(Conclusion to A Teen’s Fear)
by B. McIntosh & S. Gould
Elaine could hardly wait to reach home to open the envelope that Dawn had given her. She couldn’t imagine what could possibly be inside. It felt too bulky to be just a letter. The short journey to her house had never seemed so long. She was tempted to tear open the envelope on the way but Dawn had made her promise that she would wait until she got home.
As soon as Elaine reached her doorstep she started tearing open the envelope. As she opened it a gold chain with half of a gold heart charm, with the word “best” inscribed on it fell out.
“Oh, wow! This is beautiful!” Elaine thought. “ I wonder why Dawn gave this to me. My birthday was months ago.” She looked into the envelope and took out the letter that Dawn had written. It said,
Dear Lainie
I wanted to write you a little note to let you know that I appreciate the help you gave me in my time of need. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer I felt scared and alone. You being there for me helped me out a lot. You didn’t offer a whole lot of platitudes you simply listened when I needed someone to talk to or just a shoulder to cry on. Oh and I can’t forget the fact that you prayed for me. That kept me going.
I’m giving you this chain so that you’ll always be reminded of how much you mean to me. I have the second half of the charm. Yours says “best” and mine says “friend.” Whenever you look at your half just know that you’ll always have a friend in me. I will always be there for you, just like you were there for me.
Many people think they have the best friend in the world, but I know I do. Thanks again Lainie, for everything.
Love,
Dawn
“ Oh wow!” Elaine thought as she read the note. “Wow! I think Dawn is mistaken. I definitely have the best friend in the world.” At that moment she realized that she was still standing on the steps of her house.
“If Dawn could see me now she’d think I’m the worse than a little kid on Christmas morning” she thought, unconsciously echoing Dawn’s thought. “Well” she shrugged; at least I made it home before I opened it. On that note Elaine opened the door to her home and walked in happily humming Michael W. Smiths famous song,
Friends are friends forever, if the Lord’s the Lord of them, and a friend will not say never ‘cause the welcome never ends…
Well ladies, I hope you like the conclusion of A Teen’s Fear. I don’t know about you but this makes me miss my best friend.
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A Friend in Need (Conclusion to A Teen's Fear)
by B. McIntosh
It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining, the birds were twittering in the trees, butterflies were flitting from flower to flower, trees swayed gently in the breeze and the happy chatter of children could be heard all around. However Dawn and Elaine neither saw the beauty of the day or heard the sounds as they walked slowly home from school. They were too excited to be together after being away from each other for yet another summer. Although school had been opened for three weeks they were still finding new things to tell each other about.
As Dawn chattered excitedly to Elaine about something that had happened in one of her classes Elaine’s attention wavered from the conversation. She thought about how good it was to see Dawn so happy and excited again. Dawn had had a very difficult year and had become depressed after learning that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Elaine had been very concerned about her friend who worried constantly that her mother would die and cried at the drop of a hat. Fortunately, after having a mastectomy and doing months of chemotherapy Dawn’s mother was doing great and was told that there was no sigh of cancer in her body.
“So what do you think about that Lainie?” Dawn’s question brought Elaine’s attention back to the one sided conversation.
“What do I think about what?”
“Hey! Where were you a moment ago? Weren’t you listening to anything I said?”
“Sure I was,” Elaine laughingly protested.
“Uh hmmm? So what was I talking about?”
“Okay, you caught me. I admit it. I wasn’t listening. I was just thinking about when school opened last year how your mom was so sick.”
“Yeah, that’s still hard to think about,” Dawn replied. “I was so scared. But thank God she’s doing great now. Dad finally allowed her to go back to work. I think he was more scared than he let on.”
“I guess he had to be strong for you and your mom.”
“I was a big crybaby huh?”
“Well…”
“Okay, okay” Dawn laughed, “You don’t have to answer that.”
“Whew! Thanks,” Elaine joked wiping an imaginary drop of sweat from her brow.
