The next day Andy let Ephram skip school and go to the hospital. Ephram just sat by Madison's bed and held her hand the whole day. That night when he went home he went straight up to his room. Andy went up after him and knocked on his door.
Andy: Ephram? There are some burgers downstairs...are you hungry?
Ephram: No...
Andy: Is there anything I can get you?
Ephram: No
Andy: (opened the door and walked in) how's she doing?
Ephram: The same...(a tear rolled down his cheek)
Andy: How are you holding up?
Ephram: I'm not...holding up
Andy: (sighed) I know it's hard...maybe it's best if you go to school tomorrow, try and get it off your mind
Ephram: Yeah...(He wasn't really listening)
Andy: Well if you want any dinner, it's downstairs
Ephram: ok
Andy walked out and closed the door behind him.
The next day Ephram woke up and got ready, as if it was a normal day. He was driving towards the school, but he couldn't stop thinking about Madison. What if something happened over night? What if she woke up and they forgot to call him? What if something's wrong? He quickly made a "U-turn" and headed towards the hospital.
He went straight to Madison's room. There were 2 chairs set up next to her bed, but he didn't think much of it. He sat down and grabbed her, still motionless, hand.
Ephram: (tears forming in his eyes) Hey...(he smiled at her, trying to hide his fear and hoping for a response)
Mrs. Detmer: Can I help you?
Ephram quickly stood up and turned around. He saw a woman, a little bit older than his dad, and a man approximately the same age standing in the doorway. The woman looked kind of familiar. Ephram thought for a second and then realized she was the woman in some of the pictures at Madison's house-her mom. He figured the man was Madison's step-dad.
Ephram: (wiping tears from his face) Oh-uh hi...You-you must be Madison's mom-
Mrs. Detmer: yes and you are-wait (she looked him over and assessed his injuries, then she almost threw herself at him, Mr. Detmer had to hold her back) You're the kid that did this to my Maddie!! You little-
Ephram: No-no, (he held his good arm up in surrender) no-ma'am that wasn't me! I was in the car with Madison...(she started to calm down)
Mrs. Detmer: They never mentioned anyone else on the phone
Ephram: I'm Ephram...
Mr. Detmer: Ephram? Are you a friend from school?
Ephram: No... I'm-I'm Madison's...(he didn't know what he should say) Madison's boyfriend (it just came out, then he waited for their response)
Mrs. Detmer: Madison's boyfriend?! Madison never said anything about a boyfriend... (she looked at her husband)-and you look like you're about 12
Ephram: Actually...I'm six-dad? What are you doing here?
Mr. And Mrs. Detmer turned around and saw Andy and Delia.
Andy: Ephram? I ought to ask you the same thing, you're supposed to be in school, I thought we talked about this... (surprised)
Ephram: What's the point?! It's not like I could pay attention...all I think about is her! She's all I care about! I can't just go to school like everything's ok! What if something happened? What if you're wrong and she doesn't wake up? What if she does wake up and I'm not there?! (Ephram was now crying)
Andy walked up to him and held him in his arms.
Andy: It's gonna be ok...she's gonna be ok
Ephram: You don't know that!
Delia was now crying.
Ephram looked up and noticed Madison's parents were still standing there. They both had confused looks on their faces. They had no idea who these people were, and how they knew their daughter.
Ephram wiped his tears away and tried to compose himself.
Ephram: Sorry
Andy: (turned around and looked at them) Hi, I'm Andy Brown...(he held out his hand)
Mrs. Detmer: Leanne Detmer, I'm Madison's mother
Andy: Oh, I'm...well Madison baby-sits my daughter...she's kind of become part of the family
Mrs. Detmer: But your son? He said he and Madison were "together??"
Andy: Yes...yes they are (he looked back at Ephram)
Mrs. Detmer: I'm sorry, it's just that Madison never mentioned anything, well we haven't talked to her in a while...I guess all this happened pretty quickly
Andy: Actually, Madison's been with us for 6 months now-well she's been with Ephram-not been with him, I mean....she's been baby-sitting Delia for about six months, she and Ephram have been together for what? I guess almost that long.
Mr. Detmer: But Ephram...he's how old?
Ephram: I'm 16
They both looked shocked.
Mrs. Detmer: Well I guess we now know why Madison didn't say anything...
Ephram turned red with anger at her comment. Andy saw this.
