Closed Doors
Part Two
…next morning
Damn it.
"JOSH!" Drake yelled at the top of his lungs as he kicked the covers off him. "JOSH!"
"What is it, Drake?" Josh asked nonchalantly while holding a white plastic laundry
basket.
"Why did you let me OVERSLEEP? It's almost eleven o'clock." Drake put his knit cap
back on because his head was cold. He must have taken it off while was sleeping when
the room got too hot. Drake wished it would stay one temperature in his body.
He also couldn't believe his mom let him oversleep. Josh probably said he would take
care of him.
Why did you let me oversleep?
There used to be a time aside from school mornings when waking up at eleven o'clock
in the morning used to mean 'early'.
"You need to get your rest. And you know you can't just dart out the door."
"I know what I need to do in the mornings. We won't be able to leave the house until
almost eleven-thirty."
Drake would have skipped breakfast, but he knew one little pesky thing could throw his
whole system out of whack.
"About that," Josh said in a quiet voice as he put some of Drake's t-shirts in his dresser
drawer, "I thought about it and I'm not driving you to this Emme person's house."
"WHAT?" Drake really wanted to smack him.
"I can't be privy to your lies. It was never right before, but now that you, and not to
mention that she also has cancer—I cannot do this."
"What are you fucking talking about, Josh?" Drake left the room to brush his teeth with
his hospital approved soft nylon bristled red handled toothbrush.
Drake was expecting Josh to follow him. He also didn't have all day to stand there.
Drake would drive himself if he weren't sure of himself getting sick or causing an
accident because he couldn't pull over to the side of the road in time.
"Don't curse at me when I'm only trying to help you and save that girl the typical Drake
Parker heartache."
"I don't have time to argue with you." Drake squeezed the Biotene toothpaste out of the
tube and proceeded to use the Bass Technique, which is how it is recommended for
some cancer patients to brush their teeth by holding the brush at a forty-five degree
angle and wiggling the brush around ten or so times before doing the next sections the
same followed up with a regular slow brush through.
"It's really for the best."
Drake spit in the sink as he grabbed the mouthwash,
"You can leave the bathroom." Drake wiped his mouth with his arm.
"I hope you don't hate me, Drake." Josh said standing just outside the doorway.
Josh always did want Drake's approval, love, and friendship.
"I don't hate you, Josh," Drake spoke in a soft voice that startled Josh for a moment,
"But I'll be damned if I'm going to explain myself to someone who should just accept me
for who I am and know when things are different. After breakfast you can call me a cab."
Drake didn't wait for a response he just closed the bathroom door in his brother's face.
Great, the only urge he had was to empty his bladder. Who would have thought your day
would be judged on whether not you took a crap? It's the chemotherapy mixed with
those damn iron supplements. Drake felt like one big experimental lab rat.
Look at ME
What gives Josh the right to judge me like that?
Drake took his cap off and placed it on the clothes hamper while he put his hands to his
face. His skin felt like the stainless steel pads his mother used to clean the roasting pan
after Thanksgiving dinner. His nails had a yellow tint to them. He was going to forego
his face grooming with the all-natural, made for sensitive skin, recommended by cancer
centers that his mother purchased for him. But he was still Drake and the part of him
that wanted to look good and be seen was still there.
He didn't like the birch leaves shampoo that was supposed to promote hair growth, not
when you are in the middle of chemotherapy it doesn't.
My hair doesn't look too bad.
It was thinning and most of the fall out was in the back and some on the sides of his
head, but it wasn't falling out to the point where you could see a bald spot forming.
Not yet.
He put his cap back on, excited about this new day and the possibilities that went with
it.
I still look good. And I can hide that pimple with hypoallergenic concealer.
There was a knock on the door. It had to be Josh, and not just because he was the only
other person besides Drake who was even home at the moment. Drake just knew his
brothers habits.
"Drake, are you okay in there?" Josh said to the unopened door.
"Yeah," Drake sighed a bit, "You can come in."
Josh opened the door, "I made French toast."
"Cool."
"Listen, Drake, I'm sorry about what happened. If you need a ride to Emme's house, I'll
take you."
Drake smiled, "Thanks, man." He squeezed Josh's shoulder to indicate that he needn't
worry about it, not that, that would stop Josh because he was one master worrier. It was
all right.
Drake gave himself one last look in the mirror before going downstairs to start his
morning.
I'm still good looking.
Even with the knit cap.
And for reasons he didn't want to verbalize Drake Parker smiled.
Author's Note: To be continued…