What a day. He thought. Here I just want to apologize to my brother for messin' his college plans up, and I wind up watching someone else save his life…
A tear came to his eye. Dad's right, I'm worthless. Maybe I should just go jump off of a bridge or somethin'.
He put his face in his hands and his elbows on his knees. What would he do now? If he just went and jumped off a bridge, at least he would permanently be out of everyone's way…
He got up and walked out of the room. Maybe he wouldn't jump off of a bridge, he didn't know, but he had to get out of there. He wasn't needed. He turned and headed for the hospital entrance.
"Stanley? "
Stanley glanced over his shoulder, then turned when he saw his brother there.
Stanford walked over to him. "Stanley, where were you going?"
Stan looked at the floor. "Well, I—I figured I was in the way—"
"In the way?"
"Yeah, I—"
Stanley sucked in a deep breath and looked at Stanford. "I—I just came back—to apologize. I didn't mean to break your – movement machine thing – I was mad, and I pounded the table, and your whatsit thing jumped, and I thought I fixed it, and…"
His voice trailed off. His big apology wasn't coming out right at all.
"Any way, I'm sorry I ruined your chance to go to West Coast Tech and all. It was all my fault and I didn't own up to it. "
"Oh, Stanley…"
The next thing Stanley knew, his brother had thrown his arms around him and—was he crying?
Stanley placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Uh—Stanford, what—are you okay? "
"I'm so sorry, Stan! I'm so sorry!" his brother choked out between sobs.
Stanley shook his head as if to clear it, then held his brother at arm's length. "Wha—what are you sorry for? "
Stanford took his glasses off and wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands. "I'm—I'm sorry that I assumed—I assumed that you'd broken my machine on purpose, and then when Dad started in on you I went right along with him, and I didn't stop and think about it and—"
"Whoa." Stanley said, shaking his head. "Whoa. I'm the one supposed to be apologizin', here. "
Stanford smiled through his tears. "I think we both already did that, Stan. And if it makes you feel any better, apology accepted. "
Stan smiled. "Thanks, Stanford."
Stan's twin drew a deep breath and exhaled. "Besides, if I hadn't come to Backupsmore, I would never have met Fiddleford. "
Stan blinked and tilted his head, then came to a realization. "Oh, right-you mean the little guy. "
Stanford grinned weakly. "Yes. You mean the two of you came looking for me and you never learned each other's names? "
Stanley rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh—well, I've heard you say it, but things have been so crazy- when we met your friend was running like a bat out 'a'—well, you know—and he slammed into me. After I picked him up off of the floor he realized I was your brother, an' he said you were in danger and I—well, I flipped out an'—we never got to real introductions. "
His twin chuckled and shook his head. "Oh, my. Knowing Fiddleford, he was worried that I hadn't come back to the dorm when I usually do…"
Stan scratched his head. "Wait a sec-Stanford and Fiddleford? How'd you swing that? "
Stanford raised an eyebrow at him and gestured to himself, then to Stan. "Stanford and Stanley?"
"Well, I think that was Dad's fault—"
Suddenly a distressed look crossed Stanford's face, and he looked toward the hall by the admissions desk. "Fiddleford! Did they—tell you anything? "
Stanley shook his head. "No—no one's said anything to me since we got here."