“Oh stop it,” Dawn smiled, pushing her friend gently.
At that moment they came to a stop in front of the place where they separated to go home.
“Wait a minute,” Dawn called as Elaine turned in the direction of her home. “I have something for you.”
“Really? Did I forget my own birthday or something?”
“Oh stop being silly,” Dawn said and handed Elaine an envelope with her name on it.
“What is it?” Elaine asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Dawn replied. “Please don’t open it until you get home.”
“Well bye then Dawn, I gotta go I have a something to do,” Elaine said hurrying off before Dawn even answered.
“Good thing I waited until we reached,” Dawn thought crossly. “She’s worst than a little kid on Christmas morning.” But she started smiling as she walked towards home thinking that although Elaine was the most curious person she knew, she was also the best friend ever.
It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining, the birds were twittering in the trees, butterflies were flitting from flower to flower, trees swayed gently in the breeze and the happy chatter of children could be heard all around. However Dawn and Elaine neither saw the beauty of the day or heard the sounds as they walked slowly home from school. They were too excited to be together after being away from each other for yet another summer. Although school had been opened for three weeks they were still finding new things to tell each other about.
As Dawn chattered excitedly to Elaine about something that had happened in one of her classes Elaine’s attention wavered from the conversation. She thought about how good it was to see Dawn so happy and excited again. Dawn had had a very difficult year and had become depressed after learning that her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Elaine had been very concerned about her friend who worried constantly that her mother would die and cried at the drop of a hat. Fortunately, after having a mastectomy and doing months of chemotherapy Dawn’s mother was doing great and was told that there was no sigh of cancer in her body.
“So what do you think about that Lainie?” Dawn’s question brought Elaine’s attention back to the one sided conversation.
“What do I think about what?”
“Hey! Where were you a moment ago? Weren’t you listening to anything I said?”
“Sure I was,” Elaine laughingly protested.
“Uh hmmm? So what was I talking about?”
“Okay, you caught me. I admit it. I wasn’t listening. I was just thinking about when school opened last year how your mom was so sick.”
“Yeah, that’s still hard to think about,” Dawn replied. “I was so scared. But thank God she’s doing great now. Dad finally allowed her to go back to work. I think he was more scared than he let on.”
“I guess he had to be strong for you and your mom.”
“I was a big crybaby huh?”
“Well…”
“Okay, okay” Dawn laughed, “You don’t have to answer that.”
“Whew! Thanks,” Elaine joked wiping an imaginary drop of sweat from her brow.
“Oh stop it,” Dawn smiled, pushing her friend gently.
At that moment they came to a stop in front of the place where they separated to go home.
“Wait a minute,” Dawn called as Elaine turned in the direction of her home. “I have something for you.”
“Really? Did I forget my own birthday or something?”
“Oh stop being silly,” Dawn said and handed Elaine an envelope with her name on it.
“What is it?” Elaine asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Dawn replied. “Please don’t open it until you get home.”
“Well bye then Dawn, I gotta go I have a something to do,” Elaine said hurrying off before Dawn even answered.
“Good thing I waited until we reached,” Dawn thought crossly. “She’s worst than a little kid on Christmas morning.” But she started smiling as she walked towards home thinking that although Elaine was the most curious person she knew, she was also the best friend ever.
A Teen's Fear Part 3
By B McIntosh & S Hield
"Hi Dawn," Elaine said smiling. "I was just thinking about you. You're in a good mood today. What's up?"
"The price of clothes," Dawn smiled. "
Ha, ha, my friend the comedienne. Did you get some good news about your mom? Did the doctors make a mistake?
"I wish," Dawn said, the smile vanishing from her face.
"Uh oh," Elaine thought, "now I've done it. She's going to cry again".
"She's okay though," Dawn said surprising Lainie by not crying. "She and my dad talked to me last night. She's decided to go ahead with the mastectomy. She'll be having the surgery next week."
"So how come you were so happy?" Elaine enquired, "before I spoiled it that is. You've been so depressed lately."
"It's strange really, after Mommy and Daddy finished talking we all prayed. Well anyway they prayed and I listened. I was still a bit upset with God so I kinda kept quiet. Maybe it was for the best though."
"Why is that?" Elaine asked.
"I really listened to my parents pray and as they prayed I started crying. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt Mommy patting my head and saying "don't cry baby, it'll be alright."
"Big baby, I bet you cried even more huh?'
" You know it girl, especially after she started praying again.'
"What did she say?"
"She said, please Lord let me live to see my baby grow up. Elaine, she didn't even pray to live for herself, she prayed for me."
"Wow," Elaine said. I think we'd better change the subject before we both start crying again.
"Yeah, let's do", Dawn laughed.
"So do you think you're going to be okay now? I mean your grades have been slipping lately, you have to pull them back up."
"Yeah, I don't think my parents would appreciate seeing a bad Report Card on top of everything else.
"I bet they'd take a belt to you," Elaine teased.
"Or ground me forever…"
"Yeah, no phone…" Elaine continued.
"No email or instant messenger, Dawn added.
"Poor, poor Dawn ", Elaine laughed.
"No sleepovers, Dawn continued.
"No sleepover? Hey this affects me too. Girlfriend let's go hit the books."
"Hi Dawn," Elaine said smiling. "I was just thinking about you. You're in a good mood today. What's up?"
"The price of clothes," Dawn smiled. "
Ha, ha, my friend the comedienne. Did you get some good news about your mom? Did the doctors make a mistake?
"I wish," Dawn said, the smile vanishing from her face.
"Uh oh," Elaine thought, "now I've done it. She's going to cry again".
"She's okay though," Dawn said surprising Lainie by not crying. "She and my dad talked to me last night. She's decided to go ahead with the mastectomy. She'll be having the surgery next week."
"So how come you were so happy?" Elaine enquired, "before I spoiled it that is. You've been so depressed lately."
"It's strange really, after Mommy and Daddy finished talking we all prayed. Well anyway they prayed and I listened. I was still a bit upset with God so I kinda kept quiet. Maybe it was for the best though."
"Why is that?" Elaine asked.
"I really listened to my parents pray and as they prayed I started crying. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt Mommy patting my head and saying "don't cry baby, it'll be alright."
"Big baby, I bet you cried even more huh?'
" You know it girl, especially after she started praying again.'
"What did she say?"
"She said, please Lord let me live to see my baby grow up. Elaine, she didn't even pray to live for herself, she prayed for me."
"Wow," Elaine said. I think we'd better change the subject before we both start crying again.
"Yeah, let's do", Dawn laughed.
"So do you think you're going to be okay now? I mean your grades have been slipping lately, you have to pull them back up."
"Yeah, I don't think my parents would appreciate seeing a bad Report Card on top of everything else.
"I bet they'd take a belt to you," Elaine teased.
"Or ground me forever…"
"Yeah, no phone…" Elaine continued.
"No email or instant messenger, Dawn added.
"Poor, poor Dawn ", Elaine laughed.
"No sleepovers, Dawn continued.
"No sleepover? Hey this affects me too. Girlfriend let's go hit the books."
A Teen's Fear
Part 2
By B McIntosh & S Hield
Three weeks later Elaine was still reeling with shock. She couldn't believe the news Dawn had given her. Mrs. Thurston, Dawn's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Elaine was still worried about Dawn. School had only been opened a few weeks but Dawn's grades were already slipping.
"I don't know how to help her", Lainie thought. Her mind went back to the conversation she'd had with Dawn.
"I'm scared Lainie," Dawn had said. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost my mom."
"I'm sure she's going to be fine Dawn" Lainie said hugging Dawn sympathetically. "Have you talked to your mom?"
At that question Dawn started crying even more. "I'm trying not to let her see how scared I am. I don't want her to worry about me. She's the one who's sick. I should be taking care of her."
