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| >> Campfire Creative >> Fiction >> Romance/Love >> ID #1388721 |   |
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| [Introduction]
This stories setting begins in modern day, as a teenage girl is frustrated at her parents determination to keep her from dating. In a rage, she stumbles across an old diary and gets lost in the story told within. The story told in the diary is written by Lily Mae Irvin, the girl's grandmother. It is a story of forbidden love and the truth that sometimes love just isn't enough. Besides this main set up, just let your words flow. The characters you create will be honored through-out the story. We need villans, drama, and alot more chacater descriptions. Just let it flow, and Write On! |
 Nizza  "It's not fair! I hate you! I hate both of you!" The door slammed shut behind her, rattling the windows of her small attic bedroom. It had only been 3 months since Daisy had turned 16 and for the past year her budding body had caused murmurs and stares among the boys in her school. There was one in particular, though, that Daisy had her heart set on. Finally, he had asked her out to a movie and without thinking, Daisy exstaticly agreed. How could her parents be so unfair? Didn't they understand how important this date was?Daisy plopped down in the make-shift sitting area she had created across from her bed. The attic was spacious and had enuff room to house her bedroom as well as some much needed storage for some old family heirlooms. As her body dropped into the black bean bag seat, she heard a thud from behind her. She moaned as she forced herself up to see what the sound was. The light from the small window framed the book. It looked ancient, and had apparently fallen out of the old book shelf of family photo albums and random collections. No one ever touched this old stuff, and Daisy often wondered why her parents insisted on keeping this junk. Curiosity over took her, as she wiped the dust away from the cover. It was a leather book cover, with the letters "L.M.I." written in gold leafing. Daisy quickly reconized those letters. "Grandma Lily..." she wispered to herself wondering what this book could possibly have inside. She quickly untied the discolored strings that bound the book shut. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Cameron Scott studied the theater marquee, as if it were some sort of treasure map, but in truth what he was seeing was all in his mind's eye. And his mind was studiously informing him of all the legitimate reasons why Lily Mae had never shown up: "Too short; too quiet; ya don't even play varsity; on and on. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass, and shrugged. "Yeah, ya got no lips either." He'd always felt that perhaps when he'd been born, God had neglected to give him a mouth, and the doctor'd had to compensate by slitting his face with a scalpel so that at least he'd be able to eat and speak! In the end, he told himself, he wasn't really shocked Lily'd stood him up. Truthfully, he'd have been surprised if she'd shown. She was just too good lookin' for C.S. He should never have gotten his hopes up. He began a slow, meandering pace away from the theater... Nizza "Cameron is his name. Oh, such a beautiful name..." Daisy mouthed the words that popped of the pages in elegant cursive hand writing. "My constant stares mingled with my lack of words when he came up to me last week. I couldn't beleive that Cameron actually liked me! And more than liked me, he asked me to the picture show down town! My heart raced as the words trickled off of his sweet mouth. He's all I ever wanted in this world..."Lily made herself up that night, rumaging through her mother's face powders and smell-goods so she would look just right. She obbessivly tried on her best clothes, only to throw them aside, deciding they just weren't good enough for this boy. She had to look her absolute best. Suddenly, she heard footsteps comming to her bedroom door. "Lily, baby, may I come in?" It was her mother, a tall stern woman with the body figure of a skeleton. She always feined being a sweet mother, putting on a wonderful persona in public, but when it came to being home she would change into her truthful ravenous self. Lily hestated opening the door. "Yes, momma?" Lily called out to her, hoping her mom just had something silly to say so she wouldn't interupt Lily's attempts at beauty. "Open up, child!" Her momma said in haste. Finally, Lily opened the door. She saw the rage in her mother's eyes when her sights set on her overly-made-up daughter. Her brow curled and the vein in her forehead began to pulsate. "And where do you think you're going dressed in such a way?" Mom shot at her. Her words stung like silver bullets. "Umm... well... Cameron... Cameron Scott... From Oak street... Well he asked me to go to the picture show with him... and... Oh momma, I really want to go! He's a great boy and so sweet and it's just a picture show, nothing serious... Please momma..." Lily hadn't told her mom because she knew she would quickly disapprove. Now, all she could do was beg. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Martin sat downstairs in the kitchen, listening to the only side of the conversation upstairs he could hear: Momma's. "Course, a wise husband, or girl for that matter, eventually figured out that Momma's side in a conversation was the only one carried any weight!Seemed Lily still had some ascertainin' to do in regards to her momma. Ascertainin'. Now wasn't THAT a fine word. Had it explained to him the other day at the barber's. William DeBow popped it out fine as you please in the middle of election talk. Wan't anybody sittin' round talkin' knew that one. But William, "Mr. College Gradjeeate", was more'n pleased to explain to the old timers. Ah well. Just a word, after all was said 'n done! Martin's ear cocked back to the voice upstairs: "And where do you think you're going dressed in such a way?" He could tell by the inflection in the words "where" and "dressed in such a way" that Lily's only hope, whatever she'd planned, was to abandon those plans and kowtow, here'n now, less she was feelin' her oats. Martin hoped fervently Lily wan't feelin' her oats! Nizza "And who gave you permission to go see this... boy?" Momma stared Lily down, shrinking her down to the size of the ant. Lily tried to gather herself and for once, face up to her mother like the woman she beleived she was."Momma, I am sixteen and a quarter! I can make desicions for myself! I am not a baby anymore!" Lily shouted herself to tears, frustrated at the response she knew her mother would have. "You are a child, Lily Mae! And more than that you are MY child and no child of mine will be out tramping around with some hoodlum from Oak street, or any other street for that matter!" "But momma..." Before the rest of the words could escape Lily's pretty pink mouth, a teeth shattering slap landed across her cheek. Lily's mouth quickly closed. She knew she had crossed a line that never dared be crossed with Momma, and she knew to not fight the issue anymore. Lily watched as her mom gathered up her makeup and beauty projects and stormed out of her room, slamming the door behind her without another word. The tears poured from Lily's eyes as she fell into a heap on the floor. She grabbed her diary out from under her bed and wrote all the things she wished she could've said to her mother. "I hate her. I truly hate her. Why does she have to be this way?" She wrote feverishly. "She may have gotten the last word this time, but I am a woman! And I shall live as a woman! Nothing she can do will stop me..." Lily had made up her mind. She was going to see Cameron Scott, no matter the consequences. