Hi everyone! Here's the first chapter of the revised story I promised! I'll try to start writing the second chapter tonight. Let me now what you think! Heads up: I did change the girl character's name. Enjoy! 3
"Tommy! Seriously! Let me score one time!" An eight year old Cassidy complained as she stopped half way in her whined up. The baby hairs that didn't stay in her pigtail french braids whipped around in the wind. "Goalies aren't supposed to let you score, Cassie!" A nine year old skinny Tommy yelled back, his arms flailing in the air. "How am I supposed to win then?" Cassidy pouted with her hands on her nonexistent hips. Tommy shrugged before answering. "Kick the ball away from me but at the net." He told her and readied himself for Cassidy's shot. Stepping back a few paces, Cassidy sprinted hard to the soccer ball laying in front of her and kicked it with an 'Unf' leaving her small chest. Tommy's eyes stayed on the ball as he moved slightly to his right and caught the ball into his chest. Cassidy grunted throwing her head back in anger and disappointment. "I give up! I stink! I'm not trying out for the team at school anymore!" She cried as tears rimmed her golden- hazel eyes. Tommy ran up to her, bringing the ball with him. "No! Cassie, try one more time! I have a feeling you'll score this time!" Tommy exclaimed with a smile, handing the disappointed little girl the ball and scurrying back to the goal.
Placing the ball in the thick grassy patch of land, Cassidy took her steps back and looked at Tommy and the extremely large soccer goal behind his small frame. With a deep breath she sprinted to the ball, planting her left foot next to it and swinging her right foot towards the ball, making a hard connection. The ball soared towards Tommy curving right towards the corner. Tommy delayed his jump to the save the ball and it sailed over his finger tips and into the back of the goal. "GOAL!" Cassidy screeched in excitement, jumping up and down and screaming. Tommy smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him and ran over to the goal to claim her victory ball. "It was a lucky shot, Cassie." Tommy smirked as the two walked off the soccer field and onto the cracked sidewalk. "Are you kidding me!? That shot was perfect! There was no way you were saving that!" Cassidy's voiced cracked under the adrenaline pumping in her body. Tommy rolled his eyes at her and smiled. Cassidy's pigtail braids whipped through the wind, her rosy cheeks all chubby from her smile as she bounced the soccer ball on the concrete. "Maybe I let you score cause I felt bad and you were complaining." Tommy spat playfully as he stole the ball and began dribbling and running down the sidewalk. "Hey! Tommy! I want a re-penalty kick then!" She screamed chasing after him, Tommy laughing as Cassidy worked her gangly legs after him.
Tommy rounded the corner of the street. "Last one to your house has to wear your mom's bra!" He called back to Cassidy as he stopped dribbling the ball, tucking it under his scrawny arm and sprinting up the path. Cassidy sprinted harder, her braids flying through the air now as a bead of sweat rolled off her brow. Turning into the walk way and swinging the gate open, Tommy ran up the steps to the stoop and pulled open the screen door of the Parker's house, Cassidy following closely behind him. Tommy turned into the kitchen where Mrs. Parker was already setting up two lunch plates with meat sandwiches cut into four tiny triangles and apples cut into star shapes. "Tommy, looks like you won today!" Mrs. Parker smiled as she went grabbed a glass jar stashed with candy from the top of the fridge. "Hi, Mama Parker!" Tommy exclaimed as he stuck his hand into the jar a grabbed two lolipops, one Grape Blow Pop, the other a Cherry Blow Pop. Mrs. Parker simply smiled and winked a Tommy for letting him take two candies instead of the supposed one candy. "I would have won if he told me we were racing!" Her daughter came stomping in to the kitchen and plopping her bottom on the wooden kitchen stool. "What!? I told you we were racing." Tommy sneered at Cassidy as he pulled himself up onto the other stool. "Whatever, Tommy. I still scored on you." Cassidy spat as she took a sip of her mother's freshly made iced tea. Mrs. Parker simply smiled at Tommy knowing, without Tommy telling her, that Tommy had let Cassidy score. "Yeah. It was a lucky shot." Tommy smiled and rolled his eyes again as he chomped into his triangles.
