Chapter 20
Look Around You, Drake
Part Five
…Seven in the evening
Josh asked his parents if he could visit Drake first so they could talk in private. Since
his brother wasn't in any life threatening danger they said they would take Megan to the
coffee shop and maybe buy Drake some puzzle books in the gift shop after Audrey did
one of her favorite things to look at the newborn babies on the fourth floor. She always
hoped that her and Walter could have a baby together but so far there was only one
false alarm a year ago that the kids didn't have to know about.
Josh breezed in the room to see Drake sitting up in bed watching Who Wants to be a
Millionaire? with the sound off.
"Hey, brother! I found something behind your pillows when I was changing your bed
sheets," Josh pulled the Drake's knit cap from his backpack, "Ta da!"
"Thanks," Drake put his hat on and instantly felt better about his looks, "I found
something too."
"Really. What?"
"This." Drake reached from the under the covers and pulled out Emme's lavender
envelope.
"How long ago did you have that?"
"Since eleven thirty when Nurse Debbie came in and found it on the floor."
"And you STILL haven't opened it yet, Drake? You know before your little set back, I
was going to give you what-for regarding this."
"Josh, this is none of your damn business. And it wasn't a 'little' set back."
"I'm sorry, Drake, I didn't mean it that way. I mean you started to open it, I noticed the
corner."
"No, I didn't start to open it. It accidentally got caught on my old watch that I keep in—
wait. Why am I explaining things to you? How many times do I have to tell you this is
none of your business?"
"I was going to call Emme or her mother last night, but I didn't, because I thought you
should make that call yourself. You're feeling better if you can pester me like this, so
why don't you pick up the phone? If you can't use the hospital phone, you can borrow my
cell."
"NO!"
"Drake…"
"Josh, I really can't believe you. A part of me should be happy that you care about my
happiness, but the part of me that is too weak right now really just wants to kick your
ass."
"Fine," Josh started to walk out of the room, "No, this ends right now!" Josh went over to
the TV that was on a stand and turned it off, and even though the sound wasn't on, he
still didn't want Drake to distracted by anything.
"I don't want to hear a lecture from you."
"I'm not going to lecture you. I'm going to tell you to look around you, Drake. Look the
hell around you. Hmm, that seems like a nice balloon bouquet. Who did it come from?
Oh, Dad's bosses and friends the KDJY family. A huge tabletop card and some free
movie passes. Gee and even though she really likes you could this be from my boss
Helen? And look a simple Get Well card that has the Crenshaw family stamped all over
it. DO YOU NOT GET IT, DRAKE? If you don't here's a psychic flash I'm having
tomorrow you'll probably be getting something from the guy you call Clipboard Ted and
the rest of the gang from the support group. It's not like you were diagnosed yesterday.
So, where are the cards from Cynthia, Michelle, Lucy, Leticia, Stacey, and what about
the girls whose names you don't remember but still share lip spit and god knows what
else with? Where are your little black book girls now, Drake?"
"Shut up."
"I know I'm striking a nerve and I'm sorry for that, but in a way, I'm really not sorry,
because you deserve better. Emme said and did some bad things to you and the rest
of the group. But you should know better than anyone else Drake that she's frightened. I
bet if she knew you were here, unless, she's not having a good day, she'd be here."
"Are you done?"
"I guess I am." Josh watched Drake put the card on the end table next to his water cup
and that's when Josh realized that he wasn't exactly quite done yet.
"I'm not done, bro." Josh snatched the card
"You wouldn't?"
"I would."
"I'm in bed, hooked up to an IV, you son of a bitch!" By the time it would have taken to
get up and walk around pushing a clunky IV machine Josh would be halfway to
Cleveland. He just rested his head back against the stiff pillows.
"I'm not sorry about this." Josh stood by the door as he opened the envelope with his
fingers, slightly wincing when he got a paper cut on his left index finger. "OUCH!"
"Good! I hate you."
No, I don't. I just hate what you are doing to me.
"I'll give you a chance to take this out of my hands and I'll leave the room so you can
read the card. And I was right there is a note inside."
"No. You wanted the letter open so bad you read it. You know what you did is a federal
offense."
"Give me a break. You don't care about that."
"You just can't stick your nose out of my business can you? Even when I ask you nicely.
