Bittersweet Memories
part 2
By Kali
"Bobby, did ya remember to bring those Little Debbie Marshmallow pies?"
"Yep!"
"Where are they?"
"In the bag with the Dr. Pepper and the A&W."
"Oh. Okay," Rogue responded, grinning at him. "Ah just have a little attack of the munchies."
She reached into the bag for them, and much to her horror, felt that the box the pies were in, was sopping wet.
"Ewwwwwwwww!"
"What's wrong?"
"One of the soda cans leaked. Damn it all!"
"It's okay, Rogue. The pies are in plastic wrappers."
"Ah know. It's just... Practically everything has gone wrong with this trip. The car battery went kaput. The cassette player chewed up my Sylvia tape. And mah favorite restaurant, this side of the Mississippi, with the most divine catfish ya would evah hope to try, was closed for remodeling. Ah'd say that so far that this trip has been an unqualified disaster!"
"It's not that bad."
"Isn't it? This motel doesn't have the WB! Ah'm missing Smallville!"
"I didn't realize that you were a fan of Superman."
"Ah'm not. Ah'm a fan of the Duke boys. That John Schneider is one attractive Pa Kent."
"Um, Rogue, Schneider is like twice your age."
"You mean like Emma is to you?"
".......... Let's talk about something else, okay?"
"Okay."
"We'll be there tomorrow," Bobby commented tentatively, eyeing Rogue.
"Yeah, don't remind me," Rogue shuddered with trepidation.
"Rogue, look, I know this is hard for you. So, if you've changed your mind, we can turn back."
"No. Ah have to do this. The sooner it's done with, the better."
"If you're sure?"
"Positive," Rogue said as she scooted back onto one of the motel room's two queen beds.
"Okay, then, how about we find something else to watch for a bit?"
"Sure," Rogue said with a forced grin as she unwrapped one of the Debbie pies.
*********************************************************************
"Bobby, stop."
"What?"
"Turn it back to the previous channel."
"ESPN Classic?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"My God. Ah don't believe it." Rogue whispered as tears started to form in her eyes as she stared gravely at the TV screen.
"What?" Bobby asked confused. He glanced at the crying Rogue with concern then turned his attention back to the station which was showing old horse racing clips. One horse in particular, a dark bay, almost black, thoroughbred seemed to be featured. "Rogue, what's wrong?"
"Look at the dates, Bobby. The dates below the horse's name."
"Sunday Silence, 1986 to 2002," Bobby read aloud, "Oh."
"Ah, don't believe it. Sunday died last year, and Ah didn't find about it until today?! Boy, Ah've really been out of the loop haven't Ah?"
"I didn't know that you were such a big horse racing fan."
"With his crooked hind legs, he was the horse nobody wanted. But he showed em. He showed em how good he really was. And Ah guess Ah guess Ah"
"Identified with that?"
"Yeah, Ah guess so. He was so beautiful and full of spirit."
"Sort of like you."
"Bobby!" Rogue glared at him hotly for a moment, then her thoughts returned to Sunday Silence as she somberly touched the TV screen. "That, that doesn't matter. Ah can't believe he died so young. He was only 16. It's so sad, both he and Easy dying so young. And so many others, even younger. It's seems like just yesterday that Ah paid him a visit in Japan. Ah took him peppermints and carrots. He tried to bite me. It was such an enjoyable visit. Wanted to go back, do it again, someday, but"
"Never found the time. I know how that is."
"Yeah, it's funny how life is. Sometimes you think that you have all the time in the world when in truth"
"You still just talking about Sunday, and not your parents?" Bobby asked, noticing that Rogue did not meet his gaze.
"Ah, Ah don't know anymore. News like this just gives one a big ol wakeup call as to just how short life can be," Rogue sighed, then chortled sadly. "Funny, being an X-Man, and all, youd think that would be deeply ingrained into me. Weve stared death in the face, so many times."
"Yeah, but, it doesn't get any easier. Especially, when it comes to the people and things we care about."
Rogue nodded grimly, then reached over to the lamp closest to her bed. "G'night, Bobby."
"Sleep tight," Bobby returned from the other bed as he clicked off the TV set. "Try not to worry too much about tomorrow, okay? Whatever happened in the past, can't hurt you anymore."
"Ah wish Ah could believe that. Ah really do, Bobby," Rogue thought to herself, as she turned out the light, and huddled underneath the covers, her back to Bobby. "But some things some demons still have the ability to hurt. Even from beyond the grave."
Disclaimer: All X-characters belong to Marvel Comics. This fan-fiction is meant as pure, harmless fun and as such no profit is being made from it.
Dedicated to the memory of Sunday Silence - RIP