The Effects of Love

Chapter 3

*When Tucker gets home, he thinks about ways to apologize to the three. Buy them new cars? No. Take them out to dinner? No. Pay for their college? No. Tucker can't think of anything, so he goes to sleep. The next morning, Tucker has to go into the doctor to get a physical done for Track. Not knowing Tucker is going in, Jonathan, Dalis, and Troy are going in for the same reason. Normally Dalis doesn't have to go in to get a physical done, but since she is going to do the shot put, she has to in order to be put on the team. The three get to the door, but she stops the others from going in.*

Dalis: "Wait. Tucker is in there."

Troy: "How do you know?"

Dalis: "I saw his car in the parking lot, and I just saw him walk in. Guys, I'm not ready to face him. I haven't had enough time to get over him. If I see him, I'm going to start crying."

Jonathan: "So do you want to come back some other time? We could probably reschedule."

Dalis: "Are we allowed to do that? We have to have the physicals in soon though."

Troy: "Here. Let me see if we can."

*Troy walks into the office and talks to the receptionist. Dalis and Jonathan are watching and trying to see what Troy is saying. Troy calls Jonathan in. Dalis is watching the three talk to each other, then Troy puts his head down, nods, and then walks out, leaving Jonathan at the counter.*

Dalis: "What happened? Are we going to be able to reschedule?"

Troy: "I don't know yet... But I saw Tucker's parents in the waiting room talking about choosing radiation or just letting someone go."

Dalis: "Troy, do you think they're talking about who I think they're talking about?"

Troy: "I don't know yet. I guess the only way to find out is if we talk to him. And I know you aren't ready. I don't think Jonathan is ready, and I'm pretty sure I'm ready to kick his ass."

Dalis: "Well why don't we just wait until we're all ready to talk to him, and then we can ask him."

*Tucker's dad walks out of the office and looks at us."

Dad: "Oh hey you guys. How's it going?"

Dalis: "Good. How's Tucker?"

Dad: "He's doing okay I guess. He's been really strong the past few days. After the second hospital visit and all."

Troy: "Wait. That was his SECOND hospital visit? What was the first one for?"

Dad: "Didn't Tucker tell you guys?"

Dalis: "No. What didn't he tell us?"

Dad: "He was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago. And when he went back in to see what it was doing, we found out that he had no more than a year to live. That's why when we found out he had been drinking, we understood because he's been trying to cope with what has been going on. Usually brain tumors can be removed, but since he has been playing football since he was diagnosed, it has only gotten worse. Tuck is kind of worried that he may not be able to make the Track team. Recently he has been having small seizures and passes out every now and then. Here he comes. It was nice seeing you guys."

*Tucker's dad walks away as Tucker walks out of the office. Tucker looks at Dalis and Troy, and then follows his dad. The only thing Dalis can think about is how he probably didn't tell her because she would have flipped out. Dalis watches Tucker walk away as she thinks,

'Oh my gosh. He isn't going to be here for much longer! I should go apologize.'

Jonathan walks out of the doctor's office and sees Dalis running after Tucker. She gets in front of him, stops, starts crying, and hugs him.*