A Day in 1953

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“Charlie, get a spoon, quick!” Richmond caught a spastic teenage Ben in his arms, “C’mon! He’s having a fit!”

A nervous Charlie gingerly handed him the requested spoon and Richmond speedily put it in Ben’s mouth to keep him from biting his tongue.

The brothers waited for him to stop shaking and convulsing about, and breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.

“Boy, you needs to get a surgery. I’m telling you,” Richmond says when his friend started to stir, “my Aunt Ellen has it too, you know. Doctors said she needs surgery so she got one. And now she’s doing dandy.”

“Mom says she’ll consider it,” Ben answers a little embarrassedly, even if he knows Richmond’s already used to his convulsions, “it’ll take us a good amount of money, you know. Surgeries don’t cost a penny, Richie.”

“If money’s a problem, we’ll help ya out,” Richmond flips a page of the newspaper he’s now reading, “you’re like a son to momma too, Benny.”

“That’s too much to ask for, you know I can’t take that,” Ben sits up on the bed, “you’ve already done so much for me, Richie. Being there is enough. Not many people can do that for me.”

“We should go on a hiking trip,” Richmond smiles, “after you get better. Just you and me and Charlie.”