"I'm sure your mom would want to know how you're feeling Dawn. You should try talking to her. By the way, how is your dad taking it?"
"He's trying to be strong but neither of us can imagine life without mom."
"Dawn you have to stop being so negative," Elaine said. "Cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence you know many women survive breast cancer."
"I know Lainie but my mom's sister died from that a few years ago, remember? And now the doctors have recommended that my mom have a mastectomy and my aunt had her breast removed also."
"Dawn where's your faith?" Elaine asked. "Have you prayed about this?
"Lainie, I'm scared to pray because I don't know what will happen to my faith if God doesn't answer."
"On that note a tear came to Lainie's eye but she didn't let Dawn see. "Well to quote the words of that old song, that's what friends are for," she said. "Let's stop here for a minute."
Elaine and Dawn stopped under a tree and Elaine held her friend's hand and said a short, simple prayer. She asked God to comfort Dawn and her family and to heal Dawn's mother. "I know you are a healer, God she finished and I'm believing you will perform a miracle on Dawn's mother amen.
"Earth to Elaine, earth to Elaine. Elaine came to herself with a start realizing that the object of her thoughts Dawn was calling her name. "She's looking a lot happier Elaine thought as Dawn walked towards her.
(Is Dawn's mother going to be okay? How will Dawn handle it if she's not? Stay tuned for the next installment of "A Teen's Fear" In fact why don't you send me your suggestions or leave them on the forum board at geocities.com/kirgt.)
By B McIntosh & S Hield
Three weeks later Elaine was still reeling with shock. She couldn't believe the news Dawn had given her. Mrs. Thurston, Dawn's mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Elaine was still worried about Dawn. School had only been opened a few weeks but Dawn's grades were already slipping.
"I don't know how to help her", Lainie thought. Her mind went back to the conversation she'd had with Dawn.
"I'm scared Lainie," Dawn had said. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost my mom."
"I'm sure she's going to be fine Dawn" Lainie said hugging Dawn sympathetically. "Have you talked to your mom?"
At that question Dawn started crying even more. "I'm trying not to let her see how scared I am. I don't want her to worry about me. She's the one who's sick. I should be taking care of her."
"I'm sure your mom would want to know how you're feeling Dawn. You should try talking to her. By the way, how is your dad taking it?"
"He's trying to be strong but neither of us can imagine life without mom."
"Dawn you have to stop being so negative," Elaine said. "Cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence you know many women survive breast cancer."
"I know Lainie but my mom's sister died from that a few years ago, remember? And now the doctors have recommended that my mom have a mastectomy and my aunt had her breast removed also."
"Dawn where's your faith?" Elaine asked. "Have you prayed about this?
"Lainie, I'm scared to pray because I don't know what will happen to my faith if God doesn't answer."
"On that note a tear came to Lainie's eye but she didn't let Dawn see. "Well to quote the words of that old song, that's what friends are for," she said. "Let's stop here for a minute."
Elaine and Dawn stopped under a tree and Elaine held her friend's hand and said a short, simple prayer. She asked God to comfort Dawn and her family and to heal Dawn's mother. "I know you are a healer, God she finished and I'm believing you will perform a miracle on Dawn's mother amen.
"Earth to Elaine, earth to Elaine. Elaine came to herself with a start realizing that the object of her thoughts Dawn was calling her name. "She's looking a lot happier Elaine thought as Dawn walked towards her.
(Is Dawn's mother going to be okay? How will Dawn handle it if she's not? Stay tuned for the next installment of "A Teen's Fear" In fact why don't you send me your suggestions or leave them on the forum board at geocities.com/kirgt.)
A Teen's Fear
By B McIntosh & S Hield
Elaine walked excitedly to the place where she and Dawn usually met to walk to school. After a long summer apart she was eager to see her best friend. Dawn had stayed home for most of the summer whereas Elaine had spent the entire summer in Florida with family. Although she and Dawn had emailed each other every day it just wasn't the same.
