Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WEAK (07/22/21)
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TITLE: The Frailty and Impotence of Envy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Patricia Turner
07/28/21 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
No, not his good looks or intellect. Sure he attracts girls, most of whom don’t interest me at all.
“McIntyre, If you’d put a little meat on your bones your eyes might look a little more awake and not quite so shrunken in. You’re shriveled up like you’ve been in the sun too long. Let me tell you…”
“Ricky,” said his girlfriend, Becky Montmorey, glancing at me apologetically and it seemed, somewhat pityingly. “Come here”
I could see her lips moving as I turned to walk away.
My weakness was not only ostracizing, it was frightening, as my shrunken body resulted from mastasizing. Yes, cancer. I knew if my mother was still alive I probably wouldn’t be in school. I knew because I was following in her footsteps. She’d died of liver cancer when I was four, and I vaguely remember her. She’s the one who taught me to pray. And pray I do, hoping I’m being heard.
My father seems to have no interest in things spiritual. Thankfully, I still have her bible.
“Hey, Mac, hold up.” Ricky, out of breath, caught up to me. “Becky just told me, man. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. It just happened. I was diagnosed about a month ago.”
“So maybe we could get a pizza or something before the football game.”
How could I convince him, or anyone else that most fast foods nauseate me. Even the smell of tomato sauce, pungent spices like chili powder, fatty meats like sausage and pepperoni. Pizza, once on of my favorite foods, I could no longer tolerate.
“No, I guess…I mean I’d like to, but I get tired pretty early in the evening anymore.”
“Oh, well, that’s too bad. I mean…I’m sorry Mac!”
“Not your fault Ricky. Don’t worry about it.” I smiled as if it didn’t matter to me.
He walked away. I continued toward home, thinking an ice cream cone, chocolate chip with cookie crumbs sounded really good.
I feel I should add that he wasn’t the only one to whom it didn’t matter.
My father, having been unable to deal with my mother’s cancer, seemed to be doing all that he could to avoid me.
Arriving home to an empty house, I checked the refrigerator and the freezer for food I could tolerate. No ice cream, but there was cold fried chicken and I removed the skin. Carrots and pretzels completed the meal. I also ate an orange.
I then called Mary Ackerman, a girl as heavy as I was skinny.
“How about meeting at Cold, Creamy and Dreamy in about half an hour?”
“Sure,” she enthused. I could sense her smiling through the phone.
I walked out the door just as Dad pulled into the driveway.
“Hey, Robby,” he said, stepping out of the car, and reaching for his brief case.
“Looks like you’re headed out somewhere.”
“Meeting a girl for some ice cream,” I croaked, choking up just talking to him.
“Maybe we could talk some when you get home.”
His earnest look made me think I really should take the opportunity while it was there. I thought of Mary, waiting, most likely.
Wincing as he turned away, I said “Dad, how about now?”
Sitting down on kitchen bar stools we faced one another.
“I won’t keep you long, son. I just want to say I’m sorry. I haven’t been there for you since…”
He couldn’t finish. I knew he was thinking of Mom. I don’t want you to have to go through this again either, I thought.
“So, Robby, how are you feeling? What’s happening in your life?”
I wanted to be positive; emphasize anything good.
“I’ve had friends at school trying to keep me from feeling too lonely but they don’t of course understand. I can’t eat pizza, or hot dogs, or…just a lot of stuff my crowd always goes for.”
He was silent for so long I thought the conversation was over. I started to stand up.
“Your mother always wanted to us go to church. I’ve never much liked most church folks, but I’m starting finally to think she was right. Any thoughts?”
Of course I had thoughts. I told him what they were.
He asked me for Mom’s Bible.
He was actually reading it when I left.
Mary was still waiting. I apologized and we had a great time.
I no longer envied Ricky, or anyone else.
I had Jesus. My strength. My healer.
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