Thank you all for your e-mails concerning this story, my first effort. It's so gratifying to know that I'm creating something that brings some enjoyment to others.
This chapter is quite different from your conventional narrative-and-dialogue. It's a conversation without the usual "he said, she said" because there are no words actually spoken by the characters. There is only a brief third-person narrative at the beginning and at the end. That being explained, I hope you can follow the conversation, and I say that with a bit of tongue in cheek. I look forward to your comments on this chapter.
This story deals with adult themes, primarily same-gender sexual relations. Such relations have their basis in love and commitment, rather than sex for the sake of sex alone. In some cases they will use protection; at other times they will not. You and I should always use protection because we do not live in the world of fiction.
If you are offended the idea of homosexuality or if you are under the age of consent or if you reside in an area where such things are considered illegal or immoral, then you should seek entertainment elsewhere.
Comments may be directed to the author at thornado5@netscape.net
This story is copyright 2004 by Mike Williams. All rights reserved. Thou shalt not steal.
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A Thousand Rainbows by Mike Williams
- 9 -
As the ambulance sped through the streets to the hospital, the paramedics worked frantically on Paul and the Panther quarterback.
Somewhere, deep in Paul's mind, he was aware of that fact that he was unconscious. He knew that his jaw was broken, that he was attached to a ventilator, that he was wired to medical monitors and being given life-saving drugs intravenously. He knew there was pain. But he couldn't feel it. Yet he felt no fear.
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ...
He could hear ... or sense ... the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor.
No, wait ... two heart monitors ... two people. Yes, the other quarterback. His coach started beating up on him after a botched play late in the fourth quarter. The quarterback must be nearby.
Slowly the memory returned. Paul remembered his team taking possession of the football with less than a minute to go, and then winning the game with a last-second touchdown.
BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP.
That sound shouldn't be happening.
Paul took a quick inventory of his own faculties.
Everything in order. That must mean ... oh, shit ... he's dying. No! NO! DON'T LET HIM DIE!
Hey, what the fuck happened?
What?
I said, what the fuck happened? Argh, where's the lights?
The game. Do you remember the game?
Yeah. I think ... Did we win?
Uh ... Mustangs.
Shit. Oh, well, that's the way the balls bounce.
That's the way the cookie crumbles.
That's the way the jockstrap snaps.
You're funny.
I guess. I can't see you. What's going on here?
I'm not sure. I remember someone taking a swing at me ...
That would be Carter.
... and then the lights went out, and here I am.
I guess my football career is over. One little pass and ... poof ... up in smoke, just like that. I remember feeling ... tears. Yeah, I think I was crying because the coach was chewing me out like it was the end of the world. And then, nothing.
Your coach went nuts, and you went down. It was a hell of a game.
Yeah, I guess it was. Where the fuck am I? And what's that screeching noise?
I think you're in my mind ... or I'm in your mind. And the sound must be the heart monitors we're hooked up to. We were carried off the field on stretchers, and we're in an ambulance. And from the sound of the monitors, I'd say we're in pretty bad shape. It's like ...
BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP.
AAAAGGGHHHH!!!
What? What is it?
I don't know ... unh, unh ... I just felt a jolt.
Listen! Listen to the monitors.
BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP.
AAAAGGGHHHH!!! It happened again! What ... WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO ME?!?!
They must be using the paddles. Oh my god, your heart must have stopped. They're trying to revive you. Hang on, dude. Please don't let go!
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep.
Unh, unh ... I'm trying to hang on.
LISTEN! ... Listen to the monitors ... Dude, you're alive. You're alive! Hang on just a little longer ... please.
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep.
Is that a good sound?
Yeah, it means we're both still alive. We should be at the hospital real soon. Still with me? You got a name?
Alan ... Alan Bradley. Why can't I feel anything?
I'm Paul Miller, and the medics must have pumped us full of painkillers. We were in pretty bad shape when they carried us off the field.
No, that's not what I meant. I can't find my hands or my feet. It's like I'm floating somewhere outside my body. This is like some kind of science fiction, us being able to talk to each other.
The weird things I've seen, I'm just keeping an open mind. Hey, I just made a funny. Get it?
What?
Open mind. I'm keeping an open mind ...
... And I just walked right into your open mind. Yeah, I get it now. Took me a while, but ... what was that?! Did you feel it?
