Joe's Last Goodbye
By: Terrell James
Summary: This is a very sad, yet very tragic, but very sweet story. Joe's cousin died in Lake Michigan because he's been diagnosed with AIDS. Hopefully, you will like this. Give me good reviews and very cool feedback on this.
Chapter 1: Joe's Sad News
On a later afternoon, Chicken Joe looked at the sky and began to wonder why is it always so clear. He soon realizes that he sees the air in a different perspective. So he sighed and looked around the beach in a very quiet, peaceful way of thinking what would it be like if the world would be very intriuging. Just then, along came his penguin friend, Cody Maverick, checking on Joe.
"Hey, man. How are you?" asked Joe.
"Doing good." said Cody.
"Hey, so I haven't seen you around this morning. Where've you been all day?" asked Joe.
"You know, here and there." said Cody.
Joe nodded his head and said, "I think you've been seeing Lani again. Are you guys an item?"
Cody glared at Joe with a very awkward, yet shy look and said, "I'd rather not answer that, obviously. We're just friends."
Joe said, sarcastically, "Of course you are." Then he exclaimed, "You like Lani, dude!"
Cody blushed and chuckled nervously and said, "Okay. We're just friends. Nothing serious about that, man."
"Okay. I'm just teasing, man. You know me." said Joe.
"Are you?"
"Yeah, man."
"Okay. We'll, I'm gonna hang around to maybe look for a few waves and see if I'm liable to catch one, okay, man?" asked Cody.
"Sure thing." said Joe.
"Later."
"See ya, Joe."
Joe walked out of Z's beach, then headed towards Pen Gu Island for a little sightseeing. 30 minutes later, he saw Lani behind him and said, "Hey, Joe. Got a minute?"
Joe looked behind her and said, "Sure. I got lots of minutes. What's going on?"
Lani looked at Joe, looking a little worried and said, "I got something to tell you."
Joe gave her a concerned look and said, "Is there something wrong?"
Lani sighed and gave Joe a little letter from Wisconsin. Joe looked at it and reads, "Dear Cousin Joe. How are you? Hope everything's going good at Pen Gu Island. You remember your cousin Lucas? He was a good boy, always like to spend time with you. Just 2 days ago, his HIV positive diagnosis was going worse, and it turns out, our doctor gave us a result: your cousin died from HIV about 5:30 on an early Tuesday morning. I'm really sorry. I know this is hard for you to hear, but it's true. Your cousin Lucas died of HIV. I know how close you guys have gotten. Hope we hear from you soon. With love, Uncle Rupert. P.S.: I hope the penguins take good care of you. Love ya, nephew."
After reading the letter, Joe's heart sank and said to Lani, "My cousin died?"
Lani nods her head and said, "I'm really sorry."
Joe sighed heavily and tears streamed from his eyes and said, "How could this happen? I know HIV/AIDS would be fatal for everyone, but not my cousin."
"It happens to everyone." said Lani.
"He was like my best friend when we were younger. I-I just can't believe he's gone." said Joe, tearfully.
"Do you need a hug?" Lani asked.
Joe stared at Lani and whispered, "Yeah, I do."
Then, he leaned over Lani and gave him a big hug and said, "If you need to talk, just find me at my lifeguard station, or talk to Z or Cody and we'll be here for you."
Joe wiped his eyes and said, "Thank you."
Lani said, "Your cousin loved you."
Joe turned to Lani and said softly, "I know."
"I'll see you around, okay?" said Lani.
"Okay." he whispered, tearfully, then walked away.
15 minutes later, Joe sat down near the sunset, curled himself to a little ball and started to cry. Then, he felt something in his shoulder and looked up. It was Cody, who started to comfort him and said to him, "Lani told me about your cousin's death. I'm really sorry, man."
"Thanks, dude. I just can't believe that he's gone." said Joe.
"I know. If you ever need someone to talk to or if you just need a little shoulder to cry on, I'm right here, man." said Cody, softly.
"Thanks, man." said Joe, as he gave Cody and friendly hug.