Forlot: The Thanksgiving Horror - Book Fourteen

Chapter Eight

I bet that you readers can guess that I did not read a page of the book that Emily gave me at the hospital. What was she thinking? I do not know, but what I do know is that I am not wasting my precious time on a book that will not affect my life one way or another.

I would soon wish that I did.

Besides it being a stupid book, the only reason why I was not interested in it is because I knew that it was going to be boring. It is basically a history lesson on how to be more thankful and the consequences when you are filled with greed.

Was Emily high on apple juice when she handed me this book? Did she give it to me because she believes that I am a greedy jerk? If that is the case...then I am offended by the book! I am not selfish like the people in government or in those movies. Emily ought to be ashamed of herself. I am the most selfless being that she has ever met.

Just because I want to purchase a couple things does not mean that I am selfish...right?

My mom's doctor soon came into the room and gave me the good news and the bad news. The good news was that Mom would be alright and able to go home sometime tomorrow. I was so thrilled that I jumped up and down and thanked the doctor over and over.

"Looks like that you are thankful this evening, young man," the doctor stated. "I am glad that you are. Not all mothers are lucky like yours. They would be gone by now."

I took in a deep breath to calm down. "I am just glad that my mom will survive." I wrapped my thumb and fingers around her hand. "So what is the bad news?"

The doctor lowered his clipboard and dusted his coat off. "As awful as this sounds...I am relieved that your mother was admitted to the hospital."

I hesitated. "...why? Why in the world would you say such a thing?"

He cleared his throat. "The seizure...was not the only thing that we found in your mom's body."

"What do you mean?"

"She has...she has cancer."

My world had turned upside down as soon as he said that. Cancer was the last thing on my mind. I did not think that my own mother would ever have cancer. I was getting so dizzy from processing it that I needed to sit and lie back in a chair.

The doctor patted my shoulder. "I know that this is a lot to take in, Steven," he said. "But we caught it just in time. Thank the Lord from above for that."

I sat up and frowned. "So the Lord is responsible for her cancer and seizure?"

"It is not like that. Seizures and cancer are just a part of living in an imperfect world. Bad things happen to good people like you and your mother. It is a sad fact that we unfortunately have to go through it."

"Why is that?"

"Why is what?"

"Why does this so-called 'God' allow it to happen?"

"You mean sin?"

My face twisted in confusion. "What the heck is sin?"

"Sin is the act that a sinner creates when it is against God."

"Okay...what the heck is a sinner?"

"A sinner who commits sins. You are a sinner. I am a sinner. We are all sinners."

I rolled my eyes. "Since when was my story a religion book?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

The two of us focused our attentions back on my sick mother. I felt bad for Mom. She did not look good at all. She did not look like the healthy mom that I had talked to during dinner. Her skin was pale. Wrinkles covered every inch of her pale skin. Bags were under her poor eyes. I can only imagine how tired she was.

In addition to her condition, Mom had on an oxygen mask and was connected to different machines, such as a heart monitor. I scrambled to my feet and asked her doctor what type of cancer that she had. He told me that as a result of the cancer, some of it broke off and formed a tumor right below her spine. I gripped the arms of the chair. I could not believe what he was telling me.

"So my mom has cancer and a tumor?" I questioned.

I was hoping that I just misheard him. I placed both of my hands behind my back and crossed my fingers for luck. I did not want the only person whom I love to deal with this tumor and cancer. It was unfair.

"I am sorry for you and your mother, Steven. But it is good that we caught the cancer and tumor early. We will start treating her when she wakes up. Hopefully, she will wake up tomorrow, but...do not be surprised if it is a while. She has been through a lot."

I nodded sadly and looked down at my feet. I did not ponder his last sentence. That she had been through a lot. I assumed that he was talking about the cancer and the tumor and the seizure. But it was not until I looked at the results for myself that I finally pieced it together.

The doctor glanced at his watch and gasped. "Oh, no. I should have been with my other patient about eight minutes ago. Where does time go?" He glanced back down at me and set his clipboard on the table. "I will be back. After we discuss how to deal with the cancer and tumor, you can go home."

He spun around on the heels of his shoes and exited, leaving me all alone with my sick mom.

Then I heard somebody say, "Not thankful. You just are never thankful."