Mrs. Parker made her away around the counter island and over to Tommy, lovingly ruffling his hair. "Oh, Tommy. I know." She smiled and kissed the nine year old's matted hair. Tommy knew exactly what she was referring to so he merely smiled and took star apple and popped it into his mouth. "Now, Miss Cassidy, since you scored your first ever goal on Tommy, you get to help me clean up lunch." Mrs. Parker smiled and kissed her daughter's head. "Ugh, mom! But, I scored! I should be getting a candy from the 'Champion Jar'!" Cassidy groaned as she grabbed her empty plate and put it in the sink, Tommy following in suit. "I don't know about that." Her mother said playfully. Tommy walked over the sliding door that led to the backyard and swimming pool. "I'll just wait for you outside then, Cassie." Tommy solemnly said pulling on the handle. Cassidy turned to her mother and put on the puppy dog eyes and pouted lips. Her mother's hands were playfully on her hips. "I was on playing, sweetheart. Go on outside and play. " She smiled a bright white motherly smile and turned to start on the dishes. Cassidy raced outside with Tommy and both of them stripped down to their bathing suits that they had under their play clothes. Cassidy jumped into the cool water, fingers holding her nose before she came back up for air as Tommy yelled "Cannonball!" and jumped next to her trying to cause a large splash. Mrs. Parker smiled from the window above the sink, taking in the priceless sight of her daughter and her best friend smiling and dunking each other in the water.
At dusk, Mrs. Parker called the two sopping wet children for supper. Mr. and Mrs. Parker set up the outside cast iron table full of food for the four while the basked in the dim summer sun. "Mama P, you went all out tonight!" Tommy smiled as he eyed the large amounts of food spread in front of him; grilled chicken, salad, corn on the bob, cornbread, string beans, broccoli and pasta salad laid before the eye hungry boy. "Hey, I helped out too!" Mr. Parker chimed in as he sat in his seat and started passing around the corn. "Yeah, you helped alright." Mrs. Parker swatted her husband on the head with a pile of napkins. "Ew, take it somewhere else." Cassidy said in playful disgust. Her father handed her the plate of chicken and she picked off two pieces before sending Tommy's way. "One day you'll be doing that with your husband." Mrs. Parker laughed as she cut her chicken. "I think I have time before that happens. I don't know who would marry me." Cassidy laughed. Tommy pulled on her wet braid. "How about if we aren't married to anyone at the age of 28, then we marry each other. We are already best friends, it would be like a never ending sleepover!" Tommy proposed holding out his hand. Cassidy thought it over as her parents only snickered and smiled to each other. "Deal! 28 it is!" Cassidy shook his hand and sealed the contract with a smile over her face.
After the summer supper was finished, the Parkers and Tommy cleared the table and the two children changed into dry clothes. "Mama P, you think you can dry my swimsuit for me?" Tommy asked with innocent eyes. Mrs. Parker smiled and put her hands on her hips. "Tommy, tell me, in all the nine years of knowing you, you always ask me 'Mama P, can you dry my swimsuit.' And in all those years what have I said?" She chuckled to herself. Tommy smiled softly, griping the back of his neck with his right hand, his cheeks turning a shade of red. "Thomas Riordan, what have I always told you?" Mama P asked again kneeling down to Tommy. He looked into her mothering warm gaze and answered. "Walking home in cold wet swim trunks will make my manhood shrivel up and no woman wants a shriveled up manhood." He smiled and laughed. Mrs. Parker smiled and tried to stifle a laugh. "That's right, Mr. Riordan. Walking home in cold wet swim trunks will make your manhood shrivel up." By the end of the sentence Mrs. Parker was laughing hysterically with little Tommy. She gave him a pat on the butt and hurried him outside with Cassidy for dessert.