Elaine arrived a few minutes early and waited for Dawn. She pulled out a little gift she'd had specially made for Dawn. It was a little plaque that read "Dawn and Elaine, Friends through thick and thin." As Elaine looked up she saw Dawn approaching.
"Dawn?" she said questioningly, her eyes popping open in amazement.
"What? Forgot how I looked already?" Dawn replied hugging her friend as if nothing was wrong.
Lainie returned the hug but questioned Dawn, "What happened to you?"
"What are you talking about Lainie?" Dawn asked. "Nothing's happened to me."
"Dawn you look as if you've lost twenty pounds. Missed me that much? She teased although still worried.
"Don't be silly Lainie!" Dawn laughed nervously. It isn't that much.
"Is everything alright Dawn? Elaine asked seriously.
"Yes Elaine, Dawn answered in a long suffering voice.
"You'd tell me if it wasn't?
"Of course! Now can we please change the subject? How was your vacation?
"It was the best, except I missed you."
Elaine handed Dawn the gift. Dawn read the words as they walked.
"I really mean it Dawn, Elaine said. I hope you trust me enough to tell me if something is wrong."
"Thanks Lainie Dawn said, sounding as if she was holding back tears. "I just can't talk about it right now. "
"So something is wrong! I knew it! What is it?"
"Please not now Lainie Dawn said. If I talk about it I'm going to cry and I can't go to school on the first day with red eyes."
"Okay, okay, I'll back off, for now. How is Mrs. T (Elaine name for Dawn's mother) doing? You mentioned in one of your emails that she wasn't feeling well.
"At that question Dawn burst into tears while an astonished Lainie looked on not knowing what to do.
(What is Dawn upset about? Stay tuned for the next installment to this new chapter in the lives of Dawn and Elaine.)
Elaine walked excitedly to the place where she and Dawn usually met to walk to school. After a long summer apart she was eager to see her best friend. Dawn had stayed home for most of the summer whereas Elaine had spent the entire summer in Florida with family. Although she and Dawn had emailed each other every day it just wasn't the same.
Elaine arrived a few minutes early and waited for Dawn. She pulled out a little gift she'd had specially made for Dawn. It was a little plaque that read "Dawn and Elaine, Friends through thick and thin." As Elaine looked up she saw Dawn approaching.
"Dawn?" she said questioningly, her eyes popping open in amazement.
"What? Forgot how I looked already?" Dawn replied hugging her friend as if nothing was wrong.
Lainie returned the hug but questioned Dawn, "What happened to you?"
"What are you talking about Lainie?" Dawn asked. "Nothing's happened to me."
"Dawn you look as if you've lost twenty pounds. Missed me that much? She teased although still worried.
"Don't be silly Lainie!" Dawn laughed nervously. It isn't that much.
"Is everything alright Dawn? Elaine asked seriously.
"Yes Elaine, Dawn answered in a long suffering voice.
"You'd tell me if it wasn't?
"Of course! Now can we please change the subject? How was your vacation?
"It was the best, except I missed you."
Elaine handed Dawn the gift. Dawn read the words as they walked.
"I really mean it Dawn, Elaine said. I hope you trust me enough to tell me if something is wrong."
"Thanks Lainie Dawn said, sounding as if she was holding back tears. "I just can't talk about it right now. "
"So something is wrong! I knew it! What is it?"
"Please not now Lainie Dawn said. If I talk about it I'm going to cry and I can't go to school on the first day with red eyes."
"Okay, okay, I'll back off, for now. How is Mrs. T (Elaine name for Dawn's mother) doing? You mentioned in one of your emails that she wasn't feeling well.
"At that question Dawn burst into tears while an astonished Lainie looked on not knowing what to do.
(What is Dawn upset about? Stay tuned for the next installment to this new chapter in the lives of Dawn and Elaine.)
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