Trials and Tribulations - 14. Chapter 14 Visions

Chapter 14
Visions

“Andy,” Joey whispered from behind me. With my name spoken so softly, he had my full attention. Everything else was forgotten, I turned and faced him.

He shook his head and put his hand on my chest. The sympathy in his eyes broke my heart and immediately stilled my anger. He glanced at JT before he said anything more to me. “He’s not to blame. He’s only doing what he was told to do. I know his fear. I’ve lived it too. It’s his father.” Joey calmly walked over to JT and reached down his hand to help him up. “JT, I forgive you.”

To say JT was as shocked as I was would be an understatement. At first, his eyes widened, his mouth hung open, and his lips trembled slightly. As JT took Joey’s hand, the hatred and scorn his face had shown earlier, changed to one of peace and tranquility. Joey pulled him to his feet and glanced at Roger.

“It’s okay now Roger. You can let him go. There won’t be any more trouble from him today.”

Roger released Jonas, but kept an eye on him. Jonas shook his head, bewildered, and then headed towards the door.

JT was nervous, but he remained rooted to the spot, eying Joey up and down. Finally, the tension broke, and he asked, “Why?”

“Because I understand why you did it,” Joey answered, placing a hand on JT’s shoulder. “I didn’t get hurt, but Andy did.”

JT glanced at me. His body trembled. He turned his gaze to the floor out of sheer guilt. I’d never seen him show anything but anger. It felt like forever before he took a breath and said. “I’m sorry you were hurt. I didn’t do it, but I’m the one that caused it.” His gaze went back to the floor and his voice, barely louder than a whisper, reflected his remorse. “I’m sorry,” He said.

This stunned me more than Joey’s commanding voice or having my head shoved into a locker, but I knew I had to reply, and choose my words wisely.

“JT, we used to be friends a long time ago. I don’t know what I did or what happened that caused us not to be friends.” I paused, searching for the words, before continuing, “I trust Joey, and from what I’ve seen here this morning, I believe you mean it. You’re forgiven and I hope we can be friends again,” I said reaching out my hand. He cautiously took my offered hand and shook it just as Mrs. Moore came running up. She was a little out of breath, but quickly took control of the situation.

“What’s going on here boys? I was told some guys were fighting.”

I didn’t want to lie, nor did I want JT in trouble at this point, so, I had to be careful how I worded my explanation.

“Mrs. Moore, as you can see no one is fighting. I lost my balance,” ‘Yeah right, with a lot of help,’ I thought. “And I fell into the lockers and cut my head. I was just thanking JT for his help. Do you think I should go and see the nurse about my head?” I hoped that I had given Mrs. Moore enough information to let her know that this was settled and that she should let it go. She was known to be fair with students and concerned with how we all handled our problems. Besides, my head had begun to really hurt, and felt light headed.

She walked up to me, took my head in her hands, examined it carefully, and said, “I think you’re quite right.” She peered into my eyes. “Andy, how are you feeling now?”

“I’m a little dizzy and kinda in shock to be honest.” I told her the truth, and I really just wanted to lie down.

Mrs. Moore paused a moment and glared at JT. She shook her head in dismay and turned to Joey, who was standing beside me. “Will you take him to the nurse’s office and stay with him until she comes in?”

“We both will,” Roger answered. She nodded in approval and chased the stragglers, who had stopped to watch, to their classrooms.

JT’s expression of gratitude was genuine. “Thank you, Andy.” There was no doubt that he meant it. This sure wasn’t how I had expected my day to go, fighting and then making friends, with JT. I smiled and waved him off. “Forget it, JT.”

“Come on.” Roger put his arm around my waist and pulled me towards the nurse’s office.

I was glad both Joey and Roger were escorting me. I felt a little dizzy now that the fighting had stopped. I would have hated to pass out on Joey, on the way to the nurse, if he had been by himself.

“You know we are going to talk about what happened this morning, don’t you.” I asked Joey.

“I don’t know what to say, Andy, but if you feel we must, I’ll try to explain, but not now. First we need to get you examined.” He stiffened beside me and his voice was stronger than before. There was no denying my boyfriend was determined when he wanted to be.

I nodded and followed their lead. By the time we got there, I really did need the two of them to hold me up. My knees had turned to jelly during the long walk to the nurse’s office and my vision had blurred. The office was open, but the nurse hadn’t arrived yet. Roger and Joey laid me down on one of those hospital examination beds, like the one Joey was on the first time we kissed. As soon as I lay my head on the pillow, I noticed the concern in Joey’s face. Then the world around me darkened, and everything faded. Finally, blackness.

I became aware of being surrounded by darkness and of a figure stood in front of me. It glowed brightly and radiated warmth.

“Michael Andrew Collins.”

I couldn’t see the lips move in the bright light that emanated from it. I had the feeling that this wasn’t a dream, and that I was expected to answer.

“Yes, sir?” I answered, as respectfully as I could.

“A time of trials is coming for you. You have the strength of character and the courage of the heart. Be strong of faith, for faith will see you through all that comes against you and yours.” It paused, and then as if it could see into my heart, it said, “God did not take your mother from you, it was her time.”

“How… how did you know that I blamed God? I’ve never shared that with anyone, not even my dad.”

“God hast heard your prayers. He knows all things, and what is best for all of us. Sometimes we have to go through bad things for good things to happen.”

I wasn’t totally convinced with that answer, but I had accepted it when I read it in the Clan Short stories. I mean, it made sense the way it was explained in the story that sometimes bad things had to happen so good things could happen. So why couldn’t I now? I decided to go with my heart. “Okay, I can believe that, so what do you want from me?”

I had the feeling that my answer had pleased it, whoever it was.

“Just be true to your own nature, and know that you do not stand alone. God moves through many people. Remember, God is known by many names, by many people. God is spirit, and God is love.”

The figure began to fade as it spoke those last words.

“Wait, don’t go yet!”

“You cannot stay here no longer, Andy. You have much to do, and people who love you are waiting. For now, have faith.”

As I watched, the figure faded from sight, and I was alone in total darkness once again. Great, a talking light that spoke in riddles. Well maybe not riddles, but it could have at least told me what was coming and what I was supposed to do about it.

The ground beneath my feet trembled, and I fell flat on my back. Someone called my name. In the distance. Closer. The voice of a woman.

“Andy, wake up.”

My eyelids were heavy and they slowly drifted open. It took a moment to focus on the figure before me. Eventually I could make out Miss Pennington, the school nurse. She was concerned, and she stared nervously into my eyes. She waited a minute before speaking.

“Good, you’re awake. Now you have to stay awake for me, okay. No more sleeping until we get you to the hospital.” She reached out and took my pulse, ignoring my puzzled expression. A moment later, she was marking down everything on a sheet of paper she had on a clipboard.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You passed out as soon as we laid you down. You kinda scared us for a minute.” Joey’s voice seemed like a life preserver to me. A moment later, he came into view beside Miss Pennington. It was a relief to know he was there with me.

“I must have hit my head harder than I thought.” I tried to smile.

“Nothing can hurt that hard head of yours too much,” Roger joked. I could tell he was worried, but he was trying hard to put me at ease.

Just then, a EMT and the driver walked in pulling a stretcher. I wasn’t expecting that.

“Has anyone called my Dad?” I asked.

“He’ll meet you at the hospital,” Miss Pennington said, resting a hand on my arm.

After the EMT had made me comfortable on the cot, they wheeled me out into the hallway with Joey and Roger behind me. Debbie, Timmy, Gary, Randy, and some other people were standing outside the nurse’s door.

“Are you okay, Andy?” Debbie asked as I passed.

I smiled and gave her an okay sign. I didn’t trust myself to speak. I hadn’t expected this many people to be so concerned about me. One thing was for sure: the okay sign may have been faked, but the smile was for real. As they wheeled me down the hall to the ambulance, I heard the nurse tell everyone they needed to head to class.

Outside, the EMT explained to Joey and Roger that they couldn’t ride with me to the hospital. Roger was having none of that.

“Sir, there’s no way we that aren’t going with Andy,” he said with a determined look. “Our parents told us we had to stick together. I fucked up this morning and walked away for just two minutes, and look what happened.” Roger pointed at me on the cot. “That’s Judge Collins’ son and my best friend, so either we go with Andy, or we deal with the judge at the hospital. If you don’t let us go with him, I’ll be on the phone to Judge Collins before you leave the parking lot.”

When the EMT looked at Joey, Joey nodded towards Roger and said, “What he said.”

“Fine, let us get him in first and you two can ride back here with me.” The EMT shook his head as he stared at Roger and Joey. The glare he shot them made it apparent that this wasn’t something he normally would put up with. Roger and Joey were silent while the EMT registered my vitals.

