Brian

   "You can each go in and see him for a few minutes," the doctor tells the small group of people in the hospital waiting room.  "You need to make your visit quick.  Brian may not have that much time left."

   Brian's mother and his girlfriend, Teresa, begin to sob.  His father walks to his wife and tries to comfort her.  His best friend, Kenny, does the same with Teresa.  They begin to look at each other, as if to decide which one will go into Brian's room first.  Finally, Kenny stands.

   "I'll go first," he insists.  "Brian is my best friend."  He turns the doorknob.  He walks into the white room.  He sees Brian's bed on the other side of the room.  He slowly creeps over to his friend's bedside.  He can hear a low beeping, the electrocardiograph.

   "I don't even want to look," he thinks to himself.  But he knows he had to.  He slowly looks down at his dying friend.  Brian looks as though he is only asleep, seemingly at peace.  He looks fine for someone who is in so much pain.  Kenny opens his mouth and begins to speak.

   "Brian," he begins.  "I hope against all hope that this isn't goodbye.  It seems like only yesterday that we were playing ball at your house.  Now I find out that you could be dead tomorrow.  I don't want to believe that.  You seemed so strong.  They say that they don't know what caused this.  You never smoked or drank or took any kind of drugs.  It just isn't fair.  Do you remember the time you introduced me to Lee Ann.  I remember it like it was only yesterday. . .

   "Hey," Brian calls to his friend from down the hall.  "Come here, Kenny.  I've got to talk to you a second."

   "Yeah," Kenny answers, putting his books into his locker.  He is lucky this year.  Now that he is a senior, he gets a senior locker.  He walks down the hall to where Brian and Teresa are standing.  "What do you want, buddy?"

   "I need to talk to you for a moment," Brian replies.  He looks at Teresa and smiles.

   "I'll meet you out at the car," Teresa tells Brian.  She kisses him on the cheek before scurrying down the hall.

   "Is there something wrong?" Kenny asks. 

   "No," Brian replies.  "I was just wondering what you were doing Friday night."

   "Nothing.  Why?"

   "Well, me and Teresa are going to the movies and she wanted to know if you would like to come along."

   Kenny smiles at the invitation.  "I would, but I haven't got a date."

   Brian pats Kenny on the back.  "That's no problem."  He smiles at his single friend. 

   Kenny returns his smile with a puzzled look.  "What are you getting at?"  Kenny looks at Brian as though he doesn't trust him.

   "Teresa has this friend.  She said she wanted to meet you.  It's no big deal though.  If you're scared, don't do it.  She'll understand."

   It seems as if Brian knows how to get the reaction he wanted out of Kenny.

  "What do you mean, scared?  I'll do it."

   "Well, come on then.  They're waiting for us."

   It is at this moment that Kenny realizes that he has been set up.  Yet, there is no way out of it now.  He gave his friend his word and he intends to keep it.

   "You think I'll have enough time to talk to her," Kenny asks, hoping Brian might say no.

   "Sure," he replies, smiling.  "School's out.  She said she'd wait to see if you showed up."  He chuckles to himself.

   "This better be worth it," Kenny thinks to himself.  "I'll get him if it isn't."

   They walk out of the building.  The crisp, fall air hits Kenny in the face.  They walk past a crowd waiting for one of the buses to make their usual arrival to the high school to take the students back to their homes.  They walk out to the parking lot where the two girls are waiting.

   "Here they come," Teresa whispers to the other girl.  "Just remember, be calm."

   "There they are," Brian tells his friend.  "Remember what I said.  Give her a chance."

   "Alright," the nervous girl answers.  "I'm fine.  I'm fine."

   "Okay," Kenny answers.  "I trust you."

   Brian leads Kenny over to the car where Teresa and the other girl are standing.  The girl sees Kenny and lowers her head. 

   "Kenny," Teresa begins.  "I'd like you to meet Lee Ann Presley.  Lee Ann, this is Kenny Thompson."

   "Hi," Lee Ann replies, shaking nervously.

   All Kenny can see is brown hair.  He puts his hand on her chin and slowly lifts her head.  He stares straight into a pair of hazel eyes.  He removes his hand and walks over to Brian.

