A Saint for Life (15 page)

{32}

Gabe

“Happy birthday!” Danielle yelled while walking into my room.

“Thank you!” I’m so excited. Today is going to be awesome. I just know it will be.

“Here, open it!” She handed me a present wrapped in green paper.

I tore off the wrapper paper like it was Christmas morning and stared at the box.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Open it and see!” Johnny said. He sat next to me and was just as happy. It was nice to have a friend who also had cancer.

I took the top of the box off and felt the soft green blanket.

“It’s so comfy! Thank you!”

“You didn’t see the best part. Here, look.”

She took the blanket out of the box and held it open.

“A Siena blanket? Wow! Thank you!”

“That's so cool!” Johnny felt how soft it was.

She laid it across my bed. It matches perfectly with the new basketball pillows that Zoe gave me. She got me that and a few books I wanted.

I’m jealous that she is going to be at the game today. Today was senior day, which means that it’s Chris’s last game ever!

“Danielle?”

“Yes, Gabe?”

“I can still watch the game tonight, right? I can’t miss this one. It’s Chris’s last regular season game and Johnny and I wanna watch it!”

“Don’t worry. Yes, you can!”

“I made sure Janice brought my shirt so I could wear it today while I watched the game.”

“That was nice of her!” Danielle said back while getting my medicine ready.

“Yeah. I didn’t put it on until after Zoe left, though. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. She’s been so sad ever since Chris stopped coming around.” I sighed.

“Did you ever find out what happened?” Danielle asked. I sometimes talked to her about it.

“No, I didn’t. They both lied to me. But I want them to get back together because they’re happier that way.”

“You are a very smart kid! I hope so too. He seems like a really nice guy.”

“He is,” I replied, but my eyes were too heavy for me to keep them open.

“Can you turn off the lights? I think I’m going to take a nap,” I asked and covered myself with my new blanket.

“Bye Gabe! See you later!” Johnny waved goodbye while walking out the door with Danielle.

*

“Sorry to wake you, buddy. You need to get ready,” Danielle said. I was in the middle of a really good dream when she came in.

“For what? You told me I didn’t have chemo today!” I was a little confused and still waking up, so I instantly got upset.

“Nope, you’re right; you don’t. But there’s a huge surprise waiting for you.”

“What is it?” I sat up so quickly I got dizzy.

“Can’t tell you.” She winked. Helping me get dressed and into my wheelchair, she pushed me out of my room.

“You know what it is, don’t you?” I asked her.

“Yup!” She smiled at me.

“And so do I,” another nurse said.

They were both so happy. I was so excited. It was so nice they were doing something for me. And my day got even better.

“What are you doing here?” I tried to get up after spotting him from down the hall, but I was too weak to stand.

“I wanted to say happy birthday! I told you I would stop by!” Chris said while giving me a fist pump. “What, did you think I would forget?”

“I thought you would have come earlier. I thought you weren’t coming. Isn’t it almost game time? Shouldn’t you be there already? What time is it?” I tried to find a clock.

“Oh, that. Yeah, you’re coming with me.”

I looked up at him, then at Danielle. I was confused.

“But I can’t; Zoe said I’m too sick to go to any games.” I sulked and looked down at my feet. “And who would I sit with?”

“Well,” Chris knelt down next to me. “Dr. Sheehan is a really cool doctor, and she said you are okay to go! What the doctor says goes, right?” He smiled.

“That’s right, Gabe. I don’t think a few hours will hurt. I’m going to go with you to make sure you are okay! It’s going to be a fun night.”

“Is this for real? Like, I’m not dreaming?” I hit myself in the forehead.

“Yes, Gabe, this is for real,” Chris said with a little laughter in his voice.

“Oh my God, this is so exciting! I’m going to my first game! I’ll get to see you play for real!” I couldn’t stop saying it.

“Well, come on, I’ve got to get to the arena! Let’s go, bud!”

Danielle pushed my wheelchair out of the hospital and hooked me up to a small IV that we could easily attach to the wheelchair.

This is going to be the best birthday I’ve ever had!

{33}

Christian

“We are definitely going to the arena, right?” Gabe sat anxiously in the back seat.

“Unless you want to go somewhere else?” I looked back at him through the rearview mirror.

“Nope. I’m good.”

“I figured.” Laughing, I made the turn to the arena.

“Wow! Look at all of the people walking in!” His eyes were wide with curiosity and excitement. He didn’t even know half of what his day was going to entail.

I reached underneath my jacket, and my fingers latched onto the chain I opened earlier. If only James was here to witness all of this. I know he would have taken just as much of a liking to Gabe as I have. Being able to give Gabe a night like tonight very much resembled something that James would have done for me.

When we got out of the car, Danielle and I put Gabe in the wheelchair and made sure he was comfortable. We parked in the back so we could enter by the locker rooms. This way we wouldn’t risk anyone who may know Zoe seeing Gabe, or worse, seeing Zoe before it was the right time.

“So where are our seats? Does Zoe know I’m here?”

“No, she doesn’t. This is a surprise for her too. But your seats, well, you have the best seat in the house.” I winked.

“Where’s that?” Gabe’s eyes lit up with pure joy.

“You’ll see. First we have to make a pit stop to the locker room.”

“The locker room? We are going to
the locker room
?” Gabe yelled and almost jumped out of his wheelchair. His reaction was priceless. Emotions ran through me like a wildfire. I looked at Gabe and realized I cared more about him than I did my own self. He was family to me now.