After Joey and Roger had climbed into the ambulance the last thing I remembered was the mask being pulled over my mouth and nose, and someone mentioning that my vitals were crashing, and when I opened my eyes, I was standing in a large valley by a lake surrounded by green fields and tall, snow-capped mountains. I was at peace. I felt surrounded by love. The love flowed into me from everywhere, like the waters of a graceful river, on a warm summer day. The water in the lake was calm, and I could see the reflection of the mountains in it. A gentle breeze with heavenly smells calmed my soul.

“It’s beautiful, is it not?”

I would know that voice anywhere; a voice that had always been there. After she lost her battle with cancer, I thought I would never hear it again. The voice of the only woman in the world I would always love. Mom. Pure unconditional love. A love I had missed so much these last few years. My vision blurred from the tears flowing down my cheeks.

“I’ve missed you so much!” I cried and fell into her open arms.

“I know baby. I’ve missed holding you like this.” She rained kisses on the top of my head.

“Is this heaven?”

“In a way, it is. It’s a place I can talk to you for a few minutes.” She patted my back like she used to and gently hugged me to calm down.

“Then, to me, it is heaven. I have my mom back, even if it is just for a few minutes.”

She ruffled my hair. “You’re becoming a man, A Thaisce. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was rocking you in my arms and feeding you. And no you are as tall as I am.”

One of the things I missed most about my mom was her calling me A Thaisce. It had been her private nickname for me since as far back as I could remember which always made me feel special. She told me once that it meant ‘my treasure’, and her father had called her the same nickname. It was nice to know it meant so much to her. Now, after three long years, I was hearing her call me that again and it made me feel ecstatic.

Even though I hadn’t felt this good in, like, forever, and I have missed my mom like crazy, there had to be a reason that I was with her now, and Mom had always been honest with me, even during the roughest parts of her cancer.

“It’s been three years, mom,” I grinned, and then turned serious, “but why are we here?”

“My brave A Thaisce, you’re always asking the hard questions. I’m so proud of you. We are here so I can prepare you for what’s coming. You will soon be challenged. Just remember that you have been chosen to do this. It won’t be easy, baby, but I have faith in you. God will help you through this.”

“What? What can I do? I’m just a boy.”

“Honey, God can take your weaknesses and make them your strengths. All things are possible through Him. He is everywhere and in all things. Know that you will always have help. There will be guides, sent by God, to guide you through the coming years. They will teach you and train you to be the man you were meant to be. Just remember that people know God by different names, like The Great Spirit, or Sky Grandfather. Trust those sent by God. You can tell them by their spirit, for you have the ability to know if they have a good spirit or a bad spirit. If their fruit is good, then they are good. Have faith in God, and He will protect you and provide for you. Then you can do the same for those you love.”

I was nervous. I had come out to my father and the rest of my family, but Mom had died before I could tell her.

“You… you know about Joey and me?” I asked, averting my gaze for the first time.

“Yes, Andy, and I approve.” She wrapped her arms around me. “A love that’s pure, like the one you share with Joey, can never be wrong in the sight of a loving mother, and I love you so very much, A Thaisce.” She hugged me tighter and tears washed my face when she accepted me.

“Andy, we don’t have much longer,” she said as we pulled apart. “Remember everything I’ve told you. Listen to your father, for he is wise and knowledgeable. Let him guide you when you aren’t sure. Let Joey be your light in the darkness. He will guide your footsteps between right and wrong. Have faith in God, in your love for Joey, and his for you. And always remember that I love you, and I’m proud of you.”

“Yes, Mom, I’ll do as you ask. I really miss you, Mom. Will I see you again?”

She noticed the pleading in my eyes. “Only God knows the future, Andy. But I know one day, we will be together.”

“I have so many questions, Mom. Are you all right? Are you happy?” I intertwined my hands with hers.

“Oh Andy, you have no idea how happy I am. I miss you and your father very much, but there is so much joy and happiness in heaven. Remember the Bible verse ‘God is love?’” I nodded. “It’s so true. Always remember that. Love overcomes all things.” Her eyes had a little sadness in them. “When everything becomes dark and seems hopeless, call on God for help. He will answer.”

I nodded again, afraid to speak.

“Our time is up,” She said and kissed my forehead.

I wrapped my arms around her tightly. “I love you Mom. I will never forget you.”

Her hug tightened. “I know baby. I love you too.”

When she kissed my forehead a second time, darkness surrounded me again. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard beeping noises far in the distance, growing louder and louder. My eyes were closed, but through my eyelids I could see the light growing brighter. When I opened my eyes, the light blinded me and I quickly closed them.

Author Note:
“A Thaisce” is a Gaelic term of endearment meaning “[my] treasure”