"I want chocolate!" Cassie raised her hand as she hovered from her seat over the arrange of ice cream sundae toppings. "Excuse me, Miss Cassidy. Do you live in this house?" Mr. Parker asked as he hovered over the table, an ice cream scoop in hand. "Yeah?" Cassidy questioned her father. "Well, then you aren't a guest then, are you? Only guest can choose first." He smiled looking over at Tommy already knowing what kind of sundae he wanted. "Ugh! Tommy always gets to choose first!" Cassidy complained and flicked Tommy in the head. "Hey! I'm calling off the marriage deal! I want a divorce!" Tommy pretended to yell and be mad. "You can't! We are married for ever! Ugh, men. They always try to find a way out of things." Cassie shouted and shook her head in disgust. Her mother bursted out laughing and was eyed with the 'that-wasn't-funny-look' from her husband. The four of them ate their ice cream in the tiki lit night.
When dessert was finished, Tommy said his goodbyes to his 'second' mother before following Cassidy and Mr. Parker out to the car. "Uh, Mr. Riordan, you forgetting something?" Mrs. Parker called out to the young boy. In her hand was his backpack with his dried bathing suit inside. In the other hand was two large containers stuffed with food. "Now, I'm sending you home with the leftovers from tonight and a dinner for tomorrow night for you and your mother. Okay, I don't wanna hear no ' ifs, ands, or buts' about it. You take good care of mom and call us if you need anything. I know she said she wasn't feeling to well this week compared to last week. I love you, Tommy." She instructed him as she gave him a large hug and kiss before sending him off his way to Cassidy and Mr. Parker. The young boy's gray eyes rimmed slightly with tears as he smiled at his 'second' mother and thanked her with his whole heart.
The car ride back to Tommy's was quiet. The sky was dark and it was very late, though Tommy knew his mother would just be getting home now from work. He knew she was very sick and the condition of their home wasn't helping her in anyway. Tommy's eyes welded up as he thought about his poor sick mother who ushered outrageous amounts of strength and energy just to put a roof over Tommy's head. An angry tear left his eye and he looked down at the food Mrs. Parker had sent him home with. Here he was, food given to him by his best friend's mom, he was thankful for it, he always was, but his brother was home with his father having meals like this every night. He loathed his father for driving away him and his mother, away from the warmth of what was their home. And Brendan had sided with Pops. Brendan was Tommy's older brother, how could he just leave him unprotected? Tommy had to fight for himself and his sick mother. What brother? What father? As far as Tommy knew he had his mother and the Parkers. That was his family. According to Tommy, he has no brother or biological father.
Mr. Parker pulled into the gravel drive way of the dingy daunted one level cottage. Turning back, Mr. Parker smiled at Tommy. "Here we are, kiddo. Home sweet home! If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. No matter what hour in the night, you know that. Say hello to mom for us, okay? Come here, son." He said pulling the small nine year old into a hug before unlocking the car doors and letting him out. "Bye, husband! See you tomorrow at the wedding. I'll call you." Cassidy laughed as she blew him a fake kiss. "G'night wife! Thank you, Papa Parker!" He smiled and waved before lugging himself and the containers of food into the house. He waved again from the screen door and the Parker's made their way out the driveway. He stood for a second looking at Cassidy like he always did when they dropped him off. She'd sit in the front seat and at the last minute she would stick out her tongue and Tommy would flip her off. He waited for her to stick her tongue out and when she did, he flipped her off and blew a kiss before closing the front door and locking it tight.