   "Come here," he snaps.  "Come here, Brian."

   Brian walks over to his friend.  "What's wrong?" he asks.

   "You didn't say that she was this cute."

   "Is that all," he says loudly, intending his words to be heard by the shy girl.  "You just wanted to tell me that she is the most beautiful girl you've seen.  Well, if you think so.  I can't agree with you.  My girlfriend is standing over there."  He begins to chuckle.

   Kenny sighs and begins to laugh, too.  He can tell what Brian is doing.  They walk back over to the car. 

   "We'll leave you two to get better acquainted," Teresa says, taking Brian's hand.  She leads him to his car and gets into the passenger side.  Brian rolls down the window.

   "Good luck, Kenny," he screams out the window.  He gives Kenny the thumbs up sign and drives away.

   "You have some strange friends," Lee Ann states, looking at the ground with her hands behind her back.

   "Yeah," he replies.  "It takes a while to get used to them."

   "They sure think a lot of you."

   "Why do you say that?"

   Lee Ann finally looks Kenny in the face.  "They told me what a great guy you are.  I believe them.  I mean, you seem okay to me."

   "Thanks."

   "I probably wouldn't have agreed to meet you if Teresa hadn't spoke so well of you."

   "Thank you, Teresa," he tells himself.  He watches the only other car leave.  The only one left is his.

   "You got a ride?" he asks the girl, who is shivering because she hasn't got a jacket.

   "No," she sighs.  "I was just going to walk home."

   "Nonsense.  I'll give you a ride."

   "That's okay.  Don't go out of your way."

   "No problem.  It'll give me a little more time to get to know you."

   He takes her hand.  She giggles like a little girl.  He leads her to his car and opens the door for her.

   "Thank you."

   "No problem."

   Kenny's mind returns to the present.  He looks down at the friend responsible for most of his relationship.

   Tears begin to form in his usually solemn eyes.  He wipes away the tears before they can roll down his cheeks.

   "I keep hoping you'll just wake up and this'll all be over.  I hope this isn't goodbye."

   He turns and walks out the door.  He is met by Teresa and Lee Ann.  They are both crying.

   "Is he. . .?" Lee Ann asks.

   "He's still alive," he replies quietly, choking back his tears.  "I need to get out of here."  He takes Lee Ann's hand.  There is a gold band on it.

   "We'll let you know if he gets any better," Brian's mother calls to Kenny.  The words seem to bounce off the back of his head.  He punches the wall beside the door.  He puts his head against the wall and begins to cry.

   "Why?" he cries.  "Why Brian?"

   Lee Ann takes Kenny's arm and helps him to the car.  Both are crying the whole time.

   "I'll go next," Brian's father says after watching Kenny's car drive off into the distance.  He walks away from the window where he was standing.

   "I never thought this day would come," he thinks to himself.  He slowly opens the door and walks in.

   "Beep. . . . .beep. . . . .beep," the electrocardiograph's haunting sound fills the room.

   "Son," he begins to talk to Brian's unconscious body.  "I hoped I'd never see you like this.   When a father sees his son for the first time, he hopes that he will be dying when the last contact is between them.  I wish I could put myself in your position.  I'd gladly die in your place.  I can hardly bear the pain anymore.  It seems like only yesterday that you were in little league. . ."

   "Well, this is it, son," the man, in his mid-thirties, says.  "It's a tie game.  A hit will win it for us.  Do your best."

   "Okay, dad," Brian, about ten, answers.

   The young boy walks to the plate, shaking.  He is extremely nervous.  He looks at the pitcher.

   "Come on," he thinks to himself.  "This is for the City Championship."

   The air is torn by the speed of the pitch.  All Brian can do is turn and see the ball in the catcher's glove.

   "Strike one!" the umpire shouts.

   Brian steps out of the box and pauses for a moment.  He looks over to his father.  He gives him the thumbs-up sign.  He takes a deep breath and exhales.  He steps back into the box and digs in.  The second pitch comes and Brian swings.

   "Strike two!" the umpire shouts again.

   Brian again steps out of the box and pauses a little longer this time.  He looks over to his father.

   "Come on, son," she father yells.  "He's only a kid. You can hit off of him."

