Joel

(An idea for a story beginning)

It was late June when I got word about my brother and his condition. It was serious, they’d said. They were scrambling to find the cause of his sudden illness. Searching for an infection of some sort.

He was admitted to the hospital when my dad and I were out with him at his favorite restaurant in town. It was his birthday, and pizza was that nut head’s absolute favorite. We were chatting it up, laughing at the stupidest things, and having a grand ‘ole time. All was going well until my brother’s eyes went wide as if in a panic and his hands went still as stone… and he collapsed face first into his pizza. The spectacle may have been humorous if it weren’t for the fact that my only brother was having a stroke.

He was unresponsive for an entire day. I was beginning to think the worst until the nurse came into the waiting room where my dad and I had made our new dwelling place to tell us he was conscious. A wave of relief washed over me. But then she continued.

“He is conscious… but not well. Certainly not well enough to be released.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“He’s going to have to stay here a while until we finish running tests. We’ll let you know the diagnosis as soon as we can spot what exactly is going on.” She shifted her feet. “You can come see him, but he’s still asleep.”

Without a word, I rose up to my feet and followed the nurse, my dad in tow, until we came to the room.

“Right in here,” she said before politely exiting.

I walked into that room… and took in the sight of Eli’s pale face and his ragged breathing. And a breath I didn’t know I was holding rushed out. Eli…

It was a week later that we got the call, telling us that Eli was in fact, seriously ill. I clawed and clawed at them when they said they were unsure what he was ill with. I practically yelled at them over the phone, demanding that they weren’t trying hard enough. My brother was a healthy guy, how could he just have a stroke and get sick? How?

So we waited. We waited for them to figure it out as they kept running tests on him like a guinea pig. We visited him every single day they weren’t running tests. He was actually looking better as the days went by, and hope began to rise in my chest that I would not lose my brother. I could not lose my brother. Eli would live.

A week into August, I was heading home from work when my phone went off. It was the hospital calling to let me know that Eli had passed away that afternoon.

I stopped dead in my tracks, along with my heart. Eli. Gone. I didn’t even give the nurse a response as I shut off my phone and blankly stared down at my feet on the asphalt.

I never went near pizza again.

Reflect

In the twilight of the evening, sitting on the lake

in a boat made for two, gazing out towards the sun

the water shimmers in the last rays of sun, 

it's vermilion light spreading out through the sky

Surrounded by the fresh smell of spring, as the breeze sweeps over

and the cool mist that lightly plays on my face

I hear the boat creak as it begins to sway

the tiny waves rolling every which way

I smile as I hear the lapping of the water

as it's crests caress the sides of the banks

I think of the times that you took me here

and my heart cracks at the ghost of you

Then I think to myself, as the sun disappears

that there's beauty in life, even in times of tears.

A life to be lived~

   It was the first and the last time they saw each other face to face. Ever since the day they met, they knew this time would come. They knew they'd grow up, graduate, head off to college.
   But they didn't expect it to come so soon.
 
   As they walked down the paved trail, they began to think of what their last words should be. They'd be leaving each other soon.
   "I can't believe its actually happening. I'm losing my best friend," Dustin said to his life-long friend.
   "I wish you wouldn't phrase it like that," Emmit replied.
   "It's basically true. Your heading off to the opposite side of the world."
   "Only because of my family...and my job."
   Dustin nodded in understanding. "Yeah. I've always wanted to visit Ireland, anyway."
   Emmit laughed. "Hey, man, it's not like I'm disappearing. We can still stay in touch."
   "Right. But I won't ever see you face to face again...in person...right?"
   "Its likely...but there's nothing we can do about it."
   "I'll come to see you when I can. I'll save up money for a trip."
   The car pulled up to the drive and brought a whole new wave of distress on them.
   "S'pose I should go. I'll call you when our plane touches down," Emmit said.
   "You better," Dustin said as he and his best friend had the biggest, tightest, and longest hug of their lives. "Don't have too much fun."
   "Never," Emmit replied with a smile. "Goodbye, Dustin. I'll miss you."
   "Likewise. Bye."
   Dustin watched as Emmit climbed into the car after packing in his bags, and as they took off down the road to a future he wasn't prepared for either himself or Emmit.




   Back home, his sister greeted him with a bear hug. She was back from college as well as Dustin, and they were planning to go out and do something together (their parents were both working late that night).
   "Where you want to eat?" His sister asked. "Mexican, pizza, burgers, deli, Italian..."
   "I don't know, Genivieve," he replied dully.
   She immediately knew something was amiss. "Dustin, you alright? You like, never call me by my full name."
   "Yeah, fine. Emmit left today, that's all."
   "Ah, I see. We don't have to go out if--"
   "No, it's fine. I don't want to ruin this for you."
   "You're not ruining anything. I can just order in, and we can stay here."
   "Gen--"
   "Oh, now you say my name the normal way."
   He nodded. "I guess."
   Genivieve smiled. "I love you, Dustin. All I want is to help you feel better."
   All he did was stare.
   "There's actually a place I think you'd like."
   "Alright, then. Let's go."

