on me.
The wind began to howl and get stronger and stronger. I could see the
destruction these fingers were causing, as they got closer. It was
then that I realized that these fingers were tornadoes. I was
surrounded by tornadoes, and they were tightening the circle of
destruction around me. I looked down at the foot of the mountain
where Pine Hills was and saw tornado after tornado pass through the
town I’d lived my whole life. I saw homes being torn apart.
When one past over the Cherry Hills Outpatient Clinic, I swear that I
could see glowing rocks spiral up into the funnel cloud.
The
destruction that I was seeing wasn’t the worst of it, for
houses and towns could be rebuilt. I was filled with so much fear
that it was like a poison, racing through my veins, causing my entire
body to shake uncontrollably as I stood there paralyzed. I wasn’t
afraid that I would be hurt; rather that those I love were BEING
hurt. The tornadoes continued to tighten their circle around me like
a noose slowly tightening around my neck. Gone was the sun overhead.
The sky was filled with boiling clouds as far as I could see. As the
tornadoes began their climb up the mountain towards me, there was a
sudden blast of blinding white light from above. I fell to the ground
and covered my eyes from the explosion of light.
I opened my
eyes, and took my first looked around. The sun was shining again, and
the sky was a beautiful blue; not a cloud to be seen. However, when I
looked down towards Pine Hills, I could see the scars left by the
tornadoes. The school was gone, the churches ripped apart, and my own
neighborhood was torn asunder. There was nothing but rabble where my
house and Roger’s should have stood.
Then there was a
light again, not a bright as before, yet brighter than the sun light.
Standing in the air, out in front of me, a figure seemed to be within
the light. I then heard an angelic voice call to me.
“Fear
not, for I stand with thee and yours.”
That’s when
I jerked awake. Dad said I was calling out NO over and over again
until I seemed to calm down before I woke.
Before Dad left, he
made sure that I was okay, and told me that he would talk to me more
at breakfast. It was only six am, but I knew that it was useless to
try to get anymore sleep. I went ahead and started my morning
routine. I knew I had to gather my thoughts for Dad, but I also knew
I wouldn’t have to work to remember that dream. I will never be
able to forget it.
I was rattled. I have had more than my fair
share of bad dreams before; but most of them had dealt with me losing
my mom, and my fear of becoming an orphan, so this feeling wasn’t
totally unknown to me. Yet, I had never felt as alone as I did in
that dream, not to mention completely helpless to protect everyone
that I loved. Then at the end, I didn’t understand the voice or
the bright light.
When I rounded the corner, Dad was sitting
at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper.
“How are
you feeling, Andy?”
“I don’t know. It was a
weird dream.”
“You have plenty of time, so sit
down, and tell me about it,” Dad said, as he pushed out the
chair next to him at the table. I sat down and began to tell him
about my nightmare.
After hearing the whole thing, Dad had me
repeat the end of the dream to him a second time.
I watched my
father’s reaction as I did so. He was staring off into space
listening to me. When I finished, he looked at me, smiled, and
nodded.
“I know your dream was disturbing, but if it
holds any deeper meaning, then the ending can only be interpreted as
a good omen. Focus on that, and I’m sure you’ll feel much
better about it, okay?” Dad said as he leaned forward and
patted me on the shoulder. “Go ahead and have breakfast, then I
will take you boys to school.”
I nodded, got up, got my
breakfast, and ate in silence, all the while thinking over the
horrific dream and Dad’s interpretation. Thinking about the
voice did make me feel better, but I couldn’t forget the
destruction.
I couldn’t help but worry that something
bad was coming our way and I didn’t know if it could be
stopped. A story I had been reading online, Clan Short –
Memories, came to mind. The boys in the story had a saying; sometimes
we need to go through bad things for good things to happen. Maybe
this was one of those situations. I just wish there were some way to
keep bad things from happening and still have good things happen.
As
I was finishing breakfast, Dad had me call over and tell Roger and
Joey to get ready, since we’d be leaving in five minutes. I
wondered if I should tell them about my dream on the ride to school,
but decided against it.
Dad dropped us off in front of school.
I swallowed the fear that had not subsided and walked into the
building with Joey and Roger.
Roger walked on without us when
Joey stopped me at the door after we walked in.
“What’s
wrong Andy?” he asked, turning me to face him.
