Cry, my beloved people

Results Part 15

The house was silent when Sylvia arrived home.   She never felt this alone and helpless.  For the first time in her entire life, she resented Paul's business.  I have to phone him and tell him about our son's illness.  Why must he be in France now, why couldn't he be home where I need him so desperately at this moment?

Overwhelmed by her fears and all alone, she let her tears run freely.  I will phone Paul later.  I don't even know how to tell him.  A flash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder frightened her.  Big raindrops bounced down on the dry pavement outside.  It felt as if her teardrops and the raindrops became entwined flowing down to the river.

The doorbell rang twice before she got herself together to answer it.

It was Lance.  "Misses Becker? You are crying, is there something wrong with?" he asked tenderly.

She sobbed: "John.....Oh, Lance, he has metastasis in his right lung.  They're operating tomorrow."

"Maybe it is not that bad - I'm sure he can be cured. My mother's breast cancer has been cured. She is back at work again," He tried to reassure her, but realized that his words could not comfort her.

"It is not the same Lance - I shouldn't have listened to you and John, it could have been different," she said sadly.

"At least he has the exam results to look forward to, it will draw him through." Lance tried again.

"I wish I could be positive about that.  I have to phone my husband in France if you will excuse me for a while.  Please stay for coffee, I can't bear to be alone," she pleaded.

She made them coffee and offered him some biscuits.  He noticed that she did not eat anything. They drank in silence, each with their own miserable thoughts about the operation and the therapy that would follow.

Lance kneeled next to her chair. "Let us pray," he said and reached for her hand.  He said his favorite prayer that he and his mother prayed so many times before.

At last, he gathered enough courage and asked: "Misses Becker, I know I promised to stay away from John, but may I visit him in hospital, please?"

She smiled wearily: "You know I am not that stubborn Lance, you are welcome, and please pop in once in a while for coffee."

"Thank you misses Becker, thanks a lot.  Try to eat something and to get some rest tonight." Lance said, pleased that he would see his old buddy again, as he left.

The operation was followed by three dreadful weeks of chemo, injections, and nausea.  Haunted by nightmares, John could hardly distinguish when he was asleep or awake.

Sometimes he saw his mother, sitting next to his bed.  She always smiled when she noticed that he was awake.  When she asked if he was ok, he nodded, trying to convince himself and keep his nausea at bay till she left.

There were times that he saw Lance, smiling cheerfully and heard him say: "Cheer up buddy, it will soon be over."  Sometimes he heard him pray.  He told himself that this was the best part of his bad dream.

One day he woke up after another restless night.  A nurse was trying to make him as comfortable as possible. This time there was no sign of the usual syringes or needles.

"No injections today?" he asked somewhat surprised.

She smiled at him. "Didn't you have enough of those," she asked mockingly.

"Of course I had, I just can't believe it's all done," he said relieved.  It felt if a whole mountain is rolling off his shoulders.

"You're lucky if you get enough rest today the doctor might give you the green light to go home tomorrow."

His tired body reacted almost immediately to the good news and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Nothing could have surprised John more when he woke up to find his mother and Lance talking to each other like old friends, sharing a secret.

"I can't believe my eyes, is this true?" he asked, looking puzzled.

Lance Anderson laughed. "Sure it is John," he said.

"Will somebody please tell me about the grade twelve results ?" John asked anxiously.

His mother laughed and said: "Lance you can tell him."

"You passed all your subjects and two of them with distinctions.  Congrats buddy, keep up the good work," he said and shook John's hand happily.

"I made it.  I'm finished with school now!" John cried proudly.

"I've got more good news," his mother said.  Doctor Miller said you have eighty percent chance of being clean after the operation. There might be more chemo, depending on the future tests, but with your guts, you will be able to face it."  She kissed him. "Congratulations my child, I am so proud of you." She hugged him.

"What makes me the happiest of all, is that the two most important people in my life became friends," John said with a big, happy smile.