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Day 35

Wow! I finally get my cell phone and my stuff back, but yet I've been busy and tired and I've barely touched it. I've definitely been doing more texting then talking. I've been texting mom and dad. I've been texting Nathan and Becky. But, even better, I've been texting Amanda.

She texts me back when she can. She'll ask me about my day and I'll ask her about hers and how Brandon is doing. Sometimes she'll even text me a picture of him. Tonight when I get done journaling, I'm going to call there so I can hear her talk to Brandon and hear his voice.

Recovery is going well. So far the last couple days have gone well. So well that I've contemplated asking for a weekend pass. Since I voluntarily checked in, they technically can't keep me but they can give me their opinion. I was thinking of going to Amanda's house and surprising them. But I don't know if Brandon could handle me showing up and leaving the next day. So maybe not. But I do want to go and get the hell out of here for a few days. They try and tell me that I'm not ready for the outside world or temptation, but I think that I'll do just fine. I've even contemplated leaving early. Instead of staying for the 90-day program, I've thought about talking to Vince about the 45 or 60 day program. I'm clean, I'm staying clean. Give me my life back.

Enough for now. I'm going to call Amanda.

RKO

Meanwhile…

Amanda walked in the door carrying Brandon. He was sick and not feeling good at all. And when Brandon wasn't feeling good, nothing was an easy task. But, as odd as it was, being sick did seem to focus him a bit. But it also made him incredibly needy.

She set him down on the couch and turned on his favorite cartoons and covered him up with his blankie. Just as she was trying to talk to him about how he was feeling, her phone began to ring. When she looked at her caller id she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Now was not a good time.

"Hello?"

"Hey doll." Randy replied happily. "How's it going?"

"It's not going well. Brandon is really sick, I had to leave work early to take him to urgent care where we sat for two hours and he puked all over the waiting room. Then he freaked out for the throat swab and the nasal swab and the nebulizer. But, he did earn a popsicle by taking a nice x-ray." Amanda replied as she yawned. "So, not well. How are you doing?"

"I've been busy, but good. I'm on day 35 right now." Randy replied. "Any chance you would put me on speaker phone?"

"Randy, what part of he's sick did you not get? He doesn't talk much when he's sick."

"Please Amanda?" He begged. "I just…I want to hear his voice."

"Fine. Hold on." And she turned on the speaker phone. She went and sat down by Brandon. "Hey Scooter. How're you doing?"

Brandon shook his head, "Not good. I'm sick."

Randy's eyes filled with tears when he heard Brandon's little voice for the first time. God he had missed out on so much. All because of his own stupidity.

Brandon told Amanda the name of the show he was watching and the characters' names. Then Amanda asked Brandon if he wanted a juice box and a snack. Brandon replied, "Only juice. No snack."

"Ok, I'll get you a juice." Amanda replied as she got up. She grabbed her phone and walked into the kitchen. She turned the speaker phone off, "Hello?"

Randy sniffled, "Oh my God that was the greatest thing I've ever heard."

Amanda smiled, "I'm happy to hear that. Are you crying?"

"A little. Shut up." Randy said as he wiped his eyes.

"I'll be damned, is the great Randy Orton having a cold, hard lesson in life…AND learning from it? Wow." She teased.

"Amanda, I want to come and see the two of you." Randy replied. "If I can get a weekend pass…"

"Then pass on it." Amanda replied firmly. "Work on you for now."

"But Brandon's sick and you're tired and this would be a great time for me to be re-introduced to him." Randy tried to reason.

"Randy, what do you think we've done every other time Brandon has been sick? What about the time he needed to have surgery? You weren't here for any of that and we got along just fine." Amanda recounted.

"Surgery? When? Why?" Randy replied surprised.

"He had tubes put in his ears because he had so many ear infections. And we did ok."

Randy shook his head, "Manda, I'm going crazy in here. I'm clean and sober, I'm staying clean and sober. I just want out. I want to see someone I know."

"Are you allowed to have visitors?" Amanda asked.

Randy nodded his head, "Yeah, once you earn them. But it's not the same. I need to walk down a street and go to the gas station."

"They would volunteer the opportunity to do so if they felt it was a good idea." Amanda answered. "So don't go looking for one. Sit back, relax and work on you."

I'm so stir crazy. I need to get out of here." He replied.

"You keep saying it, of course you're going to believe it. You're almost halfway done, keep up the good work and don't jeopardize anything. You've done a really great job, and I'm proud of you." Amanda said seriously.

Randy's ears perked up a bit, "Did you just say that you were proud of me?"

Amanda nodded, "Yeah…I did. And I am. But don't screw it up because you're stir-crazy."

"Thanks Amanda. I appreciate it."

"Look Randy, I've gotta go. I need to get him fed and in the tub. Not an easy task. But, seriously. Just stay put." Amanda replied.

"Alright. We'll see. But, thanks for letting me hear him. That was the greatest sound ever."

Amanda smiled, "You're welcome. I'll talk to you later." And she hung up. Part of her wished she could go and see him, but she knew her parents would freak out if she did. Especially since they hated Randy.

Randy laid back on his bed. He still wanted to get out for the weekend. Maybe get a start on the tattoo sleeves he wanted. That wouldn't have to be far…just down the block. Was it a good idea? He'd be fine, right?

**Please read and review! Is Randy thinking straight? Do you think it would be wise if he left for a weekend? Or if he cut his treatment short? **