Thanks for the reviews... note- chapters 1 through 4 (this chap) was just a prologue-type-thing (past chapters). Then chapter 5 and so on are present day chapters. Get what I'm saying?

Chapter 4 Sad and Glad Feelings (Joseph and Elizabeth)

Joseph Tuuluutoo, which goes by Joe, has been my friend since grade 5. He's age fourteen and in grade 9, high school. The reason why is he's a smart guy. He discovered that in grade six the work was excessively easy for him, so his parents and teachers moved him up a grade. I was sad when Joe went up a grade. I thought I would lose him as a friend. I thought I would never see him again. However, I was wrong. I did not lose him as a friend. I could see him in-between classes, at lunch, and in 8th period study hall. We were still friends after all. In addition, he is 50 percent Chinese and 50 percent American.

One memory that I remember that Joe and I shared was in grade 5; a couple days after we'd met. We were in a department store. Joe and I were in the toy aisle, and my parents were in the clothes aisle. We decided to play hide and seek. Joe was the hider and I was the seeker. It really sucks being the seeker. I wanted to be the hider, but I guess it was fair because we sang: "red, white, and blue. A girl kissed you. Took you to the movies and undressed you." The song was just like, "any, meany, miney, moe," to see who goes first. While I was looking for Joe, I decided to hop on a bike and ride it in the store. I wasn't caught, but I did wreak into the pet center, causing all the frogs and dogs to get loose. Everyone was running around, freaking out. I did get caught by my parents who said, "Todd Thomas Gordon, you are in deep trouble!" Then Joe came and started laughing, then stopped because my parents said angrily, "We cannot believe you two. You should know that you shouldn't act that way in public!"

Now a few months back, Joe was down with the flu. He was coughing, throwing up a lot. He refused to eat at dinner, lunch, and breakfast. Then a week passed by and Joe was not even better; he was worse. He would not even drink anything. Therefore, his parents took him to the hospital to see what was wrong. Shortly after, he returned. Jay, Kari, and I wanted to know what was wrong with him. We cared. All Joe said was, "They think I have a bad illness." He had tears in his eyes. I did too. All of us did, but didn't cry yet. A few weeks later, the doctor called and told Joe and his parents what he had. He had called me and the others on three-way and said, "I've got Leukemia." His voice sounded shaky. Once again, I got tears in my eyes and then turned to tears. I bet Jay got tears in his eyes also. I could not believe it. After, I called Kari and told her, and she started busting out crying even though Joe wasn't her friend as long.

Joe's a great friend to hang out with, though I wish he would get better. If we hope and believe, Joe might beat it.

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One night at dinner, my mom and dad said, "Todd, we have something to tell you." All I said was, "'Sup?" "Your mom---"my dad started. "is pregnant." my mom finished. I sat there with a blank expression on my face. "You're what?" "Pregnant." She repeated. "How?" I asked, then caught myself, "Well, duh! I know how. I learned that in Health last year!" All of us laughed and ate dinner.

Some things in life are sad in one way and glad in another. The glad part is my mom, who's going to bring another member into the family. The sad part is my friend Joe, who has Leukemia. Some things in life just aren't fair. Sad and glad; that's two feelings. I just hope that these two feelings, and conditions both my mom and friend is in, would be the only things I have to worry about. I do not want anyone else to get hurt or sick. That'd be terrible. I just hope that Joe would get better soon. Please.

chapter 5 coming soon