“I
don’t know.” I sighed. “I just have a feeling
something bad is gonna happen.”
Joey looked me in the
eye. “As long as we stand together, we have nothing to
fear.”
“What did you just say?” I asked,
raising an eyebrow.
“I said, as long as…” I
interrupted him.
“I know what you said.” I said a
little harsh. “I’m sorry, Joey. I didn’t mean to
bite your head off, but this is just too weird and it kinda has me
freaked out. It reminded me what a voice told me in my dream last
night.” I grabbed him by the arm, started walking us towards my
locker, and I proceeded to tell him about the heavenly voice from my
nightmare. When I finished, Joey gave me a weird look.
I
didn’t get a chance to explain further before I was shoved from
behind into the lockers and put a two inch dent in one, with my head.
As I shook the pain out of my head, I realized I was sitting on the
floor with my back against the lockers, and blood was pouring down my
face from a gash in my forehead. I looked up and saw JT had pinned
Joey up against a locker, choking my boyfriend with his forearm. If
the blood wasn’t causing me to see red, the sight before me was
now. Flanking JT were Jonas and Kevin, two of his lackeys from the
football team.
None of them was paying any attention to me. I
quickly jumped up before any of our attackers noticed, and I hit JT
with all my might on the side of his head, knocking him to the floor.
I was more than happy to return the favor for the blow I had been
given. As I turned to face Jonas, from out of nowhere, Roger tackled
him and started raining blows down on his face and body. That meant
two out of the three bullies were now down which just left Kevin. I
turned to take on Kevin; but all I saw was his back as he ran down
the hall, as fast as he could. I turned my attention back to JT. He
had now tried to beat Joey up twice and he had attacked me. I started
for JT, who was still on the floor dazed. The blood from the cut on
my head was starting to run into my eyes, stinging and serving to
make me even angrier. I was just about to make him pay for attacking
us, when I heard a commanding voice that I had no choice but to
obey.
“STOP!”
“Andy,” Joey
whispered from behind me. With my name spoken so softly, he had my
full attention. Everything else was forgotten, I turned and faced
him.
He shook his head and put his hand on my chest. The
sympathy in his eyes broke my heart and immediately stilled my anger.
He glanced at JT before he said anything more to me. “He’s
not to blame. He’s only doing what he was told to do. I know
his fear. I’ve lived it too. It’s his father.” Joey
calmly walked over to JT and reached down his hand to help him up.
“JT, I forgive you.”
To say JT was as shocked as I
was would be an understatement. At first, his eyes widened, his mouth
hung open, and his lips trembled slightly. As JT took Joey’s
hand, the hatred and scorn his face had shown earlier, changed to one
of peace and tranquility. Joey pulled him to his feet and glanced at
Roger.
“It’s okay now Roger. You can let him go.
There won’t be any more trouble from him today.”
Roger
released Jonas, but kept an eye on him. Jonas shook his head,
bewildered, and then headed towards the door.
JT
-was nervous, but he remained rooted to the spot, eyeing Joey
up and down. Finally, the tension broke, and he asked, “Why?”
“Because
I understand why you did it,” Joey answered, placing a hand on
JT’s shoulder. “I didn’t get hurt, but Andy
did.”
JT glanced at me. His body trembled. He turned his
gaze to the floor out of sheer guilt. I’d never seen him show
anything but anger. It felt like forever before he took a breath and
said. “I’m sorry you were hurt. I didn’t do it, but
I’m the one that caused it.” His gaze went back to the
floor and his voice, barely louder than a whisper, reflected his
remorse. “I’m sorry,” He said.
This stunned
me more than Joey’s commanding voice or having my head shoved
into a locker, but I knew I had to reply, and choose my words
wisely.
“JT, we used to be friends a long time ago. I
don’t know what I did or what happened that caused us not to be
friends.” I paused, searching for the words, before continuing,
“I trust Joey, and from what I’ve seen here this morning,
I believe you mean it. You’re forgiven and I hope we can be
friends again,” I said reaching out my hand. He cautiously took
my offered hand and shook it just as Mrs. Moore came running up. She
was a little out of breath, but quickly took control of the
situation.
“What’s going on here boys? I was told
some guys were fighting.”
I didn’t want to lie,
nor did I want JT in trouble at this point, so, I had to be careful
how I worded my explanation.
