An Entangled Life
Chapter 15: Guardian Angel
(Following Day at 9:00 a.m. at Dimmsdale Hospital)
Crocker opened his eyes. He felt groggy.
"H…hello," Crocker slurred.
A passing nurse ran in.
"Denzel, Mr. Denzel Crocker?" the nurse asked.
"Call me Crocker," Crocker responded, "where's my mother, why aren't I home?"
The nurse looked sadly on the sickly and disoriented patient.
"I'm afraid that you're very ill," the nurse revealed.
"With what?" Crocker asked.
"Cancer, Leukemia," the nurse told him.
"What?" Crocker asked his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry," the nurse said.
Crocker just stared at the blonde female nurse.
"Guess my worthless life is finally coming to an end," Crocker stated, "I always thought I'd be hit by a bus," he said, "then a fleet of twenty would drive up from behind and finish the job.
The nurse looked at Crocker horrified.
Crocker sighed and drifted off to sleep.
--
Martin walked into a hospital ward. He was visiting his agent who had his arm broken by an angry client.
I thought he'd choose a fancier hospital. He'll probably be transferred by noon. – Martin
But Martin saw someone who caught his eye.
"Ma'am?" Martin asked despite himself.
The lady he had saved from being hit by a car turned around.
"You!" Dolores shouted causing Martin to jump back alarmed, "…can't save my boy," she added and broke down in tears.
Martin just watched her incredulously.
"Your boy?" Martin asked.
"Her son is very ill," the nurse at the desk told Martin, "and he's a grown man, a teacher."
"My baby!" Dolores bawled.
"What's her son's illness?" Martin asked the nurse.
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say sir," the nurse responded.
"Cancer!" Dolores wailed.
Martin's eyes widened.
"I'm so sorry," Martin sympathized.
"My dear Denzel," Dolores wept.
"Wait, did you say Denzel?" Martin asked.
"Yes Denzel, I'm his mother Dolores Crocker," Dolores revealed.
Crocker…Oh no. – Martin
"Come with me," Martin said and pulled a shocked to a more private area, "listen, I think I can help your son."
"How?" Dolores asked desperately.
"I'm guessing that right now you're in need of money, right?" Martin asked and she nodded, "how about I get someone to sponsor you, someone famous."
"Frank Sinatra?" Dolores asked anxiously.
Who the hell's that? – Martin
"No um, someone really famous," Martin told her, "just tell me what room your son's in and I can call someone to arrange everything."
Dolores' eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you," Dolores said and hugged Martin.
After Martin got all of Crocker's information, he found a private spot and called Britney Britney.
"Britney Britney, I need a favour," Martin said.
--
(4pm at the Turner Residence)
Timmy reached home to see Vicky watching tv. He quickly snuck upstairs and closed the door.
"Whew," Timmy said since today Wanda was out with Juandissimo.
If only you stayed faithful Cosmo. But at the same time, you didn't do anything behind anyone's back. Not intentionally anyway. – Timmy
It was almost nightfall when Wanda returned.
"Crocker's got a sponsor," Wanda announced, "he should be fine soon."
Timmy looked away. He and Wanda weren't on great speaking terms.
"His mother said it was because of a green haired man," Wanda added.
"What?" Timmy asked incredulously.
"Seems he called Britney Britney and asked her to sponsor Crocker so he'd get the help he needed in time," Wanda explained.
"Cosmo," Timmy sighed, "you're still a kind loveable fool."
--
(Seven Months into Punishment)
Crocker threw up into a toilet. He got the bone marrow in time. But all the treatments; including chemotherapy, were making him ill. He beat cancer, but he was still sick almost all the time. At least Britney Britney's sponsorship covered all the financial problems. After he cleaned up, he headed home.
"Denzel, my baby!" Dolores cried and hugged him, "I told you not to leave the house without telling me."
"Sorry mother," Crocker said tiredly, "is someone here?" he asked hearing footsteps.
"Oh yes, you have a visitor," Dolores said brightly.
Timmy soon walked up.
"Hello Mr. Crocker," Timmy said, "get well soon," he said holding up a card.
Crocker slowly reached out a hand and took it.
"You'd give me something?" Crocker asked surprised, "after all I've done?"
"You're sick, the past doesn't count," Timmy told him.
"Thank you," Crocker said softly.
"It must be awesome…having Britney Britney sponsoring you," Timmy said trying to make small talk.
"It kept me alive so I'm not exactly unhappy," Crocker responded, "my mother's sworn to secrecy as to the identity of the person who got Britney Britney to sponsor me though."
"Cosmo?" Timmy asked then covered his mouth.
"Martin?" Dolores asked then slapped hands over her mouth.
"Co…Martin!" Crocker started then cried instead recognizing his mother's version of the name, "that green haired guy got someone rich to sponsor me?"
"I suggested Frank Sinatra," Dolores piped.
Crocker decided not to tell her for the trillionth time that Sinatra was dead.
"Mom, did Martin get Britney Britney to sponsor me?" Crocker asked and Dolores looked away, "mom."
"I promised not to tell," Dolores said, "Martin had his reasons."
"Like?" Timmy inserted.
"I don't know," Dolores admitted, "I'm just glad Crocker's better and grateful for Martin helping me a second time."
"Second?" Crocker asked.
"He pulled me from in front of a speeding car a few months ago," Dolores confessed.
"You almost died!" Crocker cried.
"Now hush, I don't want you getting worked up," Dolores said getting angry.
"Well I'm also shocked that Martin would help such a decrepit old…but I'm happy you're safe mother," Crocker added as his mother's eyes blazed with fury.
Same old Crocker. - Timmy