Sad little story here...tissues at the ready...
History...god damn history paper...why? Why? Why? Why the hell did they have to know what happened three hundred years ago? What was the point? A rapping on the door thankfully interrupted his absolute lack of thoughts. The owner of the knock pushed any idea of finishing his history paper out of his mind.
"Terry?" Charlie couldn't help but sound surprised as he gazed open mouthed at his old friend. "What're you doing here?"
"Hi to you too Charlie." Terry couldn't help but smile at the captain's shocked expression. "I found this a few days ago...I think you and the rest of the team need to see it." He flashed the disk he'd come across to his former captain and lost the brief smile.
It took a while but eventually the rest of the ducks made their way into the room, each one as confused as the next.
"Okay so...I was going through some of Jessie's things the other day and...I found this disk. He made it a few weeks before he passed away, I...just watch it." Terry sighed and pressed play. His brothers pain filled face came on the screen, seeing it made his heart hurt.
"Hi guys...well it happened...yep! If you're watching this tape then...I didn't make it...the cancer won. I just wanted to make sure I got to say a goodbye while I still can. So...here goes nothing! District five. God we sucked! 9 and 0! Nine loses no wins! We were so bad, frankly it was embarrassing. But I gotta say, I had fun. It didn't matter that we got our butts kicked every week; I spent some of the best days of my life with you guys down by the pond. Thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Banksie...cake eater...remember this...you were never a hawk or a warrior or anything else. You always were and always will be a duck. Luis, Ken, Julie, cowboy, Russ, Portman. I didn't get to spend a great deal of time with you but...it was worth every second. You guys taught me a lot, you were great friends. Lastly, but definitely not least, Terry." On the small computer screen Jessie took a deep breath and composed himself. "My baby brother. My best friend. My other half. I could never tell you what you mean to me. I almost lost you three times in my life. The first was the day you were born, I don't really remember but dad cried every time he talked about it. Then when you were four and you got hit by that car. I was just a kid, a stupid six year old who didn't have a clue what was going on. But the last time, that summer after pee wees. You were so sick and there was nothing I could do. I know how much it'll hurt for us to be separated but we don't have a choice this time. One day we'll see each other again, one day we'll be together again and when that day comes...well...I'm looking forward to it already. I love you little brother." With that the screen went blank, leaving not a dry eye in the room.
"Wow...had a way with words..." Goldberg uttered after many silent minutes.
It took at least ten minutes for everyone to pull themselves together, finally Charlie broke the silence.
"Thank you Terry. You didn't have to show us this; I know how hard it must have been to watch. He really loved you, you know?" He couldn't help but smile as Terry wiped a tear from his eyes and giggled.
"He always said that if I ever told him anyone that he said that stuff he'd kick my ass! And, well...here he is announcing it to the world all by himself, kind of contradicting don't you think." Seeing the concerned look on his former captain's face he continued. "Charlie it's been almost a year, I'm not going to break."
Hours after leaving, Terry would replay the disk...allowing the tears to fall from his eyes. Losing someone you loved is hard, but losing your brother, best friend, confidant...all in one fowl swoop...its not hard...it's torture.
Wow...wasn't that depressing? Had this on my computer for a while now, thought it was time to finally get rid. What do you think?