“Mrs. Moore, as you can see
no one is fighting. I lost my balance,” ‘Yeah right, with
a lot of help,’ I thought. “And I fell into the lockers
and cut my head. I was just thanking JT for his help. Do you think I
should go and see the nurse about my head?” I hoped that I had
given Mrs. Moore enough information to let her know that this was
settled and that she should let it go. She was known to be fair with
students and concerned with how we all handled our problems. Besides,
my head had begun to really hurt, and felt light headed.
She
walked up to me, took my head in her hands, examined it carefully,
and said, “I think you’re quite right.” She peered
into my eyes. “Andy, how are you feeling now?”
“
I’m a little dizzy and kinda in shock to be honest.” I
told her the truth, and I really just wanted to lie down.
Mrs.
Moore paused a moment and glared at JT. She shook her head in dismay
and turned to Joey, who was standing beside me. “Will you take
him to the nurse’s office and stay with him until she comes
in?”
“We both will,” Roger answered. She
nodded in approval and chased the stragglers, who had stopped to
watch, to their classrooms.
JT’s expression of gratitude
was genuine. “Thank you, Andy.” There was no doubt that
he meant it. This sure wasn’t how I had expected my day to go,
fighting and then making friends, with JT. I smiled and waved him
off. “Forget it, JT.”
“Come on.” Roger
put his arm around my waist and pulled me towards the nurse’s
office.
I was glad both Joey and Roger were escorting me. I
felt a little dizzy now that the fighting had stopped. I would have
hated to pass out on Joey, on the way to the nurse, if he had been by
himself.
“You know we are going to talk about what
happened this morning, don’t you.” I asked Joey.
“I
don’t know what to say, Andy, but if you feel we must, I’ll
try to explain, but not now. First we need to get you examined.”
He stiffened beside me and his voice was stronger than before. There
was no denying my boyfriend was determined when he wanted to be.
I
nodded and followed their lead. By the time we got there, I really
did need the two of them to hold me up. My knees had turned to jelly
during the long walk to the nurse’s office and my vision had
blurred. The office was open, but the nurse hadn’t arrived yet.
Roger and Joey laid me down on one of those hospital examination
beds, like the one Joey sat on the first time we kissed. As soon as I
lay my head on the pillow, I noticed the concern in Joey’s
face. Then the world around me darkened, and everything faded.
Finally, blackness.
I became aware of being surrounded by
darkness and a figure stood in front of me. It glowed brightly and
radiated warmth.
“Michael Andrew Collins.”
I
couldn’t see the lips move in the bright light that emanated
from it. I had the feeling that this wasn’t a dream, and I was
expected to answer.
“Yes, sir?” I answered, as
respectfully as I could.
“A time of trials is coming for
thee. Thou hast strength of character and courage of the heart. Be
strong of faith, for faith will see thee through all that comes
against thee.” It paused, and then as if it could see into my
heart, it said, “God did not take thy mother from thee, it was
her time.”
“How… how did you know that I
blamed God? I’ve never shared that with anyone, not even my
dad.”
“God hast heard thine prayers. He knows all
things, and what is best for all of us. Sometimes we have to go
through bad things for good things to happen.”
I wasn’t
totally convinced with that answer, but I had accepted it when I read
it in the Clan Short stories. I mean, it made sense the way it was
explained in the story. So why couldn’t I now? I decided to go
with my heart. “Okay, I can believe that, so what do you want
from me?”
I had the feeling that my answer had pleased
it, whoever it was.
“Be thyself, and know that thou dost
not stand alone. God moves through many people. Remember, God is
known by many names by many people. God is spirit, and God is
love.”
The figure began to fade as it spoke those last
words.
“Wait, don’t go yet!”
“Thou
canst stay here no longer, Andy. Thou hast much to do, and people who
love thee are waiting. For now, have faith.”
As I
watched, the figure faded from sight, and I was alone in total
darkness once again. Great, a talking light that talked in riddles.
Well maybe not riddles, but it could have at least told me what was
coming and what I was supposed to do about it.
The ground
beneath my feet trembled, and I fell flat on my back. Someone called
my name. In the distance. Closer. The voice of a woman.
“Andy,
wake up.”
My eyelids were heavy and they slowly drifted
open. It took a moment to focus on the figure before me. Eventually I
could make out Miss Pennington, the school nurse. She was
concerned,
and she stared nervously into my eyes. She waited a minute before
speaking.
