"Why is there nothing good on TV on Sundays?" Benjamin said with a disgusted voice, "there is just this story about this guy who's in a coma." "Because your supposed to be out on Sundays," his mother replied. "Yeah yeah," Ben said as he arose from his couch. "I guess I'll go have fun." "That's nice dear" his mother said as he walked out the door.
Ben was turning 18 in three weeks and was also celebrating his graduation tomorrow. He had hopes of going to Stanford, but when they sent a letter of non-acceptance to him he quickly realized that it was just a dream. Ben recently had begun walking around the town and thinking. The realization of him never coming back to his home town had struck him and now he spent most of his time reminiscing. Also something seemed to be wrong. Ben couldn't put his finger on it, but something was either missing or just not right in his life.
***************
"Hey Sweetie," Ben said as he gave his girlfriend a hug. "Hey babe I missed you" Jamie said as she gripped him even closer. "You showed up late for your own graduation party," Jamie said as she began to let go "I think you get some kind of award for that." Ben looked at his watch. It read 3:30.
"I'm only a half an hour late."
"It's your party"
"So."
"So you better kiss your girlfriend before she slaps you."
Ben and Jamie had begun dating early in the summer. They had both promised not to get serious but the attraction was far to great for anything else to happen. Jamie also lived 45 minutes away from Ben which made it very difficult for them to see each other. Ben had always wanted to enter college single. But after meeting Jamie his plans had changed.
"Where the hell is Matt?" Ben asked with concern in his voice. "I'm sure he's coming Ben he is your best friend." Jamie said. "Hey Ben," a voice shouted from across the park. Ben turned to see who it was only to turn back around when the figure came into focus. It was Katie the girl who he took to the prom last year. The night had ended with Ben alone and Katie with a new boyfriend.
"Jamie this is Kate," Ben said with an annoyed voice, "Kate, Jamie." "Now how would I have heard of you," Jamie asked. "Oh this is the girl who I took to the prom so she could find a boyfriend." Ben said in a sarcastic happy voice. "Don't start with me Ben," Katie said with an angry tone. "Start with me? Ha! Don't make me laugh!"
At that point someone had grabbed Ben and began to laugh. "John!" Ben exclaimed as he lifted his little cousin up with a scoop of his arms. Jamie looked at the sky and said "Thank You." A potential disastrous situation had been averted. "So how's my little cousin doing?" Ben asked as he put down John. "Fine." John replied with a sweet innocent voice. "I haven't seen you in a while John, what have you been up to?" "Nothing," he repeated in the same innocent voice.
John was the youngest of all Ben's cousins. Ben never would say it to anyone of his other cousins but John was by far his favorite. Every Christmas when Ben would show up at his grandma's house it was always John's young innocent face that brightened up the whole holiday.
The day was going as Ben welcomed and thanked his various guests for coming to his party. There was still only one person missing. Matt. Matt had been Ben's best friend since they were 6 years old. At least that's what everyone told Ben. Ben's earliest memory was when he was 8 and broke his arm playing tag. Matt had always been there for Ben, but recently he was showing up less and less in his life. Ben just thought to himself that it was because of his new girlfriend and that he had just been spending a lot of time with her.
"Hey Champ." A voice called off from the distance. "About time you show up stinky," