NOTE: This is the fictional coming of age story of Jake Grimke as he matures through high school, into college and eventually into adulthood in the Baltimore, Maryland region. It contains and embraces accurate representations of life in Baltimore and its suburbs; Maryland's traditional sport of lacrosse and the career path a firefighter might follow in his profession. All of the characters in this story are fictional and resemblance to any one person whether dead or alive is purely coincidental. If you liked this installment, please send me some feed back; I got a rough idea where this is headed but I am always open to some suggestions. Needless to say, if you are offended by handsome athletic young men growing up gay and the obstacles they will encounter as well their personal triumphs, you should use the BACK button on your browser forthwith.
Jake could hear the electronic ringing of his dad's cellphone through two bedroom doors. He glanced at the digital display of his own cellphone on the nightstand; 6:27 AM on a Sunday morning. His dad's phone ringing could only mean one thing: an overtime shift somewhere in the Baltimore City Fire Department so that somebody else could go home to their own family. Yet again, Jake would be robbed of his dad for the day; no Ravens game together in the den, maybe even Evan over to watch with them.
From down the hall, Jake could hear the shower come on and the practiced speed his dad had for getting out of the house quick, just as if he was at work turning out for a box alarm. Time was money and the sooner he signed into the firehouse logbook, the sooner the time-and-a-half pay started. The firefighter's son pulled on a blue FD tee shirt from one of the companies his father had previously worked at and met his dad in the kitchen just before leaving.
"Where you working today?" Jake asked, not trying to hide his disappointment that John Grimke was going to work an extra shift.
"Filling in on Rescue 1; it's been awhile since I rode there regularly but I think I can still find my way around the big tool box on wheels."
"I know you can Dad. I love you Dad, I love you so much," Jake said hugging his father, knowing that this could be the last time they talked or hugged ever, "I'm sorry about last night."
John gave a quick kiss to the top of his son's head and both took a hand as the hug ended to wipe a tear away before the other could see it. "It's okay son, part of growing up. I love you too Jake; I'm...your mother and I are very proud of you Jake, just keep that in mind always. See you tonight for dinner; okay?"
Jake nodded yes and let go of his father long enough for John to have a slightly longer and more intimate kiss with Emma before he headed to his little beat up Honda commuter car parked outside the garage for the trip into Steadman station in downtown Baltimore.
"Let's get ready for church sweetie," Emma said to Jake after John backed down the driveway, "we're leaving in an hour."
Of course Jake had been baptized and went regularly with his mother and father to St. Michael's Episcopal in Baltimore. Before he could slump his shoulders down at the thought of sitting in the pew by himself Emma added, "you can sit with me on the bench and turn pages or sit with the Harmes's. Go get ready; you're driving."
The music of Advent wasn't that exciting to Jake so he found his wingman Evan Harmes and sat through and received Holy Communion. After Emma played the postlude the jocks headed for the young adult's social hour and made the rounds talking to other guys their age and how they were doing in sports, most of them attending one of the many private boy's schools in Baltimore.
As their own social hour ended, they found their way into the Great Hall of the church as the adult coffee hour began to wind down. Before the coffee hour was over, Dr. Jonathan Pearce from the Children's Medical Center of the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital approached Evan and Jake and began to engage them in conversation. At first it was about lacrosse since he had been a stand out player in his own high school days but after opening their ears with some war stories from long ago games, he asked if either might be interested in volunteering a few days each month at the Children's Medical Center. There was always a need and it would be a worthwhile contribution that might get noticed on a college application somewhere further down the line.
Evan just nodded and agreed to take it under consideration, after all, he had his Letter of Assurance from the Naval Academy but Jake, the understated overachiever agreed to it immediately and was anxious to start as soon as he could. In fact, he was so anxious, Jake had Dr. Pearce calling the hospital from coffee hour to see if somebody was available to provide Jake with an introduction and orientation to the program that very day.
Outside the church the almost brotherly lacrosse jocks waited for their moms to come out from socializing at the church's coffee hour. Evan dug into Jake hard and fast, "why did you volunteer for that? You know we can go anywhere we want with our sticks."
"You can, you got your letter, I'm still waiting for final acceptance at U-Va," Jake replied, "plus, since it seems like you are getting some steady something from Jackie, you don't have as much time for me."
"I know, she's kind of high maintenance being a cheerleader and in the Show Choir which is very busy right now as they spool up for the holiday concert and still keep up with cheering at the football games.
Was just hoping we could have watched the Ravens together this afternoon."
"Dad's working OT again and I just kind of jumped when Dr. Pearce made that offer. It was something different to do since Dad wasn't going to be home to watch it with us, you know?"
"Yeah, at least you got a dad," Evan reminded Jake of the divorce his own parents were going through, and then looked Jake dead in the eyes, "but we're still good, right bro?"