“Good, you’re awake. Now you have to
stay awake for me, okay. No more sleeping until we get you to the
hospital.” She reached out and took my pulse, ignoring my
puzzled expression. A moment later, she was marking down everything
on a sheet of paper she had on a clipboard.
“What
happened?” I asked.
“You passed out as soon as we
laid you down. You kinda scared us for a minute.” Joey’s
voice seemed like a life preserver to me. A moment later, he came
into view beside Miss Pennington. It was a relief to know he was
there with me.
“I must have hit my head harder than I
thought.” I tried to smile.
“Nothing can hurt that
hard head of yours too much,” Roger joked. I could tell he was
worried, but he was trying hard to put me at ease.
Just then,
a EMT and the driver walked in pulling a stretcher. I wasn’t
expecting that.
“Has anyone called my Dad?” I
asked.
“He’ll meet you at the hospital,”
Miss Pennington said, resting a hand on my arm.
After the EMT
had made me comfortable on the cot, they wheeled it out into the
hallway with Joey and Roger behind me. Debbie, Timmy, Gary, Randy,
and some other people were standing outside the nurse’s
door.
“Are you okay, Andy?” Debbie asked as I
passed.
I smiled and gave her an okay sign. I didn’t
trust myself to speak. I hadn’t expected this many people to be
so concerned about me. One thing was for sure: the okay sign may have
been faked, but the smile was for real. As they wheeled me down the
hall to the ambulance, I heard the nurse tell everyone they needed to
head to class.
Outside, the EMT explained to Joey and Roger
that they couldn’t ride with me to the hospital. Roger was
having none of that.
“Sir, there’s no way we that
aren’t going with Andy,” he said with a determined look.
“Our parents told us we had to stick together. I fucked up this
morning and walked away for just two minutes, and look what
happened.” Roger pointed at me on the cot. “That’s
Judge Collins’ son and my best friend, so either we go with
Andy, or we deal with the judge at the hospital. If you don’t
let us go with him, I’ll be on the phone to Judge Collins
before you leave the parking lot.”
When the EMT looked
at Joey, Joey nodded towards Roger and said, “What he
said.”
“Fine, let us get him in first and you two
can ride back here with me.” The EMT shook his head as he
stared at Roger and Joey. The glare he shot them made it apparent
that this wasn’t something he normally would put up with. Roger
and Joey were silent while the EMT registered my vitals.
After
Joey and Roger had climbed into the ambulance the last thing I
remembered was the mask being pulled over my mouth and nose, and
someone mentioning that my vitals were crashing, and when I opened my
eyes, I was standing in a large valley with a lake surrounded by
green fields and tall, snow-capped mountains. I was at peace. I felt
surrounded by love. The love flowed into me from everywhere, like the
waters of a graceful river, on a warm summer day. The water in the
lake was calm, and I could see the reflection of the mountains in it.
A gentle breeze with heavenly smells calmed my soul.
“It’s
beautiful, is it not?”
I would know that voice anywhere;
a voice that had always been there. After she lost her battle with
cancer, I thought I would never hear it again. The voice of the only
woman in the world I would always love. Mom. Pure unconditional love.
A love I had missed so much these last few years. My vision blurred
from the tears flowing down my cheeks.
“I’ve
missed you so much!” I cried and fell into her open arms.
“I
know baby. I’ve missed holding you like this.” She rained
kisses on the top of my head.
“Is this heaven?”
“In
a way, it is. It’s a place I can talk to you for a few
minutes.” She patted my back like she used to and gently hugged
me to calm down.
“Then, to me, it is heaven. I have my
mom back, even if it is just for a few minutes.”
She
ruffled my hair. “You’re becoming a man, A
Thaisce.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was rocking you in my arms
and feeding you. And no you are as tall as I am.”
One of
the things I missed most about my mom was her calling me A
Thaisce.
It had been her private nickname for me since as far back as I could
remember which always made me feel special. She told me once that it
meant ‘my treasure’, and her father had called her the
same nickname. It was nice to know it meant so much to her. Now,
after three long years, I was hearing her call me that again and it
made me feel ecstatic.
Even though I hadn’t felt this
good in, like, forever, and I have missed my mom like crazy, there
had to be a reason that I was with her now, and Mom had always been
honest with me, even during the roughest parts of her cancer.
