Chapter two
It was only two months into his cancer treatment, and Bam hated every minute of it. He felt sicker that he ever felt in his life, especially the days after having chemotherapy.
He would get nauseous very easily and have to pay a visit to the porcelain Gods. He already lost weight because of it, and was also losing his hair.
One morning Bam stood, staring at his bare upper body that was reflected before him on the mirror. He sighed heavily as he reached up, to scratch the top of his head, and another clump of hair came out in his fingers.
He dropped his hair into the nearby wastebasket and pounded his fist against the tile counter in front of him.
"God I can't stand this!"
"What's the matter with you now Bam?" Asked Jess as he stood just outside the bathroom door.
"I can't stand it Jess. I'm looking worse and worse all the time. I just wish there was something that can be done about it, but there isn't."
"Well what do you want me to do about it?"
"You can't do anything."
Jess glanced over to the counter and then backs at Bam.
"You know I can't help you with your weight. But I can help you stop complaining about losing your hair."
"How's that? You gonna make me a wig or something? I'd like to see that." He said with angered sarcasm.
"No I was thinking about doing something else. But you've just got to cooperate and let me do this with no questions asked."
"What is it?" He groaned.
"Just get down on your knees, and remember, don't ask me anything about it, and you can't complain."
"What? Why should I get on my knees?"
"Was that a question? Just do what I tell you to do. It won't hurt or anything, I promise."
"This better be worth it." Bam said with a roll of his eyes as he knelt.
Jess reached over to the counter and picked something up. He then stood behind his brother and a second later a buzzing sound was heard.
Bam closed his eyes and tried to hold his complaints back once he felt the hair come off his head. He opened his eyes again and saw his loose brown curls falling to the floor around him.
"Jess…"
"Hold on I'm almost done. Just sit still."
Bam held his breath and waited for the rest of his hair to hit the floor. Jess turned the razor off and brushed strands of fallen hair off of Bam's shoulders and back.
"Ok you can stand up now."
Bam stood up slowly and looked down at the pile of hair by his feet. He then turned around towards the sink and gazed into the mirror.
He hunched over the sink for a second, running a hand over his freshly shaved head.
"Oh man." He said softly. "Oh man." His head fell forward, allowing him to stare into the sink.
"It's ok Bam. It's only hair. It will eventually grow back."
He shook his head and turned his eyes up toward the mirror. Then even more quickly than his hair fell, he rushed over to the toilet and began to vomit violently. Jess immediately took to his side and rubbed his back with one hand.
"It's ok. It's ok. Just let it all out."
Heave after painful heave Bam continued to empty the contents of his stomach into the bowl as Jess remained by his side for support. Once finished, Bam fell into his brother's lap and began to sob.
"Why'd it have to be like this?"
"Shh… I know it doesn't seem like it, but you'll get better. Everything will get better."
Jenn walked by the open bathroom door and froze and the sight of Jess cradling Bam in his arms.
"What's the matter now?"
"I guess Bam really didn't like the haircut I gave him because it made him sick." He half laughed.
"Very… f-funny." Bam sat up as best as he could and wiped tears away from his cheeks.
"Jenn get him some water."
She nodded her head and promptly filled a nearby glass with water and handed it to Bam. Bam tried to compose himself as he sipped from the glass in his hand.
"Man." he looked at Jenn. "Remember when I had that flu, and I said it kicked my ass? I think it's safe to say that this is much worse."
"Well it's a good thing that you still have some of your sense of humor during all of this." Jenn replied with a smirk.
He took another drink of water.
"I suppose I'll be needing it if I'm going to survive this."