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Yeah, I think we're there. How are you doing? ... Alan, where are you? ... ALAN!?
You don't have to shout.
Sorry, I thought I had lost you.
Thanks, Paul. That means a lot. Shit, I feel like ...
Don't go all mushy on me, Alan. You like camping? Ever been up Sam's Creek?
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Hell, who hasn't been up Sam's Creek? Me and Brenda ... that's my girlfriend ... we were gonna go camping up there tonight. I got the tent and one sleeping bag already loaded in my pick-up.
Just one sleeping bag? Oh, I get it. Took me a while.
Yeah, me and Brenda. She is ...
... Incredible, Yeah, I know.
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
What do you mean ... you know?
I can't explain it. I know I've never met her, but I just know everything you know about her. I can smell her perfume. Wow, can she kiss! And she's got the cutest little freckle right next to her ...
Watch your fuckin' mouth, dude. That's my girlfriend you're talking about.
... And she's real sensitive right there too.
Nobody but me knows that, Paul. How could you know that?
I'm keeping an open mind, remember? Maybe we can read each other's minds because of the situation we're in.
Huh. Weird. You got a girlfriend?
No, too busy with school and work.
Yeah, but if I can read your mind like you're reading mine, there is someone. Holy shit! It's Tyler Garrison. We both went to Franklin Junior High. God, I haven't seen Tyler since his family moved to Bridgewater. You and Tyler ... who would have guessed?
Silence.
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Paul, you still here?
Yeah, it's just ... nobody knows, y'know? Not even Tyler.
I'm cool with that, man. But ya gotta tell him, the sooner the better. Promise me you'll tell him.
Yeah, right. How's that gonna look when everyone finds out that the quarterback is ... well ...
Paul ...
OK, I promise; I'll tell him.
First chance you get.
I promise.
Well, since we're reading each other's minds ... I've fooled around with a few of my buds too. We still do it when the girls ain't around.
I can't believe we're having this conversation.
Whoa, I just got a glimpse of Tyler's face. Damn! He's grown up and turned into one good lookin' guy. Has he got a girlfriend?
I don't think so.
Make your move, dude. And soon.
You know he's on the swim team? Last year I did a series of photos with him as the subject.
No shit? Well, I gotta tell ya ... AAAAHHH!
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Alan, what is it? Tell me what's going on.
Unh ... unh ... I feel ... something cold ... like steel ... like I'm being sliced open.
You must be on the operating table ... OW! I just felt something like a bee sting. That's it. We're in the hospital. We're in the operating room. Are you still with me, Alan?
Unh ... yeah, Paul, I'm right here.
What can I do?
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Nothing, man. We can't touch each other. We can't even see each other ... AAAHHH! They're slicing me open again. It's going deeper! Paul!
I'm here, Alan! Hold on!
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
Now I know how a turkey feels on Thanksgiving ... AAAHHH! SHIT ... unh, unh, unh ... Paul? PAUL! I can't hold it much longer!
Hang on, Alan. You're gonna be alright.
BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep ... BEEP, beep
UNH ... UNH ... UNH ... aaahhh, oh, shit, that hurt like hell. Paul?
BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP, beeeeeeeeep, BEEP.
I'm here, Alan.
Paul, I don't feel the pain anymore. Shit! I didn't make it.
What do you mean?
I mean they couldn't save me.
You mean you're ... ?
Yeah, looks like I'm checkin' out. Listen. Tell me, what do you hear?
BEEP ... BEEP ... BEEP
It sounds like a heart monitor.
That's right, dude. One heart monitor, loud and clear. You're gonna make it. You'll probably feel like shit in the morning, but you're gonna be OK.
Well, my jaw is busted, so I'll be drinking Thanksgiving dinner through a straw. Alan?
I gotta go, Paul. Tell Brenda good-bye for me.
I will.
And Tyler ... yeah ... tell him I said good-bye too.
That'll be a hell of a conversation starter. I wish we could have been friends, Alan.
We'll always be friends, Paul. One more thing ...
What's that?
Keep an open mind.
In the darkness, in the silence, Paul felt a presence touching, lingering on his lips.
In the operating room the doctors and nurses hung their heads in sadness and defeat as they removed the tubes and wires from the body of Alan Bradley. Still unconscious on the other side of the room, a single tear fell from Paul's eye and rolled down his cheek.
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to be continued in Chapter 10