Andy: Ephram...why don't you take Delia and get us some sodas?
Delia: But I wanna stay with Madison!
Andy: Delia, if you don't go, Ephram won't know what kind you want...
Delia: Fine
They both walked out of the room.
Mrs. Detmer: I don't mean to be rude Mr. Brown, but your son is 16! I just don't understand how you allow such a thing
Andy: It's Dr. Brown...and Ephram is the most mature 16 year old you will ever meet, at first I didn't allow it but I saw how much they cared for one another...they are genuinely in love, if you could just see the way they act around each other you would understand...
Mr. Detmer: But Madison is 20 years old! She's just starting her life!
Andy: Madison is 21, her birthday was about 2 weeks ago...(he felt bad when he said this, but he needed to show them that they didn't know their daughter as well as they thought they did)
Mr. Detmer: (paused for a second) well that's even more of a reason to stop this!
Andy: I really don't think you can stop this...believe me I've tried, their love is too strong
Mrs. Detmer: I can't believe I'm hearing this, this is unbelievable! You let your 16 year old son date our 21 year old daughter! What kind of parent does that?!? What could you have possibly been thinking?!?
Andy: I'm sorry you feel this way...but I'm telling you now, there is no stopping this, it's impossible...especially when you aren't even in your daughter's life! You expect her to end a relationship with the person she loves more than anyone just because you say so? It doesn't work that way!
Mrs. Detmer: There is no relationship! It's over, I will not allow her to get involved in something like this!
Andy: It's too late! She's been involved in it for 6 months, I'm sorry Mrs. Detmer but there is nothing you can do...
Mr. Detmer: This is her daughter! You have no right to talk to her like that!
Ephram and Delia were standing behind them listening.
Ephram: Will you please just shut up! Everyone is arguing as if Madison is ok! She's not ok! She's lying there, motionless and you're all standing here arguing about US! There is no point! Do you even care about her?! She's lying there and all you can think about is her current relationship with a 16 year old! So what? What will arguing about it do? Will it wake her up?! Cause if it will then let put in my 2 cents!
He walked past them and went and sat down next to Madison. He kissed her hand while holding it in his. Everyone stood there in silence, staring at Ephram. Later Madison's parents half-heartedly apologized to him, but it was obvious that they still weren't ok with the idea of their daughter with a 16 year old.
Andy: Ephram? There are some burgers downstairs...are you hungry?
Ephram: No...
Andy: Is there anything I can get you?
Ephram: No
Andy: (opened the door and walked in) how's she doing?
Ephram: The same...(a tear rolled down his cheek)
Andy: How are you holding up?
Ephram: I'm not...holding up
Andy: (sighed) I know it's hard...maybe it's best if you go to school tomorrow, try and get it off your mind
Ephram: Yeah...(He wasn't really listening)
Andy: Well if you want any dinner, it's downstairs
Ephram: ok
Andy walked out and closed the door behind him.
The next day Ephram woke up and got ready, as if it was a normal day. He was driving towards the school, but he couldn't stop thinking about Madison. What if something happened over night? What if she woke up and they forgot to call him? What if something's wrong? He quickly made a "U-turn" and headed towards the hospital.
He went straight to Madison's room. There were 2 chairs set up next to her bed, but he didn't think much of it. He sat down and grabbed her, still motionless, hand.
Ephram: (tears forming in his eyes) Hey...(he smiled at her, trying to hide his fear and hoping for a response)
Mrs. Detmer: Can I help you?
Ephram quickly stood up and turned around. He saw a woman, a little bit older than his dad, and a man approximately the same age standing in the doorway. The woman looked kind of familiar. Ephram thought for a second and then realized she was the woman in some of the pictures at Madison's house-her mom. He figured the man was Madison's step-dad.
Ephram: (wiping tears from his face) Oh-uh hi...You-you must be Madison's mom-
Mrs. Detmer: yes and you are-wait (she looked him over and assessed his injuries, then she almost threw herself at him, Mr. Detmer had to hold her back) You're the kid that did this to my Maddie!! You little-
Ephram: No-no, (he held his good arm up in surrender) no-ma'am that wasn't me! I was in the car with Madison...(she started to calm down)
Mrs. Detmer: They never mentioned anyone else on the phone
Ephram: I'm Ephram...
Mr. Detmer: Ephram? Are you a friend from school?
