Chapter 7: Living With Nightmares
BING BONG!! The Brown's doorbell chimed. Ephram found it interesting how the sound of his doorbell reminded him of Greek mythology - the song of the Sirens. It wasn't just a 'ding dong' like a normal doorbell. It had a beautifully sweet melody that sounded like a siren singing the word "Belong." He only kept this thought to himself. If he should ever mention this to his father, he would no doubt be dragged to a shrink to get his head examined in addition to the regular check ups at the hospital for his aneurysm.
"I'll get it!" Andy called running from the kitchen with a towel in his hand. Ephram was practicing Beethoven's 9th on the piano in the living room. But of course, he was a curious boy. Ephram had to spy thru the corridor to see who was ringing their doorbell on a Sunday afternoon.
Andy opened the door and there stood Nina with a big platter filled with cookies, brownies, and muffins.
"Oh! You shouldn't have!!" Andy gawked at the still steaming hot baked goods that Nina held. "You did all this for me? I'm so touched." He faked a sniffle.
"I didn't. These are not for you. They're for Ephram." She beamed.
"Ephram, you can stop hiding behind the corridor now and come in here!" Andy yelled as he invited Nina to enter the house. "Nina brought you a present!"
"Hi Ephram. I know you won't want any more lasagna since you just about threw it all up the last time I made it. So! This time, I made your favorite - butterscotch and pecan cookies!!" Nina spoke when Ephram came into the room. "Plus a few other goodies, which you may share - if you want to." She playfully eyed Andy.
"Thanks!" Ephram blushed. "And I didn't mean to throw up your lasagna."
"That's ok. I was just kidding! So, how are you?" She set the platter down on the dinning room table as Andy disappeared into the kitchen to make coffee.
"How do you think? I'm a walking time bomb. I can explode at any minute. Do you know this could be the last time I talk to you?" Ephram shot back with an cold stare, then started laughing after he saw the horror in Nina's eyes. "I'm just kidding!!!" He added.
"Ephram!! That is nothing to kid about!!!" She scolded.
"I know. Don't tell my dad what I said. He gets nervous when I start talking like that." He whispered. "Actually, I'm doing good. The doctor says my aneurysm is 7 centimeters."
Nina looked confused. "Oh, that's a good thing. Means it hasn't gotten bigger. See, normal size for a thoracic aortic aneurysm is 4 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Rupture size is when it gets bigger than 10 centimeters." Ephram explained.
"Wow, you seem very knowledgeable on this stuff!" Nina was impressed.
"A month ago, I was totally freaking out, but I'm ok now. Learning more about my condition makes me less scared."
"Well, that's good."
"Yea, it ain't so bad. I just go back for CAT scans about every month and even though I don't need it, dad makes me get check ups every other week. And they keep me updated. My doctor says I don't need surgery yet. They're still running tests."
"You're so brave!!"
"I'm not. Believe me, I'm not. But I learned it's ok to be scared sometimes. I mean, it IS a human weakness after all."
"My gosh, how you've matured!"
Ephram blushed at the compliment. He glanced in the direction of the kitchen to see if his father was listening. And when he was sure his father was far away within hearing distance, he began talking again.
"I didn't mean to make you embarrassed by calling you my mom at the hospital." Ephram said in a low tone.
"That's ok. I wasn't embarrassed." She lied. "You're a sweet kid. I should be very lucky if Sam grows up to be just like you."
Ephram had hoped she would say something more delicate like she wanted to be his mother or that she wanted to care for him forever. But, as usual, it was wishful thinking. He couldn't possibly expect so much from someone who demanded so little. A brief moment of sadness passed his mind.
Nina sensed the sadness and playfully punched Ephram lightly on the shoulder. He looked at her. Her lips curled up and her eyes told him that she understood. It was their first moment of understanding each other without uttering a word. Even though no words were spoken, they felt a sudden connection. 'There was hope after all.' Ephram foolishly thought. She placed her arm around his shoulder and gave him a squeeze. Ephram wanted to cry tears of joy.
"Lady and gent, afternoon coffee, tea, and biscuits are served." Andy interrupted in his terrible fake British accent. "Delia!! Food!!!" He called up the stairs.
~ End ~
Footnote: This story ends here. But I have a sequel brewing in my mind. However, I'm not sure if I should continue or if I should chuck the idea and start a brand new one. If I get - like - a lot of requests for a continuation, then I'll proceed. If not, then I'm going to move on. Once again - thanks for reading!!