"Always and forever bro. Like a rock, wingman, like a rock" Jake said with his winning smile as they fist bumped and then hugged, "it's always good Ev; wouldn't be without you."
After a thoughtful pause, Evan replied, "I'll come to Children's with you."
"Really?" Jake answered kind of surprised.
"Yeah, totally real J-man," Evan answered as their mothers joined them on the sidewalk.
"Mom," Evan started, "Jake and I are going to the orientation together at Children's. Maybe you and Emma can drive home together and then Jake and I will come back when we are done; is that cool?"
Emma smiled, seeing that Jake was lifting out of the funk he had been in for the past few weeks, seeing Evan and him smiling together again, "Works for me unless," turning to Evan's mom, "it's inconvenient for you Annie? Is that a train wreck of a plan for you?"
"No way, it's good to see the boys together again and then you and I can sneak off to the mall," Annie added.
Emma sealed the deal with a paternal warning, "be safe boys, Jake, nothing crazy and come right home, no detours. Dinner's at six but I'm not sure what we are having yet."
"Okay Mom, okay!!!" Jake replied as Emma snuck in a quick kiss on his cheek before the ladies left.
Just as Dr. Pearce stated, there were some reserved spaces for the volunteers who helped at Children's near the main entrance, probably the only perk they would get as they walked in dressed almost identically in khaki pants, oxford shirt and rep tie, practically the uniform of any teenage man in Baltimore. Once inside, they found Maria Valdez waiting for them who welcomed them to the volunteer program at Children's.
Jake and Evan were surprised at the amount of paper work required including a background check and then the requisite photograph ID's. The teaching hospital had a large pediatric care center with many specialties for treating acutely ill children. With the paperwork filled out, Maria gave the young athletes a quick tour of the hospital, explaining some of their duties and how challenging it can be to work in these wards.
As the tour and questions and answers began to wrap up, the last ward they came to was children's oncology. Jake swallowed hard and looked at Evan as he saw children much younger than him in the fight of their lives. Just as they were about to leave and return to the lobby, a young male voice called out, "Yo, Evan, Evan Harmes!"
The three stopped in the hallway at once, totally startled that somebody in there recognized either one of them. Maria identified the patient and they approached the 13 year old boy in his hospital bed, wearing a Navy lacrosse jersey, a lacrosse stick in his bed and an IV dripping into his arm. Evan looked lost as they entered the patient's room, "Yeah, that's me, who are you?"
"Jon, Jon Morehouse," the patient replied offering the best hand shake he could manage.
"How did you know me?" was all Evan could muster as he clasped the youth's hand.
"I remember you from the newspaper. You were picked to be first-team in last spring's Baltimore Sun All-Metro High School lacrosse special.
Read somewhere after that you were planning to go to Annapolis. That must be your wingman Jake, Jake what's-his-name?"
"Sure is," Evan answered.
Jake jumped in, "Hey Jon, nice to meet you."
"Likewise Jake, wow, this is a total surprise seeing you guys here, you guys going to be coming back? Not many do after they walk through this place once or twice," young Jon said with a knowing confidence.
"We'll be back," Evan answered with his own smile, kind of glad that it wasn't Jake in the spotlight, "I had no clue we had a fan club up here."
"What position you play?" Jake asked.
"Midfield mostly, some attack. Wish I could play for Navy like you will Evan," John said, pretty much resigned to his fate.
Evan looked at the boy in the hospital bed noting the number on the jersey, "I'll see if I can be number 18, just like your jersey."
"Promise?" John asked immediately.
"I promise," Evan answered, offering a fist bump to the young player.
"I'll make sure he does John," Jake said, offering his own fist bump.
Maria looked at John, knowing his condition was terminal, "That's enough now Jon, these boys got to finish up their orientation."
"I know Miss Maria, I'm getting a little tired now anyhow," Jon said, and turning to Jake and Evan, "promise me you will visit me when you come back."
With Jake on the left side of the bed and Evan on the right, each jock reached down and grabbed a smaller hand in both of theirs, gave it a strong squeeze both saying, "we'll be back."
As they left the room Maria told them, "both of you made his day. That boy thinks of nothing but getting out of here and getting back on a lacrosse field. He knows his condition is terminal but he gets through each day like a champ."
The reality of the word terminal hit both jocks harder than any cross-check could. They knew the seriousness of what they entered into and were never ones to shy away from any challenge before them. Both signed up to return the following Sunday assuming that their background checks would be cleared. As they got ready to leave, Maria gave each boy a light blue shirt with the Children's Hospital logo woven into the left chest area with the word VOLUNTEER under the stitching.
As Maria walked them to the lobby she started to say good bye to the boys and thanking them for taking an interest in volunteering ending with, "glad to have you young men onboard. I look forward to you guys coming back. Now I just got to work on a new band for the children's holiday party since the first group just backed out."
Both boys looked at each other and smiled, "maybe we can help" Jake offered.