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ The more he thought about it, the less sure he was about anything. He knew he didn't "get" girls. His daddy had pointed out the sensibility of realizing that early on, "before", daddy'd said, "a fella begins diggin' his own grave!"But once he'd finally got up the nerve to actually talk to Lily, she'd surprised him by smiling so hard" she nearly set him back a pace! So he "threw all his chips in" so to speak, and stammered out something about him, her, the movies; heck, he didn't clearly remember the exact words anymore. But he did remember she'd gone all quiet for a few seconds, (or was it hours?) then cut loose with that sunshine smile of hers and said, very quietly, "yes, I will." The whole episode must've poleaxed him, 'cause he sure didn't remember the rest of school, or even the walk home. He didn't remember anything at all except "yes, I will." Until, of course, he'd ended up staring at that stupid marquee 'til the movie was near over! Then he felt foolish, like a five-year old not bein' able to hold his water in the middle of church services. But that sunshine smile! Her voice! Daddy was right about not "gettin" women. He was most likely right 'bout lots of things. None the less, Cameron figured it was time "to get the ol' shovel out". Might be grave-diggin' time... Nizza The twilight crept into Lily's bedroom. She had washed her face of all the make up and debris, but kept on her best pink dress as she quickly climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up around her neck. Father would be in shortly to kiss her goodnight, but because of the happenings earlier that day she figured Momma wouldn't even bother to join him. Sure enuough, Lily heard her dad's heavy footsteps comming down the hall to her door. He gently knocked, then let himself in. She turned to look at him with a smile on her face. Somehow, just the sight of her father always made her smile. He gently knelt down beside her bed so he was eye level with her. Lily hugged the bedding even closer, so he wouldn't know her intentions. "Hey, Lily-bird." He said quietly, kissing her forehead. "You know, your Momma really does love you, right? She only means the best for you... She can just be a little testy sometimes." "I know, father." Lily replied with a smile. Somehow he always tried to make things right in the house, like the glue that held the family together. "I'm sure she'll be over it in the morning. You'ns just need a good nights sleep to think about it." Martin kissed his daughter once more on the forehead and told her goodnight before heading back down to the comfort of his old recliner. It was only minutes after that Lily jumped from her bed, pushing the covers back and ran to her bedroom window. She was going to see Cameron, and that was that. Carefully, she creeked open the old window, making sure the noise wasn't loud enough for her parents to hear. Without a second thought, she climbed through the window, out to the oak tree branches that hit against their small family home. Her childhood days came back to her, back when she was the best tree-climber in the niehborhood. Of course, her momma had put a quick stop to that, spouting sermons of "No daughter of mine is going to be out scarring herself up climbing trees like a monkey!" "Sorry, Momma..." Lily wispered to herself as she climbed down, onto the cool lawn below. Without hesitation, Lily quickly ran down the street heading to Cameron's house. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ As Martin was descending the stairs, he thought on two things: his incredibly wonderful daughter, and his indelibly hard wife. Momma. No one in the whole family tree referred to her as anything BUT "Momma"! Certainly not an endearment, but more a title, almost a military rank! Captain, Colonel, General, and then right up there at the point of the pyramid, Momma!But the wind was changin' directions somewhat nowadays in the house. All unobtrusively. Lily was comin' of age, and she was gonna make waves. Momma wasn't gonna be philosophical about it neither! The start might be unobtrusive, the the reactions were gonna be downright hurricane force! So he had some ascertainin' of his own to be about. As he came off the bottom stair, Momma said: "So Martin, no doubt you tried to smooth everything over again, instead of maintaining a unified front, as parents and responsible adults must? Yes, no need to respond. You're as predictable as a hungry calf! If you had a spine, why I almost believe you'd need to have it's use explained to you!" "Now Momma, just you hold on a min-" "Don't even start, you weasel!" Momma hissed! "Iffn you don't wan' me t'start, then just why do you ask me anythin' woman?" He blurted. "Why'n hell don't ya just make your pronouncement and be done with it, which is what you're really wantin' all along! Tarnation! but you can boil blood in flat second!" A long silence drew itself out then. Momma absolutely steamed from her eyes, but only glared! Martin sighed, then said under his breath: "Ah, what use?" Then, louder, "Look, ain't a fit moment for havin' a conversation. Ah'm goin' out for a spell, and please don' be talkin' at my back as I'm goin', either. But you lissin' to me: There will be a conversation on this matter. And I'm not askin' ya, nor am I tellin' ya. Just somthin' for ya t' understand is all." And with that, Martin turned and proceeded out the door and into the old Chevy pick-up, started her up, and slowly pulled out of the drive onto the country road, unsure of any particular destination or direction. Nizza Lily's feet pattered against the rocks that made up their road. She knew exactly which house was Cameron's from the ussual walks to school, she always passed right by it with all the other kids tracking the same journey to the old two room schoolhouse. Cameron ussually joined them, waiting right out on his front porch for them to pass. She walked quickly, half running, the thoughts of what repercussions she would face if caught began