THOMAS JONES III MEDICAL FACILITY
Days have passed since the news report of Kelly Halligan-Antol needing a brand new kidney in order for her to live to fight another day. Multiple people stepped in to donate their kidneys but unfortunately, most of them are not compatible. In the meantime, Amber Halligan has been understandably feeling down regarding her aunt's health during her soccer practice. In a heartwarming moment, her team send out well wishes to Amber's family feeling mutual concern. As for Dominic and his son Richard, they visited Kelly everyday to check up on her health. "Hey dear, how are you feeling this time of day?" asked Dominic "Oh the usual, one bad kidney won't keep me away!" assured Kelly trying her best to make the most out of her unfortunate situation. "I can understand the feeling, been praying every night for a donor to step in to the plate so you'll be here for years to come" said Dominic. "Look at what my class made for you Mom!" said Richard as he displayed the diorama that his class had made to help lift his mother's spirits. "That looks AMAZING! Tell your class I said thank you very much!" said Kelly enjoying her son's gift. "Glad you enjoyed it." said Richard feeling good about his accomplishment. "Where's cousin Amber at Dad, thought she's supposed to be here with us at this time?" "Well, Amber has her soccer practice to attend and I'm sure she's thinking about your mother as we speak." replied Dominic. "Well that's true" said Richard. "Before you guys go, how's Digital Art Haven going along?" asked Kelly never forgetting about her and Gibson's business. "Well, Gibson's doing a good job of managing the company while you're away, and why don't she tell you herself" said Dominic as he pulled up a video message from Gibson on his phone. "Good afternoon Kelly, I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time but Digital Art Haven has been running smoothly in the past couple of weeks or so and I miss being able to work with you. I know that you've been faced with trials and tribulations in our work and in life as well. I have a STRONG feeling that you're going to make it through another day. I hope all is well with you and the family." said Gibson telling her friend and colleague good luck in her recovery.
Maddie's Journal:
Wow, what a whirlwind of events I had experienced as of late. Don't know where to begin to let you know but I'll try my best in recounting. I decided to go with the Hayleys on a retreat into the woods for a little while, a changing of the scenery if you will after a lot of hard work in assisting their community center. During that time, I reflected my time at high school with Amber H. to Janice on our road trip to the retreat because even though we're not on good terms anymore, I still have at least a good spot in my heart for her after all these years. And before you ask, I'll get to her aunt Kelly later in the conversation today. Anyhow, the retreat cabins look gorgeous like most of the architecture is made out of warm wood among other amenities. Later on in the evening when I volunteered to pick up some firewood for the campfire that the Hayleys were setting up for the night. At the same hour, lets just say I had a unique revelation of my 'undying' love for my former coach Dominic Antol, even though I know by now he's married to that woman and Amber's aunt Kelly Halligan. In addition to that, the Hayleys found me laying on the cold damp ground late at night and took me to the retreat infirmary and from there, they checked up on me while giving me a full plate of chicken and waffles. And I have to admit, was pretty good after I consumed it clean off from the plates. Afterwards, I learned that Kelly Halligan is suffering from a kidney failure and would need a brand new kidney in order for her to survive. I also have a feeling that it's going to affect Amber and Dominic in terms of whether or not her aunt and husband would be able to survive. For my point of view, I have a lot of mixed emotions pertaining to this in which on one side, its concern for the family because a mother of a child, an aunt of a well-known soccer player & former friend of mine, and a loving wife of a soccer legend is at risk of leaving before she finishes up her duties on this Earth. On the other side, its a combination of karma and revenge. To elaborate, its karma in the Halligans' case for turning down my apology during a book signing a while back and kicking me out of the premises without having a chance to explain myself and potentially rebuilding a bridge of friendship between me and Amber. The only member of the family that still cares for me is my former soccer coach Dominic Antol since he didn't scorn at me the last time I saw him in person. He knows that I feel bad about what I did to the family as well as the late Riley Jones according to his interactions with me at his prison lecture years back. As for right this moment, I don't really know what choice I'm going to make at this moment...
