Burning the Remnants
I'm almost done. It's been 4 weeks since I had the relapse and
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I have one more dose of Prednisone to take and after my physical therapy
session this morning I can lose the cane.
Although I am getting used to having it around to keep people in
line. I'm sure most members of the
senior staff have had a least one bruise from it over the past month. But I have had enough. The staff has been pretty good about not
fussing over me, too much. Leo's been
great at keeping the staff at a distance when I'm not having a good day. I don't know how to thank him. I feel pretty good. I still get tired by the end of the afternoon
but Charlie usually manages to find me a few minutes to put my feet up and
relax. Like now. It's been a long day and I have a
headache. I'm trying to think of a
symbolic way to put an end this whole ordeal and I am not coming up with
anything.
I swing my feet off of
the desk, stand, throw my jacket on over my head and grab my cane to take it
back to my closet. I want to go up to
the residence to change. Believe it or
not I have a free Friday night. I don't know what to do with myself. I know Abbey has plans. So I am on my own.
I walk over to the
residence without using the cane. It
feels great. When I get there, Abbey is sitting on the couch reading over some
papers for her meeting tonight.
"Hi, sweetie. Sit
down. You OK? You look wiped out."
"I'm fine, just a
headache and I'm tired"
I sit down next to her on
the couch and she helps me take off my jacket and tie. She feels my forehead.
"No fever"
"I told you, it's
just a headache"
"Did you take your
last dose of Prednisone?"
"I was coming to get
it now"
"I'll get it,
something for your headache too?"
"Yeah, thanks"
I kick my shoes off and
turn on the TV. Abbey returns with a
glass of water and the pills.
"What are you going
to do tonight"?
"I hadn't thought
about it. Maybe just lay on the couch in
my pajamas."
"Jed, you have to
have a fever of at least 101 to want to spend the entire night lounging on the
couch."
"Abbey, I'm only
kidding"
"Good, why don't you
call Leo and do something with him?"
"He's still in the
West Wing, I'll call him in a
while"
"I have to go, do
you need anything before I go"
"No, I'll be fine,
really, don't make a fuss"
"I love you,
Abigail."
"Love you too,
Jed"
She gathers her briefcase
and slips her shoes on to leave. She
kisses me one last time and heads out the door.
I get up and change into
jeans and a sweatshirt. I put on some
sneakers and decide to walk back to the West Wing, to see if Leo is still
around.
Margaret is already gone
for the day when I get to Leo's office.
Leo is on the phone, sounds like he's talking to Mallory. I plop myself on the couch and put my feet
up, because I know it annoys Leo. He's
already glaring at me from the desk.
"Yeah, Mal, I'm
still here. Your Uncle Jed just walked
in and is putting his feet on my couch, again.
I will. Talk to you soon, love
you."
"Mallory say hi and
get your feet off of the furniture."
"Sure she does. Got any plans for tonight?"
"No, sir. Did you have something in mind?"
"Leo, stop the sir
crap, please. Abbey is out for the night
and I actually have no plans"
"Wow, Jed, how did
that happen?"
"No idea. How about something to eat, have you had
dinner yet?"
"No, why don't we
just order something from the kitchen and eat upstairs"
"Sounds good to
me. Nothing healthy though, between
Abbey and Mrs. Landingham I haven't had a decent hamburger in a month."
"How about
cheeseburgers and fries, no vegetables?"
"Sounds good, see if
anyone else is still around. I'll meet
you up there in a little while."
"See you in a while,
Jed"
I head outside to walk
back in the fresh air. It's a little
chilly but I am moving much faster now that I don't have the cane. I think I have an idea about symbolically
ending this whole ordeal. I just have to
ask one of my agents to get something for me.
I get back to the
residence and head for the bedroom. A
porter is there setting up some drinks.
I guess Leo has already called the kitchen. I start a fire in the fireplace. Leo comes up a few minutes later with Josh.
"Josh, I'm glad you
could come up. How about a drink?"
"Please, thanks for
inviting me, sir"
We all just have
soda. We sit around talking until the
food arrives. A porter brings it in. I
don't think a hamburger has ever tasted so good. We finish every last crumb.
"Have you two
noticed anything missing around here?"
"You lost your cane,
sir. That's really great to see"
"Thanks, Josh. I think you were as tired of it as I
was"
He smiles and takes
another can of soda off the table.
"Josh, I know things
were very hard on you during the last month.
Thanks for hanging in there and not fussing over me"
"I tried my best,
sir"
"Leo, I don't know
how to thank you for all you did for me and for Abbey. We don't know what we would have done without
you."
"Thank you sir, I'm
just glad things turned out well for you.
And I hope they continue to stay that way for a long time."
"I asked you to come
up tonight to help me symbolically end this whole ordeal"
"How do you plan on
doing that sir, I really hope it doesn't involve any Latin."
"No, Josh, no
Latin"
Just then an agent knocks
on the door and hands me the item I requested.
Leo and Josh just sit there staring at me.
"Sir, is that a
saw?"
"Very observant
Leo. Grab your coats, Josh grab the cane
and let's go outside"
They look at me like I
have completely taken leave of my senses but they follow me anyway. Once outside I take the cane from Josh.
"Leo, would you
please do the honors and cut this cane up."
"Sir? I would love to but I just want to make sure
this isn't a family heirloom"
"No, Leo, I think it
came from Wal-Mart"
"OK"
Leo neatly saws it into 3
pieces. We each take one and head back
inside. We sit on the floor in front of
the fire with me in the middle and Josh and Leo on each side. I start to say something but I just can't get
the words out. Josh and Leo each just
place a hand on either shoulder. Leo
removes the fireplace screen and counts,
"One, two,
three"
The three of us toss the
pieces of the cane into the burning embers. We just sit in silence until the
flames engulf the last reminder of my relapse.
THE END