clouding her mind. She had half a mind to turn back now, but her heart perpelled her feet to continue forward. Suddenly, a fimilar sound hit her ears. It was Father's truck! Lily jumped behind Mr. Franklin's bushes, searching the street for her Father's headlights. The roar of his truck was impossible to ignore and became louder. She knew he was headed right in her direction. She squatted herself down lower, desperatly trying to make herself invisible. Soon enough, the headlights came into view as the old truck hobbled down the road, right past her hiding spot. Even when the truck had turned up Maple street, Lily remained still in her hiding spot too afraid to move. Finally, she slowly rose back to her feet, shaking from the close call. She shook off the fear and began sprinting to Cameron's just in case Father was simply circling the block to cool off. Faster and faster her tiny feet carried her, all the way to Cameron's walkway. There she stood frozen, staring at the large wrap around porch that housed hanging plants and a red porch swing. She realized she hadn't completley thought this through. She knew what house was his, but she couldn't just trape up to their front door and knock for fear of waking his parents. And she sure didn't know what room was his. Once again, her heart took over and lead her slowly around the building, starring up into every window just hoping to get a glance at her beau. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ William DeBow had never been as flat out mad as he'd been earlier today. Right after his visit to Lionel's Tonsorial, where Martin Irvin and his cronies were rattlin' over whether or not Dewey would beat President Truman, like they had anything resembling a clue!, he'd headed off to the Outpost Bar on 36th and Ivy, not only to have himself a cold one or two, but to pretend he hadn't returned the the town he'd escaped from a few years back. (Sure, it was only a teaching certificate he'd gotten, but the hicks here wouldn't know the difference between a one year or a four year degree.The outpost was quiet when he got there, which suited him fine enough. He'd been on his fourth beer when Jim Beecher came strollin' in. Beecher'd been in the army during the war, and folks kissed his backside way too much in this backwater town. Beecher lapped it up if you asked William. Mr. War Hero plopped onto the stool next to William, ordered a beer, and while he waited, he fooled around with a bowl of nuts. When his beer came, he took a long pull, exhaled, then said: "Well Billy, I see yer still the same prig ya was before the war, during the war, and after ya went to college." "Whatever are you referring to?" said Martin. "I really-" "Look Billy-'Bow" Jim cut him off, using his childhood nickname, "I'm plumb fed-up with yer games and holier-than-thou talkin'. 'S why I came up here. You delight in talkin' down to the hard-workin' folk of this town, and I'm tired of listenin' to ya!" he near whispered. "So, here's what I came to say." He swirled on the barstool and faced directly into William. "You'll stop being a canker to my friends! No, shut up! If ya know what's good for ya. You'll stop. If ya don't, I will personally break your jaw, and then put it around that 'steada "college" ya were in New York City consortin' with known homos." At this, William jumped up and started-in to giving all you-know-what to Jim, when Jim quickly and quietly shot out his left hand and fixed William by the throat. William nearly went limp. Then Jim told him, in a voice so quiet no one but William could possibly hear: "Or 'Billy-'Bow, if ya'd prefer, I'll take ya out back and pop this fat Adam's Apple of your'n like a grape! So what'll it be, college boy? William went white. He sputtered, but said nothing. As Jim cut him loose, William nearly ran out the door. He hardly took a breath until he'd climbed into his Cadillac, where breath finally sucked back into his lungs. Damn that man! Oh damn him! William was angrier, and more frightened, then he'd ever been in his life. What could the old war hero possibly know? How? William peeled the Caddy out of the gravel parking lot and headed in the direction of Maple Street... PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Cameron made his way downstairs and proceeded to "wander" into the large family room where his folks were sitting, listening to their favorite radio show. This was fortunate, for he'd not have questions to field. Plus, he knew his folks trusted him, for the most part, far more than most other kids his age. He made his presence obvious, and waited to be noticed. His mother looked over at him with a gentle smile and asked if he'd cared to sit and join them. "Not tonight, momma. I's thinkin' on just goin out and sittin' on the river bank for a spell, iffn' I may?" His folks' eyes met briefly, then his momma replied, "Surely. But just be careful, as we know you'll be. Still, we'd be poor parents not to remind you. And please don't be too late." "Sure thing, momma. I'll try to keep an eye on the moon." He trotted over to his momma and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, waved to his daddy, and walked carefully, so's not to show any excitement, to the kitchen and the back door. The room was dark, as it'd been empty since dinner, but he could see just fine from the bright moonlight streaming in through the windows. He checked his pocket to make double-sure he had his whittlin' knife, 'cause he liked to whittle when he had thoughts to work-over, and he sure had plenty of thoughts that could use a bit of whittlin'. He opened the back door and stepped out into the beautiful bright evening and was startled by a sound like somebody's breath catching in their throat! Spinning quickly to the right, he came near face to face with Lilly! Nizza Lily almost fell over backwards. There he was, in all his six foot glory, the man of her dreams standing right there in front of her. She had just about ran smack into him from her head being cocked towards the second story windows. Every word she had planned to say to him flew right out the window, and there she stood stuttering and stammering like an infant trying to learn to speak. Cameron was just as lost for words, shocked to even see Lily after she had stood him up earlier that evening. He figured his chance with her was done and over, that she'd never had any interest in him in the first place and was merely being polite when she agreed to go to the show with him. It seemed as if hours went by as the two just stood there, eye to eye, hunting for the words their hearts wanted to say. "Umm... what... what are you doing here?" Cameron finally got out in an almost inaudible whisper. "I... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... See, Momma caught me getting ready to come meet you for our date and she refused to let me go and I felt so bad because I couldn't tell you and..." A slight grin grew across Cameron's face as Lily rambled. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight, her long auburn hair in slight curls around her face, the way her skin seemed to radiate this incredible light, and oh! that sunshine smile. Cameron cut her off mid-sentence. "Would you like to go down to the river bank with me? We can just go sit n' talk for a bit." The sunshine smile grew across Lily's perfect face. "Yes. I'd love to. 'Sides it'll probally be better than any ol' dumb movie." And there the two young lovers meandered down to the river bed, their smiles as wide as the river itself and their love for one another growing even wider. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ William's mind was racing faster than the Caddy. Beecher'd rattled him when he'd threatened to outright kill him, but now that the moment was behind, the true threat manifested itself in William's minds-eye: New York City, and homosexuality! None of it true, and Beecher probably knew that, but the mere mention of something so "'gainst the grain" of this small-town mentality would forever ruin his chance of living in peace. He knew he'd hear about it for the rest of his days; that it'd never go away!Now, William did become afraid. He didn't know what action to pursue, he only knew that Jim Beecher'd trumped him, and even if "New York" and the rest never got mentioned again, the mere fact that IT COULD BE would never go away, and the implied threat would forever haunt him. Suddenly, his mind snapped (although William never actually realized it) and he floored the gas pedal, Jim Beecher and his foul threats filling the windshield in front of him like a billboard in "New York City"! ...Meanwhile, Martin had pulled the Chevy over, half off the opposite side of the road just before the white covered bridge which spanned the river. God, it was a beautiful night outside. He loved this river, it'd been his "friend" since he'd been smaller 'n tadpole. All this calmness outside, yet in his own home, storms brewin'! He sat there in the cab, lost in contemplation and "ascertainin", when he heard the roar of an engine goin' flat-out, and when he snapped his eyes foreward, the bright light comin' outta the bridge exploded his vision! Nizza Cameron had lead Lily down to his favorite spot on the riverbank, a flat spot of large rocks where the water would lightly cascade up over the edge before receading back in it's bed. Cameron came to this spot often as a kid, hidden between the towering willow trees he'd sit and do his thinking on those smooth rocks. The two young'ns remained quiet on their walk to the spot, and Lily let him lead. As they sat down on the rocks, Cameron attempted to make small talk but realized that it didn't matter what he said; Lily was happy regardless. She smiled and smiled the entire time, just listening. She had forgotten about the fight with Momma, and more than that she wasn't even thinking about the possible repercussions when she got home. She wasn't even worried that her best pink dress was muddied and torn. She was purely happy in the moment. Suddenly, only about a mile away from where the two set, there was a loud screech, like tires squeeling to a sudden quick stop. Just as Cameron and Lily turned there heads to see what the sound was, a fireball shot up off of the old white covered bridge and the sound of the crash seemed to rattle the whole niehborhood. A nauseas feeling filled Lily's stomache. She felt like she was going to be sick. Was that Father's truck she got a glimpse of on that bridge before the fireball? "No... No... it couldn't be... no..." Lily silently tried to convince herself. She didn't have a chance to think about what she just saw for too long before Cameron was pulling her up. "Come on! Come on! We have to go tell someone! Come on Lily!" He shouted at her, sweat suddenly beading up on his forehead. Lily quickly jumped up and away they ran back to Cameron's house so he could tell his parents what they had just seen. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ As they scrambled up the bank, a sudden realization hit Cameron, and he grabbed Lily by her arm and pulled her around to face him. "Lily, whatever that was we just heard 'n saw, somebody's gonna need help sooner than later! You run up to my house and tell my folks; they'll know what to do. I'm goin' directly to the bridge. Tell daddy I took Silas.""Cameron, I think it might've been MY daddy's truck on that bridge! Oh God! Daddy..." Cameron's face drained. "Okay, sweetie, okay. You just run and tell my folks- Silas'll get me there fast!" With a quick nod, he spun away from her and bolted for the barn where Silas and the other animals were kept- Lily, in her turn didn't remember running at all before she found herself pounding on the Scott's door! The door flew open and Mr. Scott stared for a moment before he grabbed Lily's shoulders and gave her a quick shake to get her to stop blabbering and gesturing like a Fourth o' July pinwheel! "Girl, Lily Irvin ain't it? Lily, what on earth are ya goin' on about?" Lily took a deep breath, then told him about the explosion, her daddy's truck, and Cameron lightin' out on Silas for the bridge. At some point, Mrs. Scott was on the porch, and when Lily'd apparently finished, she took her in a hug, then walked her into the house. She saw her husband runnin' to the new Ford in the drive, and closed the door, knowin' everythin' was in God's hands now. Cameron arrived at a scene from the Bible's picture of Hell! A red Caddy was ploughed half head-on into what was left of a white pick-up, and they was both burnin' white hot! Whoever'd been in the Caddy was long dead, laid out halfway thru' the windshield, on the flaming hood, not movin'! In the truck, a man, Mr. Irvin, was slumped against the door, also unmoving, but the flames weren't yet engulfing him. Cameron leaped off Silas and attacked the door trying to get Lily's daddy out, but it wouldn't budge. He reached thru' the open window and shook Mr. Irvin, seeming to bring him to light consciousness, then he leaned into the cab, grabbed the man by the armpits, and heaved and pulled him out the window best as he could. As his knees cleared the door, Cameron hoisted the limp form over his shoulder, and began running towards the river. He didn't get more'n ten feet when there was a tremendous explosion which seemed to lift both of the men up, and all of a sudden his head exploded into red and white nothingness... Nizza Lily sat next to Mrs. Scott in the dimmly lit victorian home in tears. She wanted so badly to beleive that it wasn't her father's truck she had seen. Her mind went through all of the vehicles around town, trying to pinpoint a similar truck it might have been. She knew it was a horrible way to think, but she couldn't help wishing that it was anyone else on that bridge. The tears wouldn't stop as Mrs. Scott softly stroked Lily's hair, silently in prayer. She pulled Lily close and gently lifted her head so she could look the sobbing child in the eye. "Do you want to call your mother? I'm sure she is worried half sick about you and she needs to know what you just saw..." Suddenly, Lily remembered Momma and the fact that there was no hiding her escape now. She was trapped. A part of her wanted to call Momma for the sake of wanting to hear that Father was indeed at home, safe in his old recliner. But the other part of her knew better, and began plotting a way to make it seem as if she had been in bed this entire time. "I... I can't call Momma. I just can't" Lily broke down completley right there in Mrs. Scott's arms. She blurted out the fact that her Momma thought she was in bed sleeping, and told Mrs. Scott about the fight they had earlier that evening. Her words were chopped and mangled between her tears but Cameron's mom was no stranger to comming-of-age children. "Lily, sweety, we'll figure all of that out later. If it is indeed your father on that bridge, and I am praying it isn't, I will call your mother for you. But honey, you will have to go home sometime and you know there are going to have to face up to your punishment. That's part of being an adult, taking responsibility for your own actions. But for now child, all we can do is pray." With that Lily interlocked hands with Mrs. Scott and they bowed there heads and prayed for what seemed like hours. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Daniel Scott was no stranger to death and destruction, being a veteran of the war, and when he arrived on the scene of the accident, his mind went back momentarily to places and moments he'd hoped forgotten and buried. There were others arriving at the same moment as Daniel, but his eye immediately picked out his son, Cameron, lunging away from the inferno with a limp body over his shoulder. And at that moment, the burning vehicles exploded, and one of the flaming tires shot out like a cannon shot and slammed into his son... Daniel didn't think. He was out of the Ford and running to Cameron all in one motion. "Oh no! Oh my, no!" as he reached Cameron, he dropped to the ground and gathered his son into his arms, looking for signs of life. Yes! There! Cameron was still breathing! "Oh God! My God, Thank You!" he cried. Cameron was alive! Someone was bending over Martin, checking for a pulse. He raised up and announced, "Hey, old man Irvin's alive! Anybody know if an ambulance is on the way or not?" ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- An hour later, at the County General Hospital, Daniel placed a call to his wife, letting her know about their son's accident, and how he'd saved Martin Irvin. It was a short conversation, as Deborah, his wife, was all but hanging up the phone on him to get to the hospital and her only son. When he realized there was no one on the other end of the line, Daniel placed another call to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Irvin. "Ring, Ring, Ring..." Nizza Mrs. Scott barley got her slippers onto her feet as she raced out of the front door, Lily was close behind her, tears still rolling down her cheeks. The color had escaped both of their faces when the phone rang. All Lily heard was that her father was alive, and that was all she needed to hear. The two women raced out to Mrs. Scott's old car. The thing started with a loud roar, and sped off in the direction of the hospital. Lily still hadn't stopped crying, and now Mrs. Scott's face was soaked in tears as well. It seemed like years before they arrived at the hospital and raced down the halls to find their loved ones. A nurse quickly stepped in front of Lily as she turned to rush into her father's room in the Emergency ward. She wasn't thinking about the hospital rules. She didn't even consider herself a child anymore, but the overweight nurse saw things differently. "You can't go in there." "That's my father in there! You have to let me in! I have to see my father! Please, Miss! I have to see him!" Lily shouted histericly at the lady, trying to push past her arm. The nurse gently lifted her up and moved her back like she weighed nothing. "Sweetheart, calm down. You can't go in there. Hospital rules. There is a nice a little waiting area right down this hall here, go sit in there until your mother comes." Lily backed away from the woman. She hadn't thought about Momma showing up. At that moment it hit her that the hospital would have to call Momma to let her know what happened, and then Momma would race up to Lily's bedroom to wake her up to tell her what happened. And when Momma got up there, Lily would be gone and Momma would know she ran off. Lily felt like she was going to faint as she stood there, going over the sequence of events that could be happening at that very moment. Lily tried to sneak a peak into her father's room to see him, but the nurse still stood there in her way blocking her view. Finally, with a sence of defeat, Lily slowly walked down the hallway to the waiting area. There was no turning back now. There was no lies she could tell, no way she was going to get away with this. Right before she got to the waiting room though, she heard sobbing. When she turned her head to look she saw Mr and Mrs. Scott in one of the rooms. It was Mrs. Scotts voice sobbing this time, and a nurse stood there with them, her lips moving as if she was telling them something important. Lily couldn't make out her words, but she knew by the sound of things, it wasn't good. She stood there for a while just watching, her mind half knowing it was about Cameron. She wanted to walk in, to know what was wrong. She wanted to believe it wasn't really serious, maybe some cuts and burns. She wanted to run, and never stop. She wanted to just disappear. Instead, she colapsed right there on the cold hard hospital floor. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ "I'm very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Scott. You can speak to Dr. Neiman in a moment. I'm certain he'll answer your questions more specifically. Again, I'm so sorry.Coma! That's what the nurse had said. Cameron was in a coma! Mr. and Mrs Scott could do nothing but hold each other and mourn. People didn't come out of comas. Not often enough to give them a lot of hope. But hope was all they had. They had tears, of course, but those didn't go far for helping their son! They slowly walked to the waiting area, still clinging each to the other for support, when some staff ran past them, to the waiting area no less. What? What was going on there? After a manner, they hurried, if you'd call it hurrying, only to arrive as a nurse was helping Lily to one of the couches in the waiting area. The Scotts stopped, waiting, wondering, grieving... curious. When the staff left, Lily finally noticed Cameron's parents standing there, looking for all the world lost! She still didn't know about her daddy. She also didn't know about Cameron. She found herself unable to come to any type of a decision as to what she ought to do, so she just sat and watched the Scotts. Suddenly, she heard a voice which froze her! It was momma! Momma! And then suddenly, Momma was kneeling in front of Lily, holding her hands, and crying! Nizza "Your father... I... I'm sorry. Your my baby. My only child. I'm so sorry. Why would your run off like that? I am still your mother. I..." Lily's mom rambled through bloodshot eyes but Lily didn't hear a word. The oxygen was barely getting to her brain, and she was still lost within herself. Momma's words ranged from sadness to anger in short breaths, barely making any sence at all.Suddenly Lily stood up. Momma backed up, not knowing what her daughter's intentions were. Lily walked past her calmly, over to the Scott's who were still crying on the other side of the waiting room. "I'm sorry." She told them politley, in an unnaturaly calm tone of voice and then headed down the hallway to Cameron's hospital room. Lily didn't even hesitate before entering the room. She didn't care about hospital rules or what anyone had to say. She just wanted to be with him, consious or not. She sat beside his bed, starring at his coma "tent". The moniters beeped and buzzed but she heard nothing. Gently, she put her hand in his and whispered a silent prayer. "Lord, please, If you work any miracles at all today, just let him be ok. Just let him be ok..." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Back in the waiting room, Momma was still kneeling on thw white tiled waiting room floor. She didn't have the strength to go after her daughter, and was consumed more with worry than anger. She felt a smooth warm hand touch her shoulder, when she looked up she saw Deborah Scott's face shining down on her like and angel. Although her cheeks were tear stained, her eyes held a mature presense that Momma had tried her entire life to acheive. At that moment, everything made sence to Momma finally. She realized that respect and maturity wasn't acheived in harsh words to controll every argument. She realized that true respect came from love, patience, and kindess. Deborah knelt down next to Momma, her hand still on her shoulder, and together they prayed in tears. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Dr. Nieman stopped as he entered the waiting area, taking in the picture in front of him, almost a diorama, of the two weeping women kneeling in each other's arms, and the strained, tired man standing just behind them, hands at his sides, looking for all the world as if he was unaware of what was going on less than three feet in front of him.The doctor waited a scant moment, then "cleared" his throat, and asked, "Mrs. Irvin?" Momma stiffened, looked up. Seeing the doctor, she climbed to her feet, and stood quietly, waiting. No one spoke for three of four seconds; a deafeningly long silence under the circumstances. "Mrs. Irvin?" Momma nodded, afraid to speak. Afraid she'd lose her frayed control and begin swirling down into the whirlpool again! "Mrs. Irvin, I'm Dr. Nieman. I'm the attendant physician on the ward tonight. Can I speak to you privately?" Momma stared for a moment at the doctor. Then, her gaze swung to include the parents of the poor young boy. The people, who 'tho stricken with their own grief, were concerned for hers as well. "No, doctor. Here suits me just fine. 'Sides, don' rightly know as I can safely move anyways just now." Dr. Nieman wasted no breath: "Mrs. Irvin, your husband has severe burns over 15 percent of his body, a broken nose, as well as his right eye socket." Momma stiffened. "That's the bad news," the doctor continued. "The good news is, he's conscious, and asking for 'his wife and daughter' repeatedly!" Momma leaped to her feet, crying, "praise the Almighty! Take me to him, now please? While the doctor and momma moved out of the waiting room, the Scotts gathered each other into their arms. Nizza The footsteps comming down the hall caught Lily's attention. She tensed, hoping it wasn't another hospital staff member comming to pull her away from Cameron's bedside. She closed her eyes, hoping the footsteps would just continue down the hall past the room. They didn't.Momma had caught glimpse of Lily sitting in the chair in Cameron's room. She stopped suddenly, quietly telling the doctor "Hold on one minute." She didn't go any farther than the doorway, standing there silent for a while just watching her daughter, the little girl she once nursed at her bosom, now almost a woman. She knew she couldn't protect her anymore. "Lily, do you want to come with me to see your father?" Momma knew Lily wanted to see her dad, but wasn't quite sure if she wanted to see him with her. Momma knew she had pushed her daughter away earlier that evening, and now all she could do was hope that Lily was the better woman in all this and could forgive her mother. "Yes, ma'm." Lily could still barely talk or comprehend much of anything. She stood, letting go of Cameron's hand. "I'll be back. I'll be back as soon as I can." She turned, not wanting to take her eyes off of her fallen hero, and followed her mother out into the hallway. Father's room was dimly lit. Momma and Lily stood outside of it for a minute with Dr. Nieman standing directly behind them. Somehow, Momma's hand found Lily's and the two walked into the room, not knowing what to expect. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Martin sensed that his two "girls" were in the door. He opened his eyes, and tried to smile, actually thought he was smiling, at a sight which could have been lost forever to him. He raised a hand, gesturing his "girls" into the room. "Oh Daddy!" cried Lily, rushing to grab the proffered hand. "Daddy, I was so scared! I saw the 'splosion, and your truck, and-" "Hush child," Momma gently laid her hand on Lily's. "Don't rush him now, hear?" Martin looked up at the two women. Tried smiling again. He knew his life was different. Also knew that Lily's was changin' fast. But what was this he was seein' in Momma? His wife? Patience and calm counsel? Was he in fact dead then, he wondered momentarily? No, there was somethin' in her eyes. Something had changed in them! "Catherine?" He asked. Momma nodded. "Catherine, God, but you're beautiful! Thought I's never gonna lay eyes on you again!" He shifted his eyes to Lily, then, continuing, "nor you, Ladybug." Three sets of eyes began overflowing with tears, when Momma said, "Martin, all what matters is you're alive! It's all what matters! Martin smiled, but said, "No, Catherine. What matters is that we all, as a family, have at least one more day together! Good God, I'm tired... But before I can't stay awake any longer, I need to tell you something. And I need everyone to be here for the tellin'." He squeezed