   The pitch comes and Brian swings.  This time the outcome is different.  Brian connects.

   "Get outta here!" Brian's father yells.  He watches the ball travel across the fence in fair territory.  "Yes!!  Way to go son."

   Brian takes a leisurely stroll around the diamond.  He is met at the plate by his whole team.  Then, the two teams shake hands.

   "Good game, pitcher," Brian says.

   "Yeah," he replies.  "That was a good hit."

   "I don't believe I know you.  What is your name?"

   "My name is Kenny Thompson."

   They shake hands and return to their respective teams, Brian to party and Kenny to think of what might have been.

   Brian's father returns his thoughts to the present.  "You made more than one friend that day, son.  I think it was then you realized that you had a talent for baseball.  I wish you could use that talent.  You're supposed to go off to college in a few weeks.  I was so happy when you got that scholarship.  I'm goin' miss you."

   He turns away from his son.  The beeping of the electrocardiograph’s is ringing like deafening bells in his ears.  He walks out the door.  He sits down beside his wife.  He puts his head in his hands to cry.  This is the first time he has cried in a long time.

   "I'll go in next," Brian's mother says, tears in her eyes.  It has made her pain greater seeing her husband cry.

   She makes the seemingly mile-long trip to the door and opens it.  She stops and looks back at her husband and Teresa.  Only then does she go in.  She can hear the ghostly beeping.

   "My baby," she cries to herself, standing at the edge of her only son's bed.  "It now seems that the worst thing that could happen to a mother is going to happen to me.  No mother wants to outlive any of her children, especially her only one.  You always seemed so happy.  In my mind, you were the best child in the world.  You always took my advice, even when you didn't agree with it. . .

   Her words take her back into the past.  She remembers a very special day in her son's life.  She fears he may not have anymore.  But, still, she dreams of the past.

   "Why are you making me go?" Brian whines to his mother.

   "Because you promised my boss's daughter you would take her to the Christmas Dance," she replies.  "Besides, it will be good for you."

   "What if she's ugly?"

   "It's what's on the inside that counts, son."

   "But, I don't want to.  I've only talked to her once.  And that was over the phone."

   "Do it for me."  She takes her son's hand.  "I wouldn't put you into a position that you wouldn't enjoy.  It's not like the two of you have to get married tomorrow."

   "Okay.  I'll go."

   "You need to hurry up.  She's expecting you at seven and it's a fifteen minute drive."

   He knows that his mother loves him and that she wouldn't lie to him.  He gets his jacket and walks out the door.  He climbs into his beat-down, old pick-up truck.  He can't wait till he turns eighteen and his parent will get him a better vehicle.  He makes the drive to the girl's house, not knowing who or what he'll find when he arrives.  He arrives at the house.  He gets out of his truck and slowly walks to the front door.

   "What have I gotten myself into?" he asks himself, looking at the elaborate decorations on the house.  He knocks on the door.  It opens seconds later.

   "You must be Brian," a man, in his mid-forties, answers the door.  "I'm Teresa's father, Mr. Jordan."

   "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jordan," Brian replies and shakes the man's hand.

   "The pleasure's all mine, Brian.  My little girl's looking forward to tonight.  She must think a lot of you."

   At that moment, Brian's life changes forever.  He turns to see a beautiful girl standing behind him.  He looks at her for a moment.  Her blondish-brown hair seems to flow like a river.  He looks at the dress she's wearing.  He can tell that it's very expensive.  Then, he looks into her eyes.  They are as blue as spring water and as bright as the sun.

   "Hey, Brian," Teresa says and smiles.  "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

   "Likewise," Brian replies, almost stuttering.  He can't take his eyes away from her's.

   "What time can I expect you home?" Mr. Jordan, being the responsible parent that he is, asks.

   "About eleven-thirty," Brian answers, not taking his eyes off of Teresa.  She begins to giggle at him.

   "Well," her father says, patting him on the back.  "You two have a good time.  I'll see you at eleven-thirty.  It'll be okay if you're a little late."

   Brian takes his eyes off of Teresa, only to look down at her hand.  "May I escort you to my truck?" he asks, taking her hand.

   "Please," she answers, sounding like a nineteenth century lady.