“It’s
been three years, mom,” I grinned, and then turned serious,
“but why are we here?”
“My brave A
Thaisce,
you’re always asking the hard questions. I’m so proud of
you. We are here so I can prepare you for what’s coming. You
will soon be challenged. Just remember that you have been chosen to
do this. It won’t be easy, baby, but I have faith in you. God
will help you through this.”
“What? What can I do?
I’m just a boy.”
“Honey, God can take your
weaknesses and make them your strengths. All things are possible
through Him. He is everywhere and in all things. Know that you will
always have help. There will be guides, sent by God, to guide you
through the coming years. They will teach you and train you to be the
man you were meant to be. Just remember that people know God by
different names, like The Great Spirit, or Sky Grandfather. Trust
those sent by God. You can tell them by their spirit, for you have
the ability to know if they have a good spirit or a bad spirit. If
their fruit is good, then they are good. Have faith in God, and He
will protect you and provide for you. Then you can do the same for
those you love.”
I was nervous. I had come out to my
father and the rest of my family, but Mom had died before I could
tell her.
“You… you know about Joey and me?”
I asked, averting my gaze for the first time.
“Yes,
Andy, and I approve.” She wrapped her arms around me. “A
love that’s pure, like the one you share with Joey, can never
be wrong in the sight of a loving mother, and I love you so very
much, A
Thaisce.”
She hugged me tighter and tears washed my face when she accepted
me.
“Andy, we don’t have much longer,” she
said as
we pulled apart. “Remember everything I’ve told you.
Listen to your father, for he is wise and knowledgeable. Let him
guide you when you aren’t sure. Let Joey be your light in the
darkness. He will guide your footsteps between right and wrong. Have
faith in God, in your love for Joey, and his for you. And always
remember that I love you, and I’m proud of you.”
“Yes,
Mom, I’ll do as you ask. I really miss you, Mom. Will I see you
again?”
She noticed the pleading in
my eyes. “Only God knows the future, Andy. But I know one day,
we will be together.”
“I have so many questions,
Mom. Are you alright? Are you happy?” I intertwined my hands
with hers.
“Oh Andy, you have no idea how happy I am. I
miss you and your father very much, but there is so much joy and
happiness in heaven. Remember the Bible verse ‘God is love?’”
I nodded. “It’s so true. Always remember that. Love
overcomes all things.” Her eyes had a little sadness in them.
“When everything becomes dark and seems hopeless, call on God
for help. He will answer.”
I nodded again, afraid to
speak.
“Our time is up,” She said and kissed my
forehead.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly. “I love
you Mom. I will never forget you.”
Her hug tightened. “I
know baby. I love you too.”
When she kissed my forehead
a second time, darkness surrounded me again. After what seemed like
an eternity, I heard beeping noises far in the distance, growing
louder and louder. My eyes were closed, but through my eye lids I
could see the light growing brighter. When I opened my eyes, the
light blinded me and I quickly closed them.
Author
Note:
“A
Thaisce” is a Gaelic term of endearment meaning “[my]
treasure”
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
OK,
so that's it for Chapter 10. Thank you for reading and I hope you
enjoyed it. I would love to hear your feedback and comments. I
respond to every e-mail. You can email me at: billybratii@gmail.com
Depending
on my editors and beta readers, I'll probably publish a chapter every
week or two, at least for the foreseeable future.
I want to
thank Cory, Alan, Kevin, Eric, James C., Jon, Wagner, Tom, James F.,
Mick, Bobby, JT, Robert, Bradley, Matt, Bryan, Brad, Kenneth, Peter,
Steve, Paul, John, Mark, Chris, and Ian for their kind e-mails with
words of encouragement and advice. It really helps to know that
someone is reading and liking your work. I hope my writing will bring
entertainment, but also cause you to pause and reflect.
There's
a number of organizations out there that offers help in a multitude
of ways. They include, but not limited to -The
Trevor Project
,
PFLAG,
Teen
Line,
and The
Mail Crew.
Also did you know that the most common type of cancer affecting men
between the ages of 15 and 35 is testicular cancer? Here's a link for
more information on the subject. The
Testicular Cancer Primer
Never
feel like there's no help, whatever the problem may be.
And
don't forget to DONATEto
help keep Nifty going!
Thank you.
Billy Martin