You wanted the letter open so bad as I said you read it. I don't want to see it."
Why are you being such an asshole?
"Okay, I will read it."
"Dear Drake,
I'm sending everyone from the support group this card. But I wanted yours to
be special…"
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Damn it. No one thought to bring his Walkman.
"Because you leave me with no choice, bro. Where did I leave off? Oh yeah, I wanted
yours to be special. See enclosed note. Warm Regards, Emme. Does she sound
like a monster to you?"
"Give me the card and the note."
"Why? What are you going to do with it?"
"Josh, you have five seconds before I push the nurse call button."
"They won't show up for a half hour."
"That's only on poorly written TV shows."
"Okay, I will. But you have to promise me that you will read everything."
"I don't have to promise you shit."
Josh saw the get-out-of-here-you-should-be-lucky-there-are-no-needles-to-jab-you-with
look that was shooting out of Drake's eyes.
Why was he considered the bad guy in this? Emme was rude from day one and
although he saw her collapse in her mother's arms it didn't erase everything. Not to
mention the lying she did to her mother about how she got along with everybody there
when she alienated the whole group. This was supposed to make it right?
Josh didn't know what possessed him maybe he had an attachment problem, but he
couldn't help sticking his head through the door,
"Let's remember that not only did you try to visit her, you fished that card out of the
garbage and agonized over opening it."
Josh closed the door before he was hit with the flying crumbled piece of pink paper that
was Emme's letter.
Drake upset his stomach so badly that he needed to throw up. He was never going to
make it into the bathroom in time having to get out of bed being hooked up to an IV.
Drake was never so happy to see his mother walk in and how he didn't have to say a
word she just sensed he needed the trashcan that he couldn't reach.
Megan turned her head, she was certain Drake hated them having to see this.
"There, honey. It's okay," Audrey handed the trashcan to Walter so he could empty the
contents in the bathtub. Audrey knew housekeeping would have done it, but she didn't
know their schedules and didn't want Drake to be bothered by the odor.
"Megan, pour your brother some water."
"I'm hooked up to an IV."
"Drake." Audrey said in her firm mother-knows-best voice
Drake didn't argue.
"Look at this garbage on the floor." Walter said picking up the paper ball.
"No! It's mine. I want it."
I want it.
So help me. I want it.
"Okay." Walter handed him the paper.
"Would I be a totally bad son if I asked to be alone for a few minutes please?"
I mean, I really apprecia---you guys know, right?
"It's no problem, son." Audrey said, Walter just nodded, but Megan gave him the look of
death, which actually in a strange kind of way made him feel a thousand times better.
This had to be based on whatever he and Josh were talking more like fighting about
before they came in.
Damn it.
He hated Josh for being Right.
Damn you for being right, Josh.
Drake finished his water and took a deep breath before unfolding the wrinkled letter
and straightening it out on his chest.
Dear Drake (Don Juanoma),
I'm sorry. If you only knew how many doors I've been closing since my
diagnosis then maybe you'd understand why. I didn't want to close the door
on you or anyone else. But especially you. I lied to my mother about how I
acted in the support group because I didn't want to disappoint her. But I doubt
you'd want to hear about that. I don't think I'll be coming back since I made a
huge mess there. But, I hope you'll call me as soon as you open this so we can
talk. I wouldn't blame you if you threw this letter in the garbage and never read
it, but I hope you don't.
I sometimes cry at night, and I can hear your hurt voice telling my mother and I
that you would have been a real friend.
Is there still time?
Warm Regards,
Your friend (or at least I hope you'll let me be your friend)
Emme Jessica Watson (Miss Priss)
Drake folded the note and put it in the card. It was one of those non-verse cards, which
made him wonder why she enclosed the separate note? The front was a picture of
a painted waterfall with doves flying in a tranquil blue sky. He put the card back in the
envelope and put it on his table. Drake let out a big sigh knowing that his family would
probably be coming back in five minutes or so to have a visit with him and that was
okay by him.
"Yes," he picked up the envelope again and put it to his nose and he could still smell the
lavender. It was nice and soothing.
He felt like a fool for taking an eternity to open what was a wonderful heartfelt
letter from a girl who just needed someone to show her that things could get better
if she let someone in.
"There's still time."
Emme, I would love to be your friend.