Collision (21 page)

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Subject: I’m almost deaf

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
September 10, 2007

Kei,

I presented an award at the MTV Video Music Awards last night. The music was so loud that I think my hearing is permanently damaged. Pray for me!

Here are a few pics.

For your clarification: Not nobbing isn’t that difficult when you’re doing it for the right reasons. And trust me. I’m doing it (or not doing it) for the right reasons.

C.

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Subject: Re: I’m Almost Deaf

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
September 18, 2007

Kind Sir,

You live one batty life! Truly, sometimes that’s all I can think to say when I look at your photographs and read your notes. You live the battiest life of anyone I’ve ever met, and that includes me, so that’s saying an immense amount.

And if you don’t feel like nobbing, then by all means come on and join the world of abstainers. The queue forms to the left.

The team and I made the grave mistake of forgetting our mosquito nets while we were at the camp this last week. I’ve gotten mosquito bites all over my body and am miserable. Trust me to never do that again. I’ve attached a photo so you can see my legs in all their glorious misery.

Kei

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Subject: Re: Re: I’m Almost Deaf

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
September 18, 2007

Kei,

Holy crap! That looks brutal!

C.

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Subject: It’s someone’s birthday!

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
September 24, 2007

Kei,

Happy birthday! The big ole twenty-one! Trust me on this, Kei. This will be your best year yet.

Wish I were there to celebrate with you or that I could take you on a real tour of Europe. Did you get the package I sent?

C.

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Subject: Re: It’s someone’s birthday

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
September 29, 2007

Candy Man,

Thank you! I did get my package, and it was splendid. You have no idea how many nights I’ve dreamt of those blasted Sour Brite Crawlers, and lo and behold, you sent me some…or a hundred or so packages. I’ve never seen so much candy in my life. I stuck half of it under my bed, and I take the rest with me when I go to the camps. You should see the children’s faces light up when I give them a piece. Then, when they realize they’re supposed to eat it and they finally take a bite… Well, I’ve attached the photos for you. It’s precious. You’ve made their year and mine again. You seem to do that often.

Thank you for remembering my birthday. I wish you would have been here as well.

Kei

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Subject: Re: Re: It’s someone’s birthday

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
September 29, 2007

Kei,

You spend your nights dreaming about Sour Brite Crawlers? Did I make that little of an impression? Good Lord. You could at least dream about me every once in a while. I sure do of you. Totally innocent, I assure you…or at least mostly.

I knew you’d pass the candy out. That’s why I sent as much as I did. I’m impressed that you even saved half for yourself. You’ve made progress! Just let me know when you start running low. There’s always more where that came from, and I’ll bring more if there’s room in my suitcase.

The pictures were great. The kids looked happy. There were no pictures of you, though. Thank God I’ll be seeing you in person soon.

C.

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Subject: Sneaky little buggers!

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
October 1, 2007

Cabot,

I’ll be out of pocket for a bit. I’ve gotten a case of malaria, and I don’t have much strength. I feel like I’ve been run over by a bus.

When you come to visit, be sure to bring your Malarone. My prescription ran out and I went several days without while we were on our trip without the nets. Big mistake!

I miss you. Please hurry up and get here!

Kei

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Subject: Re: Sneaky little buggers!

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
October 2, 2007

Kei,

Malaria? Isn’t that lethal? Dear God, you sure do know how to scare me senseless. I hate being so far away, especially during something like this. I feel even more helpless than I did when you broke your foot and I got stuck at home, waiting to find out if you were okay.

Please get back to me as soon as you can and let me know you’re better.

I miss you too. November better hurry.

Cabot

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Subject: WORRIED!

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
October 12, 2007

Kei,

It’s been over a week since I heard from you. I’m officially in a panic.

I hope you’re okay!

C.

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Subject: Kei

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
October 18, 2007

Mr. Stone,

I’m Kei’s father. She isn’t doing well and has been transferred to Kampala for additional medical attention. She or I will contact you as soon as we can. Please keep her in your prayers.

C H A P T E R

15

I reread the e-mail over and over again, hoping that I somehow missed additional information.

“Isn’t doing well? Isn’t doing well? What the hell does that mean?”

“What the hell does what mean?” James asked.

I looked up from my laptop and over at him. I’d forgotten he was in the room, which was odd, because he was almost always in the room.

“Kei has malaria. They’ve moved her to Kampala, and all I get is, ‘She isn’t doing well.’ What do I make of that?”

“Exactly what it says.”

“Not doing well in terms of she’s sick but will be fine or not doing well in terms of she’s really not doing well and we’re worried she’s not going to make it. The possible meaning of, ‘Isn’t doing well,’ could be anything.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“The e-mail didn’t say she was fine. The e-mail said she isn’t doing well. Maybe I should go see her.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“Cab, you can’t do that. You’ve got an entire crew working right now, a budget to keep in check. They can’t shut down production just because you want to go to Africa to check on some chick you hardly know.”

“Don’t call her some chick, James. You don’t even know her.”

“Neither do you.”

“I know her.”

He shook his head and went back to looking at his BlackBerry.

I shut the computer and threw it on to couch next to me. “What?” I asked.

“What, what?”

“You just shook your head. You obviously want to say something.”

He kept his eyes on the BlackBerry and didn’t answer.

“Say it!”

“I think you need to cut her loose, Cab. She’s a freakin’ missionary. Seriously, you two can’t have anything in common. And if the late-night talk show guys get a hold of the fact that you’re fawning over some missionary, they’ll show no mercy. You’ll be the laughing stock of Hollywood.”

“I’m not fawning over her. She’s important to me. And besides, who cares what they say?”

“You do. And I do. And movie producers and the bigwigs who okay your movies and cut your checks. They care, Cab. Don’t forget who it is you work for.”

“And don’t forget who you work for and what it is I pay you to do.”

He looked up from the phone in his hand. “What does that mean?”

“It means my personal life is my personal life. Period. You don’t get a say.”

“Part of my job is to protect your image by helping you make the right career decisions. Falling for some missionary isn’t the right career decision.”

“It isn’t a career decision at all. It’s a personal one.”

“You’re worrying me. You aren’t thinking straight. She’s got your head all f’d up, got you thinking about stuff you don’t need to think about. Get back to focusing on yourself and what’s best for you.”

“What’s best for me?” I stood, walked to the sliding glass door, and looked out over the city. “If there’s anything I’ve learned over the last several months, it’s that everything isn’t about me…and it shouldn’t be. It’s a great big world out there, James. There are a lot of problems, a lot of hurting people. It’s not about me.”

“So get out your checkbook and give to some charities. Hell, I can even get someone in here to talk to you about starting your own foundation if that’s what you want. That stuff always makes good copy. People love to read about their idols giving back.”

“I don’t want to do something for show. That’s not what I’m about.”