   They walk out the door and get into his truck.

   "You must forgive me for the vehicle," he says, beginning to panic.  "I'm getting a new car in a couple of years."

   "It's alright," she says quietly.  "It doesn't matter what you drive.  If I like you, it will be because of who you are."

   "I think I'm going to enjoy this dance."

   "I think I will, too, Brian."

   She reaches over and kisses him on the cheek.

   Brian's mother returns her mind to the present.  She looks down at her son and begins to speak:

   "You enjoyed that night and everyone since.  Now I look at you and can only think of one thing, the friends and family you're leaving behind.  I think the only one who'll miss you as much as me is Teresa.  I love you, Brian."

   She bends down and kisses her son on the forehead.  She begins to cry harder.  She walks out of the room.  She sits down beside her husband.

   "I guess I'm the only one left," Teresa says, attempting to choke back her tears.  She barely succeeds to do so.  She gets up and walks to Brian's door.

   "Please don't let this be happening to Brian," she pleads inside her mind.  She opens the door and slowly steps in.  Her ears are met by the beeping.  She looks down at her boyfriend and begins to cry again.

   "Please, Brian," she cries.  "I'm begging you.  Don't leave me.  I don't want to live without you.  I'm not sure that I can.  Please wake up.  We've been through hard times before. . ."

   She takes herself back a few weeks in time.  Back to when they were together.

   Teresa walks down the street.  She is going to meet Brian at their favorite restaurant.  He said that it was very important.  Her eyes are quickly turned by a scene that almost kills her.

   "Come on, Sally," Brian says and leads a girl into a store.  "I can't let Teresa see me."

   "Shouldn't you have told her," Sally asks.

   "She'll never find out," he brags.  "She's not supposed to meet me for another thirty minutes.  We have plenty of time."

   She begins to cry.  She turns and runs back down the street.

   Later that night, Teresa is in her room crying.  Her mother walks into her room.

   "Honey," she says softly.  "Brian's here."

   "I don't want to see him," she cries.  Tears are racing down her cheeks.  "I told you what happened today."

   "He said he needed to ask you something."

   "I don't care.  He just wants to dump me, that's all."

   "Give him a chance.  Maybe it wasn't him."

   After a few moments, Teresa gives in.  She sits up and gets off her bed.  She walks down the stairs to the den.  Brian is waiting for her there.

   "What do you want?" she snaps.

   "Could we be alone, Mrs. Jordan?"  he asks.  He can tell that Teresa is mad about something.

   "Sure," she replies and walks out of the room.  She closes the door behind her.  Brian walks over to Teresa.  She turns her back to him.

   "Are you okay?" he asks.  "You didn't meet me this afternoon."

   "How could you?" she cries, not even looking at him.  "I thought I meant something to you."

   "What are you talking about?"  He can tell that he's been caught.

   "I saw you with Sally Richards today.  What could you see in her?  I thought you loved me."

   "You don't understand.  I do love you.  I couldn't let you see me. . . "

   "I've heard enough," she cries and starts for the door.  Brian grabs her arm.

   "Wait," he begs.  "Please, listen."

   "Fine," she snaps.  "Make it quick."

   He bends down and gets on one knee.  Her angry expression quickly changes.  "There was a reason I was with her.  I needed a woman's opinion.  If I asked you, it would ruin the surprise."   He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small green box.  "Teresa Jordan, will you marry me?"

   She begins to cry again.  This time, her tears are tears of joy.  "Yes," she answers.  "Yes, I will."  He stands.  She throws her arms around him.  "How could I have ever doubted you?"  She raises her hand and looks at the ring.

   Her mind, unfortunately, returns back to the hospital room.  She is looking at the same ring.  Tears are racing down her cheeks, just as they were a few months ago.

   "You can't die, Brian.  We're supposed to get married in two weeks.  I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with you."

   "Beep. . . .beep. . . .beep. . . .beep. . . .," the machine speaks in a ghostly tone.

   "Please," she pleads.  "Please wake up."  She lays her head in his lap.  She looks up to see his eyes open.

   "Brian," she cries.  "You're alive!"

   He smiles at her.  But this happiness is short lived.

   "Beep. . . .beep. . . .beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

 

THE END