   Dustin wasn't one to be surprised by his sister's antics. But when they pulled up to an empty beach, he began to wonder.
   "A beach? This is the place you wanted to go?" Dustin asked as he sipped his smoothie.
   She just smiled. "Yes. Come on."
   They both climbed out of Gen's bug and headed down the parking lot, taking off their shoes when they reached the sand. The sound of the waves could be heard clearly from even back where they were. He didn't know if this was her overall plan, but the smell of the salty ocean breeze, and the sound of the waves calmed him some, and made him almost forget of what was bringing him down.
   "I've always loved the beach," Dustin admitted.
   Gen smiled. "I know. But there's something better. This way," she said as she gently tugged his arm in the direction she began to walk.
   At first, he had no idea what she was talking about. But up ahead, he spotted what they must be heading to. A brown building, of some sort.
   
   They walked for maybe two minutes before making it to the patio that wrapped around the small beach house. When they went inside, he almost staggered at the sight of his name carved into the wall with a note below it, also carved into the wall. This place was for him.
   "Who--?" Dustin began.
   Gen never dropped that smile of hers. "Remember when you were teen staffing at that summer camp this year?"
   "Yeah..."
   "And Emmit said he couldn't come because he was busy with family stuff?"
   "Go on..."
   "This was his 'family stuff.' He and his family worked on this all summer for you."
   Dustin couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why would Emmit and his family make a little hangout for him. Who'd he share it with? Maybe it wasn't meant to be shared. "Why?"
   "He knew you'd be out of sorts after his move. I mean, obviously he'd know. He feels the same way. But he wanted to do something that'd help you out a little."
   Dustin still was too dumbfounded to say anything, so he just walked over to the note with his name that was carved into the wall. It read:

   Dustin Tulspire

           I'm most likely in Ireland now or on the plane, depending on the speed of your lovely sister's precision. ;)  I know how hard it is to be apart. Believe me. I feel exactly the same way. But these things in life happen. They're passing phases, these hard times. But I think we both know that we can pull through. I'll never forget the times we spent in each other's basements, doing what guys do in the man cave. (You still never payed me back for that mini fridge) Or when we'd give each other pep talks because the girl we liked didn't have any interest in us or God, and all the good times we had throughout the years at camp. I'll never forget when you got pounded with that giant water balloon. But the point is, is that we'll never be apart, even if that's geographically correct. No one can take away the relationship I have with the brother I never had. I'll miss you. Use this house as a place to hang out with your family and friends...and that girl you've got. ;) And, most importantly, to spend time with God. He'll help you through anything. Best of luck to you in life. Love ya, man.

Emmit Gryphon


   Dustin couldn't wipe the smile off his face even if he tried. He truly did have the best friend in the world. 
   "Oh, Gen..." he said as he turned to his sister.
   She gave a warm smile as they walked to each other and embraced. "You like it?" She asked.
   "Like it? It's amazing. You knew all this time?"
   "Just call me little miss sneaky."
   He planted a kiss on her forehead. "You pick the furniture, too?"
   "That obvious? Emmit just had no clue..."
   "Of course. There's no way Emmit could pick the exact furniture I prefer."
   "Quite observant, you are."

   As Dustin and his sister walked hand in hand along the shore with the water lapping at their feet, Dustin had a thought. Perhaps, for the first time ever, things could change. A life is yet to be lived. And maybe this beach house was the start.

A writing high

   Basically just that. I was on a writing high when I came back from lifeguarding today. Ever had one of those? Maybe it was because of all the sitting there, but who knows. All I know is that it was wonderful. :D
   
   I got a full-blown two chapters written out with nonstop
typing. It was awesome! This is a good sign. It means I might actually make it to my goal of finishing it all by February or March. Then all of you can read it for real instead of the occasional excerpts that I'm posting. I must say, writing an actual book is fun...but also hard at times.
   There were many times I had writer's block that just wouldn't go away. The worst case was when I was in the middle of writing chapter eleven. It was partly because I was gone most of that time at various summer camps, but it drove me mad. But this is the good thing about God's constant presence. I prayed about it, and read some books. That always helps me when writer's block is at its worst. But, it comes to show what dedication can do. I can confidently say my book is half-way written...and I can't wait for the day you get to read all the twists and turns, and jaw-droppers I'm throwing in there. ;) Its pretty epic. I surprised even myself! I'm excited!


   
 On a completely different note, this picture is amazing! In case you didn't know, I love art of all kinds. Drawing, in particular, I saw this picture of Taylor Swift that was drawn with just pencil...no joke. This looks startling real to me, and its all in just pencil! All I can say is wow. I hope to be this good someday.