walk it off.

chapter 8

he couldn't stop fidgeting, his thighs sticking and unsticking to the leather chair like velcro. he used to love hospitals because everybody hated them, but now, for the first time, it was driving him crazy. the nurses whisper too much. the doctors walk too fast. the patients cough in turn with their echoes, some sad form of self-conversation, discussing the heavy realization that they were ill and nobody cared to recognize it for more than the visiting hours would allow. he watched the doctor sitting in front of him twiddle his thumbs, crinkle his nose, and then mouth the words: you will die in two weeks.
nothing else. just that.

and as he sat there, he realized that it was his responsibility to experiment with the emotions of everyone around him. bring it up as an april fool's joke, perhaps. laugh and tell them he was joking, and then tell them the truth a day later. he would make as many promises and pinky promises and cross-your-hearts as he could muster, all with the intention of not keeping any of them. he would plant his seeds in all types of soil, knowing perfectly well that he would not live long enough to tend to anything.

even his little daydream believer niece who loved him very very much had a dirty trick awaiting her. he would make her promise to buy him a grand house and a shiny black limo when she grows up. it would make me the happiest man alive, he told her.

and as her mother pulled up in the driveway, picked her up and loaded her in the backseat; as her tiny hand struggled to roll down the window, she carefully lifted her head out just enough so that he would see her mouth the words: ok uncle. i promise i will.
nothing else. just that.

and if he only would've known how much that would affect her in the future, to think she made a promise that was impossible to keep even if she desperately wanted to, he would've smiled an even bigger smile as she drove away from him.




artist] stephen tompkins. his illustrations remind me of old school nick cartoons, particularly ren & stimpy. very cool.