Maddie Sawyer has finished writing up her personal diary for the day as she & the Hayleys wrapped up their stay at the infirmary to return to their quarters in the retreat. "How are you feeling today Maddie?" asked Janice still feeling concern for her friend. "I'm feeling ok for the most part; you don't have to ask me how I'm feeling every time you see me you know" replied Maddie. "I'm glad to hear that Maddie. I understand it's been a long couple of days here, tell you what if you're up for it, there's a Farmers' Market inside of the retreat where we get to pick our own fruits and vegetables to our hearts desire. As a matter of fact, it's literally a garden buffet for our stomachs!" offered Janice. "I haven't been to a Farmers' Market in a long while, the last time I went was with my late parents as we had to pass the time while tow truck was on their way after our car broke down in the middle of our road trip. I'm guessing that the food hasn't missed a step!" replied Maddie showing interest in attending the trip. "When you're ready, feel free to let us know and we'll hit the road." said Janice as she begins to straighten herself up.
"How many vegetables can you spot kiddo?" asked the owner/manager of the retreat's Farmers' Market: Beatrice Rodiger. Yes, that's the same Beatrice Rodiger who used to torment Madeline Sawyer several years ago alongside her brethren including the infamous ukulele destruction incident to which led indirectly to Maddie's controversial activities in the twilight of her high school educational career. She's dressed in a light tan apron, a long sleeved red flannel shirt with jeans that covers her legs alongside work boots on her feet. "I see 40 vegetables! 10 tomatoes, 10 cucumbers, 5 celeries, 5 broccolis, and 10 peppers" replied her young daughter Sandra Rodiger who's dressed in a matching uniform like her mother. "That's an excellent observation sport! And can you be specific in regards to WHICH colors of peppers you have there? Peppers come in more than one color you know" said Beatrice. "ok..half of them is red and the other half are green" said Sandra. "There you go, gimme five!" said Beatrice as Sandra proceeded to do just that. After the vegetable inventory is completed, the Farmers' Market is ready for its new batch of customers! "Welcome to the Farmers' Market! Here, you'll find yourself a helping of nature's plants and organic dishes to help keep you moving!" greeted Beatrice. "That's an excellent way to put it, and I see you have yourself a lot of God's great accessories around us in this facility" observed Sonia enthusiastically. As the crew went inside the market, Beatrice noticed a familiar face among the pack to which she began to approach her former victim from grade school years back. "Maddie, is that you?" asked Beatrice. "Yes, and also, there's a lot of Maddies on this Earth not just me." replied Maddie as she began to recollect her past memories with Beatrice when she bullied and humiliated her in school and in public and vice versa in the process. "I'm guessing you guys know each other from the past?" asked Janice while thinking to herself of a story that Maddie told her years ago regarding Beatrice's bullying of her during her time in prison and the bully in question is literally right in front of them. "You can say that, lets just say that we had a unique acquaintance from years back" replied Maddie. "And also, I'm just here to see which food to pick up for our way back home." "You're fine Maddie, it's just...something I wanted to get out of my chest that I've been holding up for so many years..." said Beatrice feeling a lot of feelings inside her. "If anything, we'll be over where the vegetables are at, take all the time that you need." said Janice as she departed the conversation between Maddie and Beatrice. "To start Madeline, I wasn't just a bully to you, I was the one who orchestrated the lifelong pain and suffering that you carry for a very long time. I was disrespectful, cruel, and mean to you because I felt that you always kept your head held high in certain situations in life whereas underneath that mask I had on, I was being unloved and mistreated at my own home by my parents who never even wanted me in their lives. In that house, they've beaten me, embarrassed me, dosed me with sauces and to that end, I'd relayed the attacks onto my victims, including you Maddie" explained Beatrice with tears in her eyes showing her remorse and regret of her actions. "Later on after me and my posse went our separate ways due to expulsion and suspensions, I was bounced from foster home to foster home for a very long time and not to mention schools due to my reputation of being one of the biggest bullies in the district." With Beatrice's recount of her events with Maddie in grade school, Maddie's beginning to digest the information that's provided to her. "I'm really sorry about what happened to you in regards to your family and I want to ask you, why are