He went to the kitchen of the dimly lit house and stuck the food in the fridge, now giving the fridge a full look. He took a glass and filled it with water and grabbed a whicker basket full of pill bottles and made his way to his mother's small room. She was sitting in her bed, her frail body covered by the large clothes she wore. "Here your pills, Ma." He said quietly. "How was Cassidy and the Parkers?" She asked in a small voice. "Mrs. Parker gave us food for a couple nights." He told her as he watched her swallow down multiple large and colorful pills. "They treat you like a prince. I'm so sorry, Tommy." She whimpered as a tear fell down her pale skin. "Ma, stop. You do a great job. I love you." He swallowed back tears and gave his weak mother a hug. "I love you too, Tommy." She said. "Go get some rest, my little warrior." She rumpled his hair with her boney hand and gave him a kiss. He left her feeling guilty there wasn't much else for him to do.
Tommy set his backpack on his desk chair and made his way for his bed. Cuddling under the old comforter, he thought his day over with the Parkers and most of all Cassidy. How he'd let her score the goal, the little pout on her face. How he'd beat her home and got two lolipops for him and her and that Cassie has to wear her mom's bra the next time he saw her. 'Wait!' He thought. 'I forgot to Cassidy her lolipop! I'll give it to her tomorrow.' He told himself. He smiled thinking about what adventures he would have with Cassidy tomorrow. With that he fell into a comfortable happy sleep.
'Ring! Ring! Ring!' The phone was loud at 3:15 in the morning, though everything was loud when the house was silent at that time of night. Mrs. Parker made her way down to the kitchen and read the caller id. Mr. Parker followed his wife and sat on the island stool, rubbing his eyes as they adjusted to the dim over head light. Cassidy had heard the phone ring also and tip toed down to the bottom step to over hear the conversation. "Yes, this is she. Is there something wrong?" Mrs. Parker's voice spoke in a worried yet stern voice. "You have Tommy Riordan there now?!" She asked in shock. Cassidy's ears perked up when she heard Tommy's name and crept to the hallway though she remained hidden. Her father shot straight up and moved over to his wife. "She... at 2:45?" Mama P hesitated and brought her hand to her mouth as she gasped in horror. "Where... where is he now? I wanna talk to him right now! Put him on the phone!" She cried into the speaker of the phone. "Anne, God damn it, what's going on?" Mr. Parker spoke in a serious and stern tone as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Cassidy sat on the tile, listening closely to her parents, confused about what was going on.
'Tommy? Oh my god, Tommy. Sweetheart!" Anne cried into the phone as she tried to fight back the overwhelming tears. Mr. Parker lowered his eyes and shook his head. He knew exactly what had happened. "Sweetheart, you stay right there. Me, Papa P and Cassidy are leaving now." She instructed him and she ran down the hallway and up the stairs. Cassidy stood there in the hallway, her eyes in shock and face in horror. She played worriedly with one lone pigtail as she stared at her father, scared to ask what had happened. "Da... Daddy? What's wrong with Tommy?" She asked in a small soft voice, barely audible. Her father sighed deeply and looked at his daughter. "Oh, Cassie. Go grab a zip up and sneakers. We need to go visit Tommy at the hospital." He said tiredly. He walked slowly through the hall, scooping up his sleepy eight year old daughter and carried her up the stairs to her room.
Cassidy rode in her second silent car ride of the night. Her father sped down the freeway, letting out deep tired sighs. Her mother bit on her nails, occasionally wiping tears off her stained cheeks. The tension and worry in the air was thick and heavy, Cassidy had trouble breathing as her own uneasiness settling into her skin. Horrible thoughts ran through her had. 'Did Tommy get hurt?' 'Was he in a car crash?' 'Did he fall and hit his head and doesn't remember who he is?' She thought. 'Oh no! He won't even know who I am and that I'm his best friend!' She screamed in her head. Tears began to roll down her face, worried that her best friend was hurt and had no idea who she was. She just wanted to see her best friend and remind them of all the fun adventures they went on. She wanted to tell him about the time the hiked through the woods by the creek and found a old tree fort and played army and marines for days on end. Or the time her parents took Tommy and her to Hershey Park. Tommy had made fun of her for being afraid of the big chocolate bar character. She had pictures to prove they were there. She'd show him all the pictures of them together and that would help him remember they were best friends. She just needed to get to Tommy now.