Two Sentences

Chapter 13 - Just My Imagination

Rick Ciccone had a thought. It was something that came to mind while the spirit of young Tommy Clifford had been showing Rick a wrestling match he had been in back in July of 1987. It was one of the moments Rick concocted in his head over a period of years where he felt that, by doing something for Tommy, he might have been able to help Tommy better cope with the deaths of his friends, Danny and Chip, in a fatal car accident just three weeks prior the wrestling
match. Perhaps, Rick also thought over the years, it may have prevented Tommy from committing suicide - which Rick learned earlier that day in the parking lot of Rage Fitness, never happened. Tommy, like his friends, died in a freak car accident a little over two years later.

What the spirit of young Tommy Clifford kept showing Rick was that Rick could not go back and fix things -- they are as they were. It was Rick who needed to feel better, and it wasn't working.

****

Tommy was practicing his pacing. Young Rick Ciccone walked alongside him. They passed the elder Rick Ciccone and the spirit of Tommy Clifford, still dressed identically as Tommy did that day -- cut off white t-shirt, blue baseball cap and jeans -- who were observing.

Tommy counted as he paced. "225. 230. 235. 240. 245. 250. 255."

"Within five feet. Pretty good." Rick said.

They headed back to Rich Collins' pickup truck. Rick grabbed the tool belt from the back of the truck and put it on. He removed a plumb bob and twirled the thread around his index finger, resting on the bumper of the trunk of his Dodge Charger. Tommy stood a foot or two to the left of Rick. He stared at the ground, distraught, despondent, near tears. "My friends were killed in a car accident." Tommy said, his voice cracking, barely above a whisper.

Rick looked sympathetically at his young co-worker. "I know. That's rough. I'm sorry to hear that."

There was a pause. Tommy continued. "I was supposed to be in the car."

Rick was watching Tommy confront his own mortality. The way Tommy said it, Rick concluded that it had to be the first time he'd said it out loud, and Rick happened to be the one he said it to. They'd only known each other for 2 weeks. They had a couple of things in common. They got along fine in the office. Over time, Rick figured that there was something about their relationship where Tommy felt most comfortable with Rick to say those two sentences to. Rick never
bragged about this. He was never sure why Tommy picked him. There was nothing special about him. He was humbled all the same.

Rick took a step towards Tommy and looked him in the eye. "I know you were. But, I'm glad you weren't."

Rick hesitated. He was uncertain that what he was about to do was the right thing. It was 1987. At the time, young men just didn't do this sort of thing. Tommy's eyes welled with tears. Rick put an arm around Tommy, then hugged him. Almost immediately, Tommy broke down and began a hard, much needed, cry.

"It's okay. C'mon, Tommy." Rick whispered. With his arm still around the youngster, he guided Tommy back to Rick's Charger. They sat on the ground, leaning against the side of the car. It all came out. Tears flowed down Tommy's cheeks. It was uncontrollable.

Don Canning, who had been chucking stones into the woods, heard the commotion. He ran over to see what the fuss was about. "What happened?" Don asked curiously.

"Sh." Rick responded.

A car passed by. Although Aura Road was in the middle of the sticks, it was a well traveled road - a county highway. Don saw the car pass by. He took a position to the right of Tommy, blocking any views from passersby. He put a hand on Tommy's shoulder.

Rich Collins was changing into his sweatshirt when he saw what was happening. "Is he alright?" Rich asked as he walked over.

"Yeah. He just needs a moment."