you telling me this after all that" asked Maddie. "You see, I have a daughter who's going to grade school herself and she had watched an anti-bullying presentation to which, she discussed the presentation with me. And in doing so, I had to tell her about my past with you and I would be a total hypocrite to her if I chose to deny what had transpired with you in school. From that end, I'd expressed my regret at what I've done years ago and Sandra understood that fact that sometimes, even 'bullies' like myself can change. With that, I wanted to give you something that I've been holding up for a long period of time." said Beatrice as she heads to her storage area of the market. "Wow, that had escalated quickly, Beatrice now wants to make amends to the victim who'd wronged" said Dark Maddie stepping in where Beatrice was. "I have to admit, that's a lot to take in coming from her and you know something, if it wasn't for her making your life miserable, maybe none of this would've happened." "Sure, she played a part of my bad school life but I really don't know if I'm going to be merciful to her or give her the beating she rightfully deserved from me." retorted Maddie. "Company's calling" said Dark Maddie as Beatrice returned to gift Maddie a special surprise that would change the direction. "What's that supposed to be, it looks kind of familiar to me" observed Maddie as she begins to recognize that familiar ukulele that her late parents gifted her years back before it was destroyed. "I've managed to put together a replica of your ukulele that meant a lot to you over the years and I've been keeping it for years now waiting for its new home. With that, I sincerely apologize for the pain I caused you. Unfortunately, I can't undo what I've done but I'm hoping that you'd find it in your heart to forgive me Maddie." said Beatrice. Afterwards, Maddie tuned up her new instrument and proceeded to play a couple of her songs from her memory. "Mercy granted Beatrice, thanks for the apology" said Maddie as she embraced Beatrice. "Trust me on this one, I too have a lot of bad things I've done in my life as well. To be honest, I couldn't live with myself as well." From that point, Maddie explained what had happened in her high school years namely her 'love' for her former coach & soccer legend Dominic Antol as well as her history with the Halligans during which, Beatrice and her daughter Sandra are fans of. With that respect, she's amazed that Maddie knew one of her idols personally even though it wasn't in a good setting. Afterwards, Maddie told Beatrice about her crimes against them as well as her cold-blooded murder of the late great Riley Jones which led to her serving a long time behind bars. However, she assisted in the Straight Path program and met her good friend (& fellow visitor of the market) Janice Hayley as well as her mother Sonia Hayley. When returned to society, both the Halligans shot Maddie's apology down during their book signing. "That's an unpleasant experience you've been through Maddie and to be honest, I don't blame them for their reaction Maddie" said Beatrice. "It really broke my heart and even though everybody else has moved on, I never truly did. I tried to kill myself at least once because I felt that I couldn't live with myself for that. If I do finish the job, it wouldn't bring back Riley Jones, it wouldn't erase the pain and heartbreak I've caused." said Maddie during her reflection. "Seems to me, you've been facing your demons for most of your life. Not to be optimistic but if it wasn't for the terrible things you've done, you wouldn't have gained a great form of compassion and understanding. From what I've read with your involvement in the program, you helped some of the kids be productive members of society. And what's more, you proved to me, your former bully, that you're the bigger person" said Beatrice. "Awwww, thank you so much for these thoughts Beatrice. Sometimes, we all face a deal with a deck of cards in our path in life. Some decks are good, and some decks are not so good. Regardless of our circumstances, it doesn't justify the bullying, the suffering to name a few. And speaking of challenges, I don't know if you've heard of it but Kelly Halligan is dying right now, she needs a new kidney for her to survive." said Maddie. "I've been hearing about it for quite some time now myself. Let me tell you something, I've respected the Halligans for their work in business and in the soccer field which made a difference in our lives. The last thing I'd want for them is for Kelly to depart us when there's still so much work to do here on earth. I've tried to donate myself but my organs isn't compatible to do the trick." said Beatrice. Maddie began to digest the entire conversation with Beatrice in which, gave closure to one of her rivalries that stemmed since grade school. After learning that Kelly doesn't have much time left, Madeline Elizabeth Sawyer is at a crossroads...
END ACT XIII