Note: When we were studying Ernest Hemingway in my college writing class we read and discussed one of his stories "Hills Like White Elephants". This story was written almost entirely in dialogue. It was so the reader could feel like they were there eavesdropping on the characters' conversation. I wanted to try something like that, only have the actual entire story in nothing but dialogue. So here goes.
Part one:
"Ok Bam we're going to need you to try to straighten your legs out for us."
"I-I can't." He answered in a struggled voice
"Just try for us."
Bam closed his eyes and cringed in pain. "Oh God… it's hard just to breathe." He said as he painfully and slowly tried to force his legs down flat. "Everything hurts right now except for my face."
"Ok… ok easy there… you're fine." The paramedic said as he held Bam's legs still
……
"Ryan how's the demo going? I feel so bad that Phil and I weren't able to be there for this one."
"April the demo was great."
"What do you mean was? It's not over yet, is it?"
Dunn looked over toward the ramp where Bam lay "It kind of had to stop for a little while once Bam fell."
"Bam fell? Oh my God, Ryan is he all right? Is he hurt?"
"I'm not exactly sure but there are paramedics around him right now. I think he's talking to them so that's good. I mean at least we know he's still conscious."
"Ryan what happened? Please tell me Bam's ok."
"April I've all ready told you what I know. Bam fell off his board and landed hard on his back."
……
"Ok, Bam, we're going to put a neck brace on you."
"What's going on?" Someone asked as a group of fans started to circle Bam and the paramedics
"Bam! Bam are you ok? Is he going to be ok?" Asked another frantic fan
"Folks just stay back so we can work on him." A paramedic instructed as he and another worked on straightening Bam's arms and legs
"Ok let's move him onto the stretcher."
"Careful… careful…"
"Easy… there, get him into the ambulance."
Bam stared up and cringed every few seconds "It hurts…" He gasped "I-I can hardly breathe." He said as he tried to focus on what was happening around him
"Just relax you're going to be just fine."
"He's awake right now but he's heavily medicated. He might be really out of it right at the moment but you can still see him."
"Thank you doctor." Phil said as he and April walked into Bam's hospital room.
A droopy-eyed Bam looked at his parents as they walked up to his bed "Hey Ape… Phil." He tried to smile as he took a breath
April kissed him on the forehead "So how are you feeling honey?"
"Not bad… actually with the medicine I'm feeling pretty… neat." He let out a spaced-out grin "Definitely a big change from before."
"Well it seems like you're feeling better then." Phil said as he sat down in a chair by the bed
"So Bam how did this happen?" April ran her hand through Bam's hair "Dunn didn't give me very many details."
"Dunn sucks." He said, while slowly closing and opening his eyes "What was your question?"
"How did this happen?" She asked with a slight laugh
"I uh… I don't remember. Uuhmmm…" He closed his eyes "I… um… I think I fell." He let out a little laugh
April smiled "Well we're just glad that you're ok." Bam fell asleep before he could respond to her. She looked up and Phil "He's going to be ok."
"Yeah he is. He's been through worse before."
"You're right."
……
"Ok easy Bam. Just a few more steps." Said Phil as he and April helped Bam into his bedroom
"Nice and slow Bam."
Bam grunted "I can only move nice and slow, Ape. And the only reason why I'm moving right now is because you and Phil are helping me. I wouldn't even be standing if it weren't for you."
"We know, Bam."
Bam closed his eyes "Oh God… just get me on the bed and give me some pain medicine and I'll take it from there."
"There you go Bam." Phil said as they helped Bam into bed
"Thanks for the help guys." Bam sighed. He then cringed a little as he stretched his legs out over the covers
"Ok you hang on while I get the painkiller and some water for you."
"Thanks Ape."
"Here, Bam let me put a pillow behind you for support." Phil said
"Oh that would be great."
"Are you able to sit up by yourself while I fix your pillow?"
"I'll try." Bam closed his eyes and took a breath before sitting up straight "Hurry Phil, I can't sit like this too long."
Phil fixed Bam's pillow "There." He placed a hand on Bam's shoulder "Ok ease back against it."
"Oh God… that's much better. Thanks Phil."