***
BING BONG!! The Brown's doorbell chimed. Ephram found it interesting how the sound of his doorbell reminded him of Greek mythology - the song of the Sirens. It wasn't just a 'ding dong' like a normal doorbell. It had a beautifully sweet melody that sounded like a siren singing the word "Belong." He only kept this thought to himself. If he should ever mention this to his father, he would no doubt be dragged to a shrink to get his head examined in addition to the regular check ups at the hospital for his aneurysm.
"I'll get it!" Andy called running from the kitchen with a towel in his hand. Ephram was practicing Beethoven's 9th on the piano in the living room. But of course, he was a curious boy. Ephram had to spy thru the corridor to see who was ringing their doorbell on a Sunday afternoon.
Andy opened the door and there stood Nina with a big platter filled with cookies, brownies, and muffins.
"Oh! You shouldn't have!!" Andy gawked at the still steaming hot baked goods that Nina held. "You did all this for me? I'm so touched." He faked a sniffle.
"I didn't. These are not for you. They're for Ephram." She beamed.
"Ephram, you can stop hiding behind the corridor now and come in here!" Andy yelled as he invited Nina to enter the house. "Nina brought you a present!"
"Hi Ephram. I know you won't want any more lasagna since you just about threw it all up the last time I made it. So! This time, I made your favorite - butterscotch and pecan cookies!!" Nina spoke when Ephram came into the room. "Plus a few other goodies, which you may share - if you want to." She playfully eyed Andy.
"Thanks!" Ephram blushed. "And I didn't mean to throw up your lasagna."
"That's ok. I was just kidding! So, how are you?" She set the platter down on the dinning room table as Andy disappeared into the kitchen to make coffee.
"How do you think? I'm a walking time bomb. I can explode at any minute. Do you know this could be the last time I talk to you?" Ephram shot back with an cold stare, then started laughing after he saw the horror in Nina's eyes. "I'm just kidding!!!" He added.
"Ephram!! That is nothing to kid about!!!" She scolded.
"I know. Don't tell my dad what I said. He gets nervous when I start talking like that." He whispered. "Actually, I'm doing good. The doctor says my aneurysm is 7 centimeters."
Nina looked confused. "Oh, that's a good thing. Means it hasn't gotten bigger. See, normal size for a thoracic aortic aneurysm is 4 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Rupture size is when it gets bigger than 10 centimeters." Ephram explained.
"Wow, you seem very knowledgeable on this stuff!" Nina was impressed.
"A month ago, I was totally freaking out, but I'm ok now. Learning more about my condition makes me less scared."
"Well, that's good."
"Yea, it ain't so bad. I just go back for CAT scans about every month and even though I don't need it, dad makes me get check ups every other week. And they keep me updated. My doctor says I don't need surgery yet. They're still running tests."
"You're so brave!!"
"I'm not. Believe me, I'm not. But I learned it's ok to be scared sometimes. I mean, it IS a human weakness after all."
"My gosh, how you've matured!"
Ephram blushed at the compliment. He glanced in the direction of the kitchen to see if his father was listening. And when he was sure his father was far away within hearing distance, he began talking again.
"I didn't mean to make you embarrassed by calling you my mom at the hospital." Ephram said in a low tone.
"That's ok. I wasn't embarrassed." She lied. "You're a sweet kid. I should be very lucky if Sam grows up to be just like you."
Ephram had hoped she would say something more delicate like she wanted to be his mother or that she wanted to care for him forever. But, as usual, it was wishful thinking. He couldn't possibly expect so much from someone who demanded so little. A brief moment of sadness passed his mind.
Nina sensed the sadness and playfully punched Ephram lightly on the shoulder. He looked at her. Her lips curled up and her eyes told him that she understood. It was their first moment of understanding each other without uttering a word. Even though no words were spoken, they felt a sudden connection. 'There was hope after all.' Ephram foolishly thought. She placed her arm around his shoulder and gave him a squeeze. Ephram wanted to cry tears of joy.
"Lady and gent, afternoon coffee, tea, and biscuits are served." Andy interrupted in his terrible fake British accent. "Delia!! Food!!!" He called up the stairs.
~ End ~
Footnote: This story ends here. But I have a sequel brewing in my mind. However, I'm not sure if I should continue or if I should chuck the idea and start a brand new one. If I get - like - a lot of requests for a continuation, then I'll proceed. If not, then I'm going to move on. Once again - thanks for reading!!
***