"Hello Charlie."
Charlie looked over his shoulder and seen Davy. "Kid!" he exclaimed looking surprised but happy.
"Told you I'd see you soon." Davy grinned. "Ready to play chess?"
"And have you win every game again? No thanks."
Davy felt a little disappointed but soon somewhat perked up as Charlie tried to teach him gin-rummy.
"Can we play chess now?" Davy asked.
"Why?"
"Because I can't play this game. You keep winning." Davy mock pouted.
"Now you know how I felt playing chess with you." Charlie smiled. "You reminded me alot of myself when I was your age. You're what? Twenty?"
"Twenty two." Davy replied.
"Geez I feel old." Charlie groaned.
"You don't seem old."
"You're a sweet kid. A liar, but sweet." Charlie laughed.
"I try."
"You know. Life is like a card game. You don't know what you'll get. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. You just have to deal with what you're handed."
"I never thought of life like that. It's true though." Davy smiled.
"Yes, it is."
"Not to change the subject but I think I won." Davy gave Charlie a huge grin.
"Let me see."
Davy handed him his cards.
"Did I win?" Davy asked eagerly.
"Sorry kid."
Davy snapped his fingers.
"New game?"
Davy groaned. "Okay. But I'm never going to win."
"Not with that additude you won't. You have to believe you're going to win." Charlie grinned. "Now say it. Say I'm going to win."
"I'm going to win." Davy mumbled.
"Like you mean it."
"I'm going to win." Davy said sounding alittle more cheerful.
"Good. If life has taught me anything it's don't take anything for granted." Charlie said with a smile. He looked at his cards. Then Davy's.
"Well?" Davy asked with hope.
"Sorry kid."
"Chess?" Davy begged.
"Sure kid."
As the weeks passed Davy and Charlie had grown very close. Charlie
was never very fond of people but Davy changed that. Charlie loved
Davy's curiousity and telling him stories of the experiences he went
through. He was starting to grow very fond of the boy.
Charlie seen two nurses walking through the hall.
"Morning Donna! Morning Maria!" Charlie waved.
"Charlie! You're smiling! I didn't know you could do that!" Maria teased.
"I'm just happy. Can't I be happy?" Charlie asked.
"You never were before." Donna said.
"What happened? You use to be a bitter old man. Now you seem almost nice." Maria said.
"I have a friend now okay?"
"How old is he?" Donna asked.
"He's too young for you." Charlie said with a laugh.
"Oh. He smiled. Get the camera!" Maria exclaimed.
"You two." Charlie scoffed.
"Hi Charlie!" a cheerful voice called.
"Hi kid!" Charlie waved. "Come here. I want to intruduce you to these fine ladies. That's Maria."
Davy and Maria shook hands.
"That's Donna. Ladies this is David."
"So this is the kid you're always talking about. Whatever you're doing to Charlie, keep it up. He seems almost like a human being." Donna teased.
Charlie threw his hands up. "I was never that bad!"
Davy giggled then turned to Maria.
"I haven't seen him this happy since his wife died." she whispered.
"When did she die?" Davy asked.
"Five years ago. He took it really hard." Maria squeezed Davy's shoulder.
Davy felt bad for Charlie. He knew how it felt to lose a loved one. But not someone he'd consider a soulmate, like Charlie had.
"Ready for gin?" Charlie asked setting up the cards.
"Sure." Davy said with a soft sigh. "I'm sorry about your wife."
"Thanks, but I don't want to get into it right now, so deal."
"I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one who's lost a loved one." Davy said softly.
"I don't want to get into this with you okay?!" Charlie said sharply.
"Fine. I just thought we were friends." Davy said sounding hurt.
Charlie felt a stab of guilt run through him. He squeezed Davy's arm.
"I'm sorry kid. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It's just...Rose Mary's not an easy topic for me to talk about. Even now."
"I shouldn't have pushed you into talking about her. But if you do want to talk. I'm here." Davy smiled.
Charlie gave Davy a small smile. "I know you will be. It's hard to talk to people. I've lost so many of them. I lost both parents, my wife, friends. I was afraid to let new people in. You've changed that. You made me realize people do care about me. I just have to learn to let them in."
"Am I in?" Davy asked.
Charlie pulled him into a warm hug. "Yeah, Davy. You're in." He let Davy go. "Now let's play some cards."
"Anything but gin rummy." Davy begged.
"Now how are you ever gonna learn if you don't play."
"I'll get a book on it." Davy said.
Charlie laughed. "Poker?"
"Now that I can play." Davy grinned.
"You deal. I'll get the cokes. No cheating now."
"I don't cheat!" Davy exclaimed.
"That's right you don't. Nurse Donna does." Charlie said.
"Remind me never to play with her." Davy grinned.
"No one does." Charlie laughed.