Ephram: No... I'm-I'm Madison's...(he didn't know what he should say) Madison's boyfriend (it just came out, then he waited for their response)
Mrs. Detmer: Madison's boyfriend?! Madison never said anything about a boyfriend... (she looked at her husband)-and you look like you're about 12
Ephram: Actually...I'm six-dad? What are you doing here?
Mr. And Mrs. Detmer turned around and saw Andy and Delia.
Andy: Ephram? I ought to ask you the same thing, you're supposed to be in school, I thought we talked about this... (surprised)
Ephram: What's the point?! It's not like I could pay attention...all I think about is her! She's all I care about! I can't just go to school like everything's ok! What if something happened? What if you're wrong and she doesn't wake up? What if she does wake up and I'm not there?! (Ephram was now crying)
Andy walked up to him and held him in his arms.
Andy: It's gonna be ok...she's gonna be ok
Ephram: You don't know that!
Delia was now crying.
Ephram looked up and noticed Madison's parents were still standing there. They both had confused looks on their faces. They had no idea who these people were, and how they knew their daughter.
Ephram wiped his tears away and tried to compose himself.
Ephram: Sorry
Andy: (turned around and looked at them) Hi, I'm Andy Brown...(he held out his hand)
Mrs. Detmer: Leanne Detmer, I'm Madison's mother
Andy: Oh, I'm...well Madison baby-sits my daughter...she's kind of become part of the family
Mrs. Detmer: But your son? He said he and Madison were "together??"
Andy: Yes...yes they are (he looked back at Ephram)
Mrs. Detmer: I'm sorry, it's just that Madison never mentioned anything, well we haven't talked to her in a while...I guess all this happened pretty quickly
Andy: Actually, Madison's been with us for 6 months now-well she's been with Ephram-not been with him, I mean....she's been baby-sitting Delia for about six months, she and Ephram have been together for what? I guess almost that long.
Mr. Detmer: But Ephram...he's how old?
Ephram: I'm 16
They both looked shocked.
Mrs. Detmer: Well I guess we now know why Madison didn't say anything...
Ephram turned red with anger at her comment. Andy saw this.
Andy: Ephram...why don't you take Delia and get us some sodas?
Delia: But I wanna stay with Madison!
Andy: Delia, if you don't go, Ephram won't know what kind you want...
Delia: Fine
They both walked out of the room.
Mrs. Detmer: I don't mean to be rude Mr. Brown, but your son is 16! I just don't understand how you allow such a thing
Andy: It's Dr. Brown...and Ephram is the most mature 16 year old you will ever meet, at first I didn't allow it but I saw how much they cared for one another...they are genuinely in love, if you could just see the way they act around each other you would understand...
Mr. Detmer: But Madison is 20 years old! She's just starting her life!
Andy: Madison is 21, her birthday was about 2 weeks ago...(he felt bad when he said this, but he needed to show them that they didn't know their daughter as well as they thought they did)
Mr. Detmer: (paused for a second) well that's even more of a reason to stop this!
Andy: I really don't think you can stop this...believe me I've tried, their love is too strong
Mrs. Detmer: I can't believe I'm hearing this, this is unbelievable! You let your 16 year old son date our 21 year old daughter! What kind of parent does that?!? What could you have possibly been thinking?!?
Andy: I'm sorry you feel this way...but I'm telling you now, there is no stopping this, it's impossible...especially when you aren't even in your daughter's life! You expect her to end a relationship with the person she loves more than anyone just because you say so? It doesn't work that way!
Mrs. Detmer: There is no relationship! It's over, I will not allow her to get involved in something like this!
Andy: It's too late! She's been involved in it for 6 months, I'm sorry Mrs. Detmer but there is nothing you can do...
Mr. Detmer: This is her daughter! You have no right to talk to her like that!
Ephram and Delia were standing behind them listening.
Ephram: Will you please just shut up! Everyone is arguing as if Madison is ok! She's not ok! She's lying there, motionless and you're all standing here arguing about US! There is no point! Do you even care about her?! She's lying there and all you can think about is her current relationship with a 16 year old! So what? What will arguing about it do? Will it wake her up?! Cause if it will then let put in my 2 cents!
He walked past them and went and sat down next to Madison. He kissed her hand while holding it in his. Everyone stood there in silence, staring at Ephram. Later Madison's parents half-heartedly apologized to him, but it was obvious that they still weren't ok with the idea of their daughter with a 16 year old.