time to hang with high school friends. He had always been a positive guy. Matters of this nature had never touched him so closely. Sure he had sorrow when his grandparents passed, but nothing of this magnitude.
“Hey, Mark”
“Waz up buddy? What, you too good to hang with us now that you’re a college boy? Get over here. Kyle, you sound weird man. You all right.”
“Mark I’m exhausted. I’m just gonna hang with the family and catch you at Christmas.”
The phone was ripped from his hands.
“Mark, Sam Caldwell here. Kyle is running late. He will be there shortly.”
Kyle was incredulous.
“Business as usual Kyle. Your Mom is out until three or so and you need your friends now more than ever. I’ve gotten immense support from friends. Your uncle is taking a week off to just come down and make sure I’m not alone. This is not some shameful secret. It’s O.K. to cry about this. You will be amazed how much support you receive. Your buddies love you. You’re growing up you’re going to experience loss and it’s not like getting a “C” in Algebra or losing a hockey game. Brace up Kyle. Go to Mark’s. Don’t shut down.”
Within 15 minutes Kyle was on his bike racing over to Marks house. Tears freely cascaded down his cheeks, drying quickly into streaks of salt down his face. He couldn’t pedal fast enough. He was trying to escape from his new reality. Faster, he flew to the safety of Mark’s basement.
“Sorry I’m late. Things at home came up.”
Welcomes were shared with honest bear hugs. It was a milestone they had conquered leaving home for the first time, each finding his or her own way. Some had changed outwardly. Nelson had two new tattoos he had picked up in Minnesota. One was peeking out of his t-shirt hinting that perhaps it’s led to something ominous below. Roger’s hair was longer and tinted carrot orange. Nathan, well he had no hair and seemed proud of his shiny dome. Mark was unchanged except for a few pounds. Kyle himself was bulked up but otherwise remained the same.
Mark and Kyle eventually got a moment to catch up on the previous month’s events. Mark was in Allegheny which was a pretty spot tucked away in Northwestern PA. Kyle went through with his Dad on a college tour swing. It was serene and only two hours away but with no hockey program it was not among his choices. The entire town population was less than UMass alone. It was great for Mark. He had decided to study international politics with a minor in Spanish. He was nearly fluent because he had an adopted sister from Mexico. His folks insisted she stay true to her ethnic heritage which resulted in his entire family being bi-lingual. Kyle had reason to believe he would be casting a ballot for Mark someday.
“Sounds like you’re living the life in Amherst. Good for you man. Good things are deserved. Are you happy, don’t mean to sound all mental but you seem – I don’t know. If you have something going on you know where to come.”
“Beer?”
That seemed to be replacing vitamin enhanced water in the basement. Kyle was unable to partake due to his recent experience with the stuff.
“No – I have pre-season games and practices coming up. I think I’ll lay off the beer for now”
“No prob. My Mom brought a couple of six packs. She would rather have me drink here than elsewhere.”
“Your Mom is great. Mine has Cancer Mark.”
“Oh, sorry. I had no clue. How long has this been going on?”
“September I think. A couple of hours for me.”
Kyle laid out what he knew. It was a story he would re tell to a lot of people. The words were a part of him now. He finished, speaking expecting more sorry and pity. He was alone in his confusion, left by himself to find his way. Things were different. It began a road for Kyle. One with people who really gave a shit and had experience in
“Hey, Mark”
“Waz up buddy? What, you too good to hang with us now that you’re a college boy? Get over here. Kyle, you sound weird man. You all right.”
“Mark I’m exhausted. I’m just gonna hang with the family and catch you at Christmas.”
The phone was ripped from his hands.
“Mark, Sam Caldwell here. Kyle is running late. He will be there shortly.”
Kyle was incredulous.
“Business as usual Kyle. Your Mom is out until three or so and you need your friends now more than ever. I’ve gotten immense support from friends. Your uncle is taking a week off to just come down and make sure I’m not alone. This is not some shameful secret. It’s O.K. to cry about this. You will be amazed how much support you receive. Your buddies love you. You’re growing up you’re going to experience loss and it’s not like getting a “C” in Algebra or losing a hockey game. Brace up Kyle. Go to Mark’s. Don’t shut down.”
Within 15 minutes Kyle was on his bike racing over to Marks house. Tears freely cascaded down his cheeks, drying quickly into streaks of salt down his face. He couldn’t pedal fast enough. He was trying to escape from his new reality. Faster, he flew to the safety of Mark’s basement.
“Sorry I’m late. Things at home came up.”
Welcomes were shared with honest bear hugs. It was a milestone they had conquered leaving home for the first time, each finding his or her own way. Some had changed outwardly. Nelson had two new tattoos he had picked up in Minnesota. One was peeking out of his t-shirt hinting that perhaps it’s led to something ominous below. Roger’s hair was longer and tinted carrot orange. Nathan, well he had no hair and seemed proud of his shiny dome. Mark was unchanged except for a few pounds. Kyle himself was bulked up but otherwise remained the same.
Mark and Kyle eventually got a moment to catch up on the previous month’s events. Mark was in Allegheny which was a pretty spot tucked away in Northwestern PA. Kyle went through with his Dad on a college tour swing. It was serene and only two hours away but with no hockey program it was not among his choices. The entire town population was less than UMass alone. It was great for Mark. He had decided to study international politics with a minor in Spanish. He was nearly fluent because he had an adopted sister from Mexico. His folks insisted she stay true to her ethnic heritage which resulted in his entire family being bi-lingual. Kyle had reason to believe he would be casting a ballot for Mark someday.
“Sounds like you’re living the life in Amherst. Good for you man. Good things are deserved. Are you happy, don’t mean to sound all mental but you seem – I don’t know. If you have something going on you know where to come.”
“Beer?”
That seemed to be replacing vitamin enhanced water in the basement. Kyle was unable to partake due to his recent experience with the stuff.
“No – I have pre-season games and practices coming up. I think I’ll lay off the beer for now”
“No prob. My Mom brought a couple of six packs. She would rather have me drink here than elsewhere.”
“Your Mom is great. Mine has Cancer Mark.”
“Oh, sorry. I had no clue. How long has this been going on?”
“September I think. A couple of hours for me.”
Kyle laid out what he knew. It was a story he would re tell to a lot of people. The words were a part of him now. He finished, speaking expecting more sorry and pity. He was alone in his confusion, left by himself to find his way. Things were different. It began a road for Kyle. One with people who really gave a shit and had experience in
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