Lily's hand, got her to look at him, and asked, "Ladybug, can you do your daddy a great favor? Can you go search out the Scotts, and ask them to come in here? What I got to say includes them as well as you and Momma." Lily sniffled that she'd do just that, and gently kissing daddy's forehead, she headed off to fetch the Scotts... Nizza Lily raced down the hallway to the waiting room. The ideas of what her father could possibly have to say raced through her mind. She knew that a near-death experiance like this had shaken her father, making him realize things he may have never known before. She knew her father as the quiet one of the family, ussualy not saying much and allowing Momma to take the lead on all the issues. She knew that for him to want everyone there to hear what he had to say, it had to be something earth shaking.As Lily approached the white washed waiting area, she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Mr. and Mrs. Scott sitting so close, they were almost on each others laps. There tears still had not subsided and Lily wondered wheather or not she should interupt their embrace. Slowly, she walked up to them, knowing the golden rule of "don't interupt adults". Finally her small voice spoke up, deciding her father's wishes overided any childish rule. "Umm... excuse me... My father wants us all to meet him in his room. He has something he needs to tell us, all of us." The Scott's looked up at Lily lovingly. They both graciously nodded and stood, following Lily to her dad's hospital room, still hand in hand. Slowly, they walked into the doorway, almost afraid of what they might see or hear. But Father motioned slightly for them to come in. It was no secret that the man was in agony, but the message he had to share won out over the pain. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ So here they all were, gathered around his bed, like a curious congregation awaiting words none of them were expecting. Martin experienced the beginning of doubt himself. Could he have "witnessed" what he so clearly recalled in his mind? Did it really happen as his memory played and replayed so often since the accident? Was it simply a product of his unconsciousness prior to Cameron Scott pulling him out of the flames? No, he realized. If it didn't actually happen, then God'd put it in his mind. And if God'd put it in his mind, that was in a way the same thing as actually witnessing it, wasn't it? "Yes" he said quietly aloud. Eight eyes focused at the word "yes". Martin met those eyes, best as he could considering he had only one of his own to work with. Then he began... "I am truly thankful, both for being here, in this bed, painfully alive, and for the experience which brought me to this bed! We all of us have our beliefs. Ever' one of us, colored by what we think, feel, in life and in our experience of life. Don' rightly know if'n y'all will believe what I'm 'bout to tell ya, but if nothin' else, believe that I believe it. Momma and Lily know me, know I've never told a lie in all my days. Mr. and Mrs. Scott, Daniel, Deborah, 'tho we don' truly "know" each other, I've known y'all as fine folks, so I hope y'can accept what I got to say as what it sounds like. Well, ok, 'nuff beatin' 'round the bush:" Martin paused a moment, cleared his throat, and continued. "Last I remember was light, bright as the sun, fillin' the truck, then I was gone. Nothin', just gone. Then somethin', someone was shakin' me, shakin' me hard, and of a sudden I burnin'! It was Hell, and I was in it! But I heard voices, and 'pon openin' my eyes, I KNEW I was dead, 'cause there was this 'Angel' fillin' the fiery cab, talkin' to the one doin' the shakin', Cameron, your son! And then, Cameron said the darndest thin' to this Angel. He said, 'That's as may be, but this is the daddy of the girl I love, and I don't aim to leave him to burn just to save my skin!' The Angel smiled: 'Thus is Free Will exercised, Cameron Scott.' Next thing, Cameron's fair liftin' me outta the seat and draggin' my near useless carcass outta the window! Cool air! Felt m'self flung over a sholder, then bouncin' a few steps, then, I heard the truck explode, and I was flyin' free for a moment, 'til for the second time tonight, nothin'. I was gone again!" Martin opened his eye, not realizing remb'rin' had closed it, and looked up at those eight eyes again... Nizza Martin's eyes focused on his daughter, in her tattered pink dress. Tears were pouring from her eyes in silence. He thought then that maybe he shouldn't have said the things he just did. He didn't mean to hurt her in any way and one thing he couldn't bear to see, above all else, was his baby crying.Lily feel onto the floor catching her tears in her hands. Suddenly, she realized that this, all of this, was her fault. If she hadn't fought with Momma... If she hadn't run off to see Cameron... If she just wouldn't have said yes to him in the first place... If... If... Momma croutched down beside her daughter and wrapped her in a warm embrace. As a matter of fact, it was probally the first hug Lily had gotten from her mom since she was a baby. Momma's touch wasn't cold and distant, as Lily figured it would be, but rather warm and actually... caring. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. It's all my fault. This is all my fault...." The words rolled out of Lily's mouth in sobs. She cried so hard that her stomache hardened and she felt a nauseating pain shoot up into her throat. She cried so hard her head throbbed under the pressure of her tightly closed eyes. Then Momma spoke, and the pain loosened. "Child... I mean, Lily... This is not your fault. Not in the slightest. There is no sence in pointing fingers here, but if you want to put the blame on someone, then blame me. Blame my stubborness. Blame my selfishness. Blame my narcissism. But, by God child, don't blame yourself. Fact o' the matter is, we do crazy things for love. And iff'n what your daddy is sayin' is true, that boy really loves you. Now, I'm not sayin' you shouldn't have run off like that, but that's all behind us now and we've got bigger fish to fry. Let's focus on getting the men we love better, then I'm sure the rest will fall into place..." In Momma's words, Lily heard another person talking. Her words were so kind, although tear-choked. Could it be? Had her Momma really changed? Was Momma right? So many questions flooded the poor girls mind as she rose once again to her feet. If Momma was right, then Lily knew just where she needed to be. She smiled at her father under tear-streaked cheeks, and hugged him gently. "Thank you, Father." she whispered to him softly, then turning towards the door she ran back down to Cameron's room. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ Cameron knew he was in love!He was sitting by the river with Lily, and she was just goin' on about how she loved him, and their future together. Long hard days and long loving nights! How many children she wanted! She never looked straight at him, but watched the river as it flowed. That didn't matter. The sound of her voice took him to a place he'd never even realized existed! He could listen to her voice like this forever... Suddenly, a bright flash assaulted his vision, from the direction of the Covered Bridge! As he spun his head, there was nothing but gentle starlight. Weird, he thought. I know I didn't 'magine that! He heard Lily's voice calling him: "Cameron..." He looked back to her, but she was still watching the river, talking about their future together. Long hard days and long loving nights! How many children she wanted! She never looked straight at him, but watched the river as it flowed. That didn't matter. The sound of her voice took him to a place he'd never even realized existed! He could listen to her voice like this forever... Suddenly, a bright flash assaulted his vision again. Again from the direction of the Covered Bridge. As he spun his head, there was nothing but gentle starlight. "I know I saw that!", he whispered. He heard Lily's voice calling him: "Cameron..." He looked back at her, but she was still watching the river, talking about their future together. But now while her lips were moving, the sound was muted! His eyebrows rose in confusion. "Cameron. Cameron? Cameron... "Suddenly, on the left, he saw the Angel. The Angel? Wait, he didn't want to see the Angel again. He'd forgotten the Angel- was happy here, with Lily, listening to her plans- "Cameron. Another course has been granted. Listen!" Now he was afraid. Another course? What other course? He wanted to sit here with Lily and her dreams of their future... What other course? "Cameron Scott, your future is still to be written. By selfless act, by love, and by sincere sacrifice of self to save another, you have redeemed your life. But again, a choice must be made, Cameron Scott! Choose. Take up your mantle of living again, 'tho it be difficult, full of pain, hardship and despair, or remain here, on your river bank, with this moment!" Choose? Choose what? But he knew. He knew. "What do I do" he silently asked himself? What do I do?" Cameron's eye's flickered open a moment, then opened fully! A nurse stared for a moment, then pressed the call button for the Doctor! Nizza Lily saw a rush of doctors and nurses running in and out of Cameron's room. It was a much different picture then when she had left his side to go see her father just minutes ago. Their half chaotic movements told her there had to be something wrong. And all Lily could do was watch.The people were blurs to her, scampering in and out of the doorway, whispering to one another, dragging in carts with various devices. Slowly she'd step, trying to get into the room undetected. The hospital staff was so preoccupied with what they were doing that they'd probally never notice her anyway. She felt so many emotions built up inside of her. This whole evening had been an emotional roller coaster, and now day light was breaking and it was far from over. All she could think was how much she loved Cameron, how she had loved Cameron Scott since the very first day she had layed eyes on him walking to school, how every word out of his mouth sounded like poetry to her, how he had not only captured her heart - but saved her father's life as well. Soon, the rush of doctors died down, and Lily crept into Cameron's room. And there, sitting up in his hospital bed, was Cameron with wide eyes. Lily let her feet carry her full speed to his side and wrapped her arms around his neck. For what seemed like the millionth time tonight, her eyes overflowed with tears - but for the first time, they were happy tears. He was alive! He was okay! A sudden feeling of calm over took the both of them. Finally, they knew everything was going to be alright. PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~ The angel smiled sadly at their embrace, and wished for them that the power of their love might get them through the difficulties yet to come.Smiled, and left on his next mission... Lilly hugged Cameron like she'd never let go. He was alive, and out of the coma! Her life was suddenly blooming in her heart again! She lay there, sobbing happily, when she looked up into Cameron's eyes, seeing his tears, and was about to say how happy she was, when she realized the look in his eyes was one of fear- that the tears weren't tears of joy any longer, but also fearful! "Cameron, darling, what's wrong?" At that moment, Dr Neiman, accompanied by another doctor and a nurse, entered the room, and paused momentarily, noticing Lily, before walking over and gently "removing" her from her embrace. "Young lady, if you wish to remain, please have a seat." Said the other doctor. "Otherwise, I shall have to ask you to leave." Lily sank onto the hardback chair next to Cameron's bed, wondering what was going on! As the three people busied themselves "hovering" over Cameron, Mr. and Mrs. Scott came into the room, looking for all the world sad again! Mrs. Scott came and took Lily's hand and led her out of the room, into the bright hall, and started crying! "What's wrong!" Lilly cried. "Mrs. Scott, what's wrong?" "Lily. Lily child," she sobbed, "we just found out- Dr. Thomas, the doctor with Dr. Nieman, just told Daniel and me, he just told us..." she lost her battle and tears and anguish overcame her! A voice behind Lily said: "He told us that Cameron is paralyzed! From the..."...sobbing... "from the neck down!" It was Mr. Scott. Suddenly, Lily's world ground to a halt for the second time that night! Nizza It was no secret that the night in the hospital had been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved. Lily sat quietly in Cameron's room, the tears all dried up inside of her. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown with all of chaos and all she could do now was sit silently processing everything she had just heard. The sun was now shining between the dim-white hospital blinds. No one but the doctors had looked at the clock since arriving at the hospital but Lily knew by the possition of the sun that it was near noon. Momma sat beside her husband; talking, holding hands, bonding like they hadn't done since before they were married. Actually, Momma did most of the talking while Martin laid there with his eyes shut, smiling. He was tired but Momma's words were like a melody to him, and in every sylable from her mouth he thanked God he was still alive to hear her voice. The rattle of the lunch trays echoed through the hallway. Martin thanked God for that rattling sound. Less than 12 hours ago he didn't think he'd ever eat food again. © Copyright 2008 Nizza, PaulZ ~ Je Suis Le Reve ~, (known as GROUP). All rights reserved. GROUP has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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