Read It And Weep (Anthony Rizzo)

Thirty Two~ Two Peas in a Pod

Anthony

"I'm starting to think this isn't such a hot idea" Manny says as he turns to me from the barber shop chair beside me. He already had on the little smock ready to get rid of the rest of his hair.

"You're losing your hair already, why is shaving it any different" I ask him.

"I don't know, makes it all seem more real" he sighs.

Not everyone who has chemo loses their hair or shaves their head. Depending on the strength of the cancer fighting drugs and how many sessions you have to do it varies from person to person.

Unfortunately for Manny he was losing his hair more and more often as he went on with treatment. With his last chemo treatment coming up there is no way his hair is going to make it through the end. So we were both going to shave our heads to get it over with, but I think my buddy here is getting cold feet.

"I think you'll still be handsome even with a shaved head" I assure him.

"You think I'm handsome now" he smirks.

"I think your parents messed up on everything except for their genes" I tease making him laugh. I loved seeing him smile and relax a little.

"Alright... lets get this over with" he sighs.

After about ten minutes of buzzing and brushing we both had a bald head. Mine was more of a buzz cut because I wasn't losing my hair but it was the principle of the thing. If I wasn't here I don't think that he would have went through with it simply because he felt like if he shaved his head he would have succumbed to the chemo and the cancer. But that's not true at all. He is strong and he is going to grow his hair back because he beat it. I just know he will.

Once we were all cut up and ready to move on with the day we decide to go out for lunch. With his sister out finalizing things for The Go Ahead so they can launch the website it gave us a lot of free time. The offices were still under construction for a few weeks but the meeting rooms were compete so they can sit around and talk and plan. There was a lot that had to be done but I was excited to see where that goes.

Manny and I decide to go to Harry Carry's because they love it when I come in and I think Manny deserves a nice meal. So we get seated and order before just talking about whatever we felt in this rainy day.

"So if you're last chemo goes well and they say you're cancer free are you going to start up back at school" I wonder.

"Well this semester is already well under way so I'm hoping I can jump in next semester. Take the ready of this semester off to be with family and spend the holidays here" he explains and I nod.

"That's good. I think you deserve some time to focus on your future and family. You deserve at least that" I explain.

He lets out a short huff as he shakes his head. "That's the thing. Life didn't wait for me to get better and I feel so left behind. I lost friends because they went back to school and I was stuck here. I got set back in my education because I kept getting sick. It doesn't even feel like I've been living these past three months, it feels like everything in my life stopped but everything around me kept going" he explains.

"I know what you mean. I thought the world of baseball was a whole new world when I came back. With so much of your life ahead of you, so much you want to do, it all seems... empty" I agree.

A sad smile comes on his face as he looks from the table up at me. "I hate that this is how we got to be such good friends. I hate that you understand me in the way you do. But at the same time I'm so thankful that this played out the way it did and that you agreed to help me. I'm lucky to have such a good friend who could literally do anything he wants in this world but chooses to hang out with me instead" he claims.

"I love being with you. And I hope that when this is all over and you're well on your way to helping people who is in a position you once were we can still hang out. We can play with the kids at Luries and change peoples lives together" I insist.

"That would be something" he smiles.

"That would be everything" I reply.

"Are you staying around here for the holidays" he wonders.

I shake my head as I let out a sigh. "I better go home for a while. We have some foundation stuff to take care of and if I don't go home for a little then my parents are going to think that I hate them" I laugh.

"What about New Years" he wonders.

"What's up? You got some plans" I ask.

"Not really. But I would love to hang out with you and Hannah before I go back to school and lose all aspects of my social life" he chuckles.

"Hannah will be there" I ask with a crack in my voice and he laughs.

"Yeah. She might not know it right now but she will. I'll give her the puppy dog eyes and she will break easily" he promises.

"You do know that I'm not you're friend just because I like your sister, right" I ask him.

"Of course" he laughs. "I reached out to you before you knew she was my sister and I know when someone is being genuine. I have felt fake love enough times in my life and I know when you're a real friend. Not because you payed for my treatments or help me with chemo, but because you shave your head because I have to or you take me out to lunch even though you have the whole city at your feet. I know true friendship" he assures me. 

"Good. Because no matter what happens after you're cured and no matter happens between me and your sister you are always going to be my best friend" I promise him.

"That's good to hear. But if you guys got married and you became my brother in law that would be the ultimate win" he teases.

"Has your sister ever thought about getting married" I joke.

"Not for a second. But she never thought she would feel about a guy the way she feels about you so I guess things change" he shrugs. I just smile at him as he realized what he just said. "You cannot tell my sister I told you that" he begs.

"Your secret is safe with me" I wink.