In the End

Story two

When I woke up I did something different. We have a table on our back porch we never use, after hearing Lee's first story I wanted to change. I cleaned off the table woke up the kids and we ate and talked on the porch. No newspaper, nothing. When it was time for them to get dressed, I helped pick out their outfits. I called the hospital saying I was going to be late. I just wanted to watch Jack and Beth get on the bus, its been so long.

When I did leave for work, I took the back roads. Took my time. I always wanted to live in the country, we live in the country, but I want to live 15 or 20 minutes from town, it takes about 5 or 10 now.

When I got to the hospital, Helen came up to me "Room six had a little scare last night." "Is he alright?" "Yeah, it was a blood pressure problem. I think he should tell you his stories a bit faster, he's starting to ware out." I close my eyes holding in the tears. "Its always the nice ones that go." I said "Sadly that's true." Helen said. After that I walked into his room he was sleeping, but Iris was there. "I love him." she said "Me too." She looked up and smiled "Most people when they look at him think he looks old and fragile, but in my eyes he is still the young and strong man I married." "Can you tell me how you guys met?" I asked "He will include that in his story. He told me that he tells you stories of his life." "Yeah, he has made a huge impact on my life." Soon, Lee wakes up "Hello Lee do you think you are up for telling me your story." "I always am." he giggled. I walked out and carried on with my day.

After lunch I began to feel sick. I ate a hamburger from the cafeteria, it must not of been cooked all the way. People told me I need to go home, but I needed to hear Lee's story. Food poisoning isn't contagious.

I walked into Mr. Charltons room right after my shift. "Ready for my story!" I say with excitement. "Are you sure I don't want to bore you." "Trust me you're not boring me." We share a laugh "Where did I leave off?" "You stopped when you were talking about Henry, and your leg." He nodded his head.

"When I returned home my parents told me we got new neighbors while I was gone. I went over to say hi and what do I find? The prettiest girl to this day, I couldn't keep my eyes off of her, the more she talked the more I found myself falling in love. She had the prettiest green eyes I've ever seen. We dated for two years and I was ready to marry her. Of course she said yes. We got married January 11, 1942. The best day of my life. Then, in 1948 Iris gave me the news that she was pregnant. We were thrilled,but about sixteen weeks in she miscarried. We were devastated. We decided to try three years later. That was the successful child. We named him Henry after my old friend. We decided not to have anymore after that. Shortly after Henry was born, my own father passed away. Then a few more years later my mother. After that we moved closer to Springfield, where I grew up. When Henry was 24 he married Lora. I believe September 4, 1975. They had three kids Courtney, Johnny, and Lee. Now isn't that just nice of them. Of course they are out of College doing their own thing."

"That's awsome" I say "Do you have kids?" he ask "Yes, twins actually, Jack and Beth." "Courtney told me YOLO and I asked what that meant. She said you only live once. I think that's the stupidest thing a young kid should say. You're to young to be worried about the end. Don't worry about the regrets you will have in the end, if you miss something it shouldn't be your fault that you were busy, or you were trying something new. I say don't even worry about it. Heck I'm 92 and I'm about to die. I don't care, I had my chance to dance and it was great. Yeah, I'm going to miss the people that have been around me, but in the end that doesn't matter. In the end it doesn't matter that you got in a fist fight and lost when you were ten. In the end it doesn't matter if you were the starting pitcher for the high school baseball team. You need to tell your life story because the end just doesn't care if you had a bad or good life. That's why I'm telling you my life story. Iris and Henry and the rest of my family know what I had gone through. I needed to talk to someone different. When Jack and Beth reach the YOLO stage tell them not to sweat it. Because in the end.........everybody's equal."