"I just want you to be as comfortable as possible." He started to leave the room and then turned back towards him "You just call if you need anything else."
"I will."
April came into the room after Phil left "Here you go Bam." She handed Bam a glass of water and a pill "You need help?"
"No I'm good." He swallowed the pill and took a drink of water "Can I take this fucking neck brace off? It's bugging the hell out of me."
"Sorry Bam, the doctor said you have to keep it on for a while."
"That fucking sucks." He set the glass on the nightstand beside him "So am I supposed to just sleep sitting up like this?"
"You could try to lie flat, but it might be really hard for you to get up. So it's probably best that you sleep sitting up for now. At least until you don't have to wear the back brace."
Bam groaned "Fuck… how long do I have to wear the back brace?"
"I don't know. But I know you only have to wear the neck brace for a week or so."
"Ugh." He sighed "Fine I can deal with that. I guess I have to."
"So you going to be alright left alone for a while?"
"Yeah. I'm going to try to get some sleep for a little bit."
"Ok sweetie." She kissed him on the forehead "I and Phil will be right downstairs."
"Yeah Phil told me to just call if I needed anything."
April grinned a little and went to the door "You just get some rest now."
……
Bam slowly sat in his chair "God it took forever to get down here even with Novak's help." He grunted
"We know. We were betting on how long it would take you to get here from your bedroom." Dunn replied
"Gee I'm glad that my injury is entertaining for all of you." Bam placed his pillow in the chair behind him and then turned his mic on "Are we ready for this?"
"Yeah we've been ready. We just had to wait for you, you cripple." Said Dico with a grin
"Yeah whatever let's just start." Bam grumbled, un-amused
The intro to the radio show played and Dico went right into introductions "We have Novak here and, yes, he's about to take his pants off. Can't do anything without Novak going pants less." He laughed and then changed his voice "And I'm Rake, woo woo! Actually I'm not Rake but I have to say that if I was Rake I'd be home right now trying to smell my own butt, which for me, or anyone else for that matter, isn't hard to do." Everyone, himself included, laughed and then he went back into his regular voice "Also with us, hiding in his own beard is Ryan Dunn uuuuhh huuuhhhh! Dunn why don't you say hello?"
"Um, yeah, hi."
"Thanks for that very heartfelt greeting. Ryan Dunn; the man of many and very poetic words." He laughed again and looked over at Bam "And then there's Bam. He's crippled everyone. And he looks like he's not all there at the moment."
"Shut up asshole." Bam said in almost a monotone voice "Just so everyone knows, I didn't break my back but I did come pretty fucking close to it. And I'm in a lot of pain right now which means I'll be taking some pain killers in a minute."
"If you didn't break your back, then what exactly is wrong with you?" Novak said, innocently
"My back is very badly bruised, on the outside and inside. And there is a very tiny fracture in part of my spine. It's so small that it's not even hairline. It's more like a really tiny scratch on the vertebra. Also one of my disks is herniated and it all hurts like a fucking bitch."
"So what are those braces like?" Dunn asked
"They suck. But luckily I only have to wear the neck brace for another few days."
"You doing ok there, Bam?" Dico asked, a little later
Bam glanced up, a little droopy-eyed at Dico "Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine."
"Those pills kicking in?" Asked Novak
Bam nodded his head slowly "Yeah… and now I'm really tired."
"So any way, Dunn, what happened the other night? You never really got around to telling that story."
"Yeah I know. Well the thing is Raab called Bam up out of the blue and um… Bam what exactly did he say to you when he called? Bam?"
"Did he fall asleep?" Novak asked with a slight laugh
"Yeah it looks like his medicine has a strong effect on him. Must be good stuff he took." Dico said
Novak nudged Bam, waking him up "Hey you alright to continue the show?"
"Actually… I think I should go lie down for a little nit." Bam answered, monotone and groggy
"Ok I'll help you upstairs." Dunn said after standing up and going over to Bam
"Thanks Dunn."
"Ok while you two are gone, maybe we'll play some music or something." Dico stated
"Fine." Bam mumbled as Dunn helped him up out of his chair
"Ok easy, Bam." Dunn walked with his arm around Bam "I got you."
