Glory Days

Chapter 21: Advice and Appointments

-Aaron-

My dad is home early from work today and grabbed dinner for us on the way home, which is nice. We don't get to see each other as much as we used to because he got a promotion at work, which is great for him. But it also means he has more things to do when he's at work and stays longer some days. I am also busier now with baseball. We sit down at the table eating Chick Fil A, when he asks.

"So, how's school going?"

"It's going pretty well actually. I really like the baseball team, and I really enjoy class."

"Your grades have definitely improved this year, I'm impressed."

"What, you didn't think I had it in me?" I jokingly ask. My dad laughs and shakes his head.

"I knew you had it in you, I just didn't know how to get you to realize it." He says and smiles. "So... any girls catching your eye?"

"What?" I ask, blushing a little. A small memory of Kira laughing comes to my head.

"Just wondering, you know. Seems like maybe you have one on your mind." He says and chuckles.

"I wouldn't say that I like her. But... there is this girl, her name is Kira." I say.

"Yes, the girl whose house you went over for... Bio?"

"Yeah, her." I say and blush.

"So, what do you think of her?"

"I don't know." I say and think. "She... understands things. Does that even mean anything?"

"No."

"I care about her, for sure. She's always so sweet and caring. But... she hides a lot from people."

"Ah, and let me guess, she opened up to you?"

"Yeah, she told me about her mom, who's going though cancer. And I told her about" I wave at the house "Our situation."

My dad sits and thinks for a minute, then says. "Is she going through more than just her mom's cancer?"

"Well, her mom's cancer has increased her anxiety, and I did some research and it is typical for family members to have increased anxiety while one has cancer."

"Research?"

"Yeah?" I ask, confused.

"You must really care about her then." My dad says and smiles. "From what I know, the best thing you can do for a friend with anxiety is be there for them, always. But be there to listen, not to talk. If she wants you to listen, listen. If she wants you to talk, then talk. But I bet you already told her that."

"Yeah, I did. And she has called me a couple of times about stuff, and I listened mostly." I say and my dad nods.

"So, how tall is she?" He asks and chuckles.

"Seriously?" I say and laugh. He nods his head. "Um, I don't know probably 5 feet, maybe 5'1."

"wow, you are way taller than her. How tall are you again?"

"6 feet, so I am very tall compared to her I guess."

"Wow, well I want to see you two standing next to each other one day." He says and we laugh. Maybe one day...

-Kira-

I take my mom to the oncologist after school. Her tumor has started to shrink, but it metastasized to her lymph nodes, so she needs a new chemotherapy plan. My mom told me to sit in the waiting room during her appointment, so I brought my AP Bio textbook to do more reading while I'm there.