[a/n: thanks Jo for helping me fix my mistakes.]

It was friday night and everyone was getting ready for the Camping trip. It seemed that Delia decided to bring everything she owned. But she always made a big fuss about doing family things. He packed a few clothes and a flashlight with batteries in his suitcase. He walked to Delia's room and looked at her pack and put his hands in his pockets.

"You know, you dont have to pack like its the end of the world." He said with a smile and sat on her bed.

"I know. I just like to be on the safe side Ephram." She put her brush and toothbrush in as well and finally shut the suitcase which would hardly shut. Ephram helped her and together they zipped it up.

"Whatever. I just hope you know that your the one who's going to be carrying that." He grinned and grabbed her bag putting it Above the car and went back in the house.

"Should'nt you call Amy and tell her were going?" Andy asked Ephram as he walked in the door.

"I was going to until you interupted. I'm not as dumb as you make me appear." He said to his father.

"Fine then, Ephram, I was just trying to make a suggestion. But it seems you dont want anything that I give to you."

"Why do you think that? Your never home anymore to know anything thats going on in our lives anymore..." Delia then left the room she didnt want to hear another argument between Dad and Ephram. "... A few nights ago you left without any good explantion. Im not even sure it was a patient. Are you seeing someone is that it? You have to sneak around without giving I or Delia a reasonable explanation? Im sick of it. And So Is Delia. Why the hell wont you tell us whats going on?!" He raised his voice on the last sentece, And knew his dad was getting furious. But then calmed down as he lowered his voice to a low whisper.

"I didnt want to tell you till I was sure.. But im pretty positive now." He said looking at his son without blinking. "Sure about what?..." Ephram was growing impatient with his father as he awaited an answer.

"Ephram..." His voice was quite and cold. "... I have bone cancer." The news shocked Ephram and he was speechless, he looked up the stairs to see if Delia overheard or not. The news would kill her to know that her dad had any kind of Cancer. But Ephram was old enough to know that mainly anything could be treated. But Him and Delia couldn't afford to lose another parent. ".. I didnt want to break the news this way but seeing that you insited on arguing with me about it I guess nows the time."

Ephram felt himself get cold. "You can cure it right? I mean, We have the technology dont we?" He asked and his father sensed fear in his voice. And he nodded. "Of course I'd have to go through Chemo, But Ephram. Im afraid its getting worse. My bones are beginning to deteriate. And the pages I've been getting was from a Doctor in New York. I left the house so you wouldn't know what was up. I know it was bad to keep it from you two, But i didnt know what to do. I understand if I did you'd have fear of losing another parent. But Ephram were going to try our best and pull through it."

The news of it all was killing Ephram, and he knew if they told Delia then it would too. They agreed to not say anything until after the camping trip. And keep it to themselves until then. But I was hard all night not to talk about it. He totally forgot about Amy at that point. But who wouldn't after hearing the news that your father has Cancer was too much for a teenage boy to handle. After dinner together he went up to his room and stared off into space thinking about random things. Mostly about his father. Then Delia. Collin. Then Amy. He decided to pick up the phone and talk to her. Not sure if he should tell her what just happened. Knowing it wasnt really her place and he'd just feel awkward hearing the 'Oh im so sorry. Are you going to be ok?' Act she'd put on But he knew she really did care and it hurt him to think he wanted to keep it from her. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.

All he told her was what time they were going to pick her up. Not anything about his father. Yet. He wasnt sure if he had any intention to tell her. He didnt know if he could put up with it. He didnt want his father to die. Not this soon. If he was to die it was to be in his bed, Naturally. Not of some stupid cancer. How could this happen? Questions raced through his head as he shut of his light and went to sleep.