“Oh my God. I’m going in the locker room. Will the whole team be in there?” I nodded. “Oh my God. I’m going in the locker room.” Gabe whispered to himself over and over again. Danielle and I looked at each other, and the two of us could hardly contain our laughter.

“Are you ready?” I looked down at Gabe. He looked a little nervous as we got closer.

“Yes! But wait, sorry, Danielle. I don’t think you can come in. Boys only.”

“Yes, I’ll wait right out here!” Danielle chuckled.

“Hey, before we go in there, I want to give you something.” I choked up a bit.

“What’s that?”

I reached around the back of my neck, and my trembling thumbs tried to unhook the clasp to my chain.

“Here, why don’t I help you?” Danielle took notice to the emotions that were becoming hard to control. Placing it in my hand, I bent down next to Gabe.

“This…this I just got as a gift, and now I want to give it to you.” I stared down at the palm of my hand.

“But if it was given to you, why are you giving it to me?” he questioned.

“It is very special to me, and I want you to take good care of it.”

I looked at Gabe and smiled.

“This was given to me by my brother, and now it’s yours.”

“Your brother? You have a brother?”

“I did. You know how you told me your Daddy is in heaven?” Gabe nodded. “Well, my brother is there with him. I know he would want you to have it.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“Wow.”

We remained silent for a few moments while Gabe examined the chain. Danielle turned away and wiped her eyes.

“Can you put it on me?”

“I would love to.” I stood up and wrapped it around his neck. “What do you say? Time to go meet all the guys?” I tried to change the momentum.

“Yes! I’m ready!”

I opened the door, and all of the guys stood there and giving Gabe a welcome he will never forget. One of my teammates was holding a balloon, and Matt was holding a jersey we had designed just for him to wear. After explaining to Matt what was going on, we were able to put our differences behind us.

“We’ve been waiting all day for you!” Matt yelled.

“This is awesome!” Gabe said while looking up at me. My heart was beating out of my chest. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. But my nerves for seeing how Zoe would react disappeared. This is going to be perfect. There’s no way something could go wrong now.

“So we have something for you. We had this made especially for you to wear tonight.” Matt turned the jersey around, and it had Gabe’s name on the back. “How would you like to be a part of the team today?”

“Are you serious? Is he serious?” Gabe looked back up at me. “Are you serious?” he repeated quietly.

“So serious!” I put my hand on his shoulder.

“Give me that jersey!” The guys laughed and all smiled.

“So where is my new player?” Coach Higgins walked into the locker room.

“Are you ready to be a Saint for the day?” He shook Gabe’s hand.

“Yes! Thank you!” He toned his excitement down a notch, maybe out of nervousness from being in the presence of the coach. He could be a little intimidating.

“No need to thank me. We are so glad to have you here with us today. And happy birthday! How old are you now?”

“I’m nine! Next year I’ll be in the double digits!”

“Happy birthday!” One of my teammates walked over and gave Gabe a high five.

“Thank you!” His smile got wider.

“Hey, kiddo. So glad to have you with us today! Happy birthday!” Another teammate gave him a fist pump.

One by one they each made their way over to individually speak with him. Watching Gabe in this moment was like watching his sickness slip out from underneath his skin and float up into the sky. The inner demon that was slowly killing him seemed to completely disappear. He was full of life for the first time since I met him.

{34}

Gabe

My wheelchair was parked in the corner of the locker room. I watched as the guys put their good sneakers on and got ready for the game. Some, after talking to me, put headphones in. There was so much green and gold in here. It was even better than I imagined it would look.

I went to scratch my neck, and my finger touched the new necklace Chris gave me. It was so nice. He was sitting next to me on the floor stretching. I looked down at him and thought about how sad it must make him that his brother is in heaven like my dad.

“Taking it all in?” he asked.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Ask away!” He reached his hand down to his toes.

“Do you think your brother knows my dad?”

He just stared at me when I asked.

“You know, since they’re both in heaven?”

“I bet they do.”

“Was your brother as cool as you? Because if I go to heaven, Zoe said I’ll get to meet my dad, so maybe I’ll get to meet your brother too.” Knowing that all of these people were in heaven made me feel better. I was scared I would be alone but now I know I won’t be.

“What are you talking about? Christian is far from being cool.” His teammate Matt sat down next to me, laughing.

When I woke up this morning I didn't think my day would be like this. I didn’t think I would be spending my birthday with my favorite team. This birthday is awesome!

“Thank you for the best birthday present ever!” I thanked Chris.

“It was my idea.” Matt said, and Chris hit him. “No, it was his idea. He’s really nice, isn’t he?”

“He’s my best friend,” I agreed with Matt, and for some reason he looked like he was going to cry.

“When am I going to see Zoe? I can’t wait to show her my jersey!” I asked.

“She’s meeting us down here in just a few minutes! Do you think she’ll be excited?”

“Oh, yes! She’ll probably be so excited to see me!”

“I hope she won’t be mad.” Christian said.

“Tell her to suck it up if she is.”

A few minutes later after listening to Coach Higgins talk to the team, we were headed out of the locker room. Chris was pushing me behind everybody. It was almost game time.

“Okay, so are you okay? You’re going to be going out on the court with all of us,” he asked me.

“I’m okay. I won’t be nervous,” I lied. I wasn’t a little kid anymore. I could handle it.

We entered into the hallway behind the arena, and that’s when I spotted Zoe.

I looked up at Chris as soon as we saw her because he stopped walking. He looked so nervous, but he smiled so big. You could tell that he liked her a lot by the way he looked at her. I think he may even love her.

“Zoe!” I shouted and waved to her anxiously.

This is the best day ever!
I didn’t want the night to end.