CHAPTER EIGHT
(chapter title -I Should Tell You)
Two weeks later, John and Mark were sitting on the couch. Mark was reading a book while John played a video game. Roger, Jules and Eileen had gone out to get groceries and Maureen, Joanne, Hannah and Anna were out of town.
"John, there's something I have to tell you." Mark started, taking in a deep breath. John put down the game control and looked at his dad.
"What is it, dad?" John asked.
"maureenisntyourrealmomimarriedawomannameddiannesmithandthatsthewomanwhogaveyoulifeshediedshortlyafteryouwerebornofamassivebloodloss." Mark explained in one breath. John raised an eyebrow and went back to his game.
"Jonathon Ethan Cohen! Look at me when I'm trying to tell you something important!" Mark commanded. John dropped the control as if it had burned him.
"What is it your trying to tell me, dad?" John inquired.
"This is going to be hard for you to hear, but please listen anyway. Maureen isn't your real mom. I married a woman named Dianne Smith and that's the woman who gave you life. She died shortly after you were born of a massive blood loss." Mark told him, only slower. John got up from the couch and exited the loft, just as Roger, Jules and Eileen entered, carrying groceries.
"JONATHON ETHAN COHEN! GET YOUR BUTT BACK IN HERE NOW!" Mark yelled down the stairs. It was too late - John was out of earshot. Mark sighed and sat back down on the couch and buried his face in his hands. Roger went over to his friend and sat down next to him.
"We'll go after him." Jules and Eileen volunteered. Roger nodded and continued to sit with Mark. The girls stepped out into the chilly September air and called John's name over and over.
"You go that way and I'll go this way. If you see him, call me on my cell phone. If I see him, I'll call you." Jules told her best friend. Eileen nodded and ran off in one direction when Jules took off in the opposite direction.
"GIRLS!" Roger called, pulling his jacket closer to him. Mark was at the loft, just in case John or the girls called.
"JOHN! JULES! EILEEN!" Roger called again, cupping his hands around his mouth. He heard a noise from behind him and saw The Man with John.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU BASTARD!" Roger yelled, running to The Man and shoving John away from him.
"What the hell are you doing, Uncle Roger?" John asked, angry.
"Out looking for you - so are Jules and Eileen." Roger explained. "Now answer my question - what the hell are you doing with…him?"
"That's my business, punk." The Man growled.
"Leave him alone! He's only a teenager!" Roger growled back. Suddenly, The Man pulled out a knife and ran at Roger. Roger put an arm up to block him, but it was too late. He heard a ripping noise and fell to the ground.
------------
"Oh my God! Is he okay?" a female voice asked.
"He'll be fine - he just needs ten stitches on his forearm. If it weren't for that jacket, I'm sorry to say, your dad would be dead by now." a male's voice answered - it sounded like a doctor's. Roger tried to sit up, but he didn't have the strength. He tried to move his head, but it felt heavy. He was lying on his back, looking up at an extremely bright light. A face leaned over the light and looked at Roger.
"Where the hell am I?" Roger croaked.
"Y-you're at the hospital, dad." Jules' voice sounded.
"What happened?" Roger asked. He heard beeping and buzzing from all directions. As his vision became clearer, he saw that he was lying in a hospital bed - complete with an ugly hospital gown. Jules and Mark were sitting on the bed while John and Eileen sat in chairs on both sides of Roger's bed.
"Somebody wanna tell me what the hell is going on around here?" Roger demanded. Jules looked over at John and then back at Roger.
"You were attacked, Uncle Roger. Don't you remember?" John asked. Roger suddenly got a splitting headache as a nurse injected something into his arm. Jules squeezed Roger's hand until the needle was out. The nurse said something about what she was doing and exited the room. After she left, Mark turned his attention to Roger.
"Rog, you're going to have stitches. It's not a choice." Mark told him.
"What? Why?" Roger stammered, his headache getting worse.
"When - when The Man stabbed you, he ripped your leather jacket and the blade went sideways and…" Mark felt tears roll down his cheeks. Roger looked from one person to the next, not really understanding what was going on.
"Visiting hours are over." A nurse called into the room. Mark sighed and got up so that he could carefully hug Roger. Roger smiled at his family as they left the room - Jules was the last one out. She shut off the light and waited for her dad to fall asleep.
Roger was listening to the overhead music and trying to fall asleep, when he heard voices in his head.
"Roger." Angel's voice called to him in the darkness. "Honey - listen to me. You have so much to live for, don't give up the fight - no day but today, remember that?" Roger smiled.
"She's right you know, Rog." Collins' voice sounded. Roger smiled wider. "Continue living your life - don't give up, man. No matter what. La vie Boheme."
"Sweetie!" Mimi squealed. Roger felt tears in his eyes. "Baby, listen to us - you have so much to live for - don't give up. Jules and your family need you. Be the best dad you can be - to her and to the other kids - especially Eileen. Both girls need you to be there in their lives. Encourage them to go out for sports, try out for the musical or go out for clubs."
"There's only us
There's only this…
Forget regret or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today." the voices sang in perfect harmony.
"I love you guys." Roger told the voices.
"We love you, too." the voices said in unison. With that, they disappeared.
Roger suddenly sat up in bed to see that a tray of fruit, cereal and a glass of orange juice had been placed in front of him. He shook his head and ate his food, humming and thinking about the voices that he had heard in his head. They told him not to give up and to encourage all the kids to do their best. He missed Collins, Mimi and Angel dearly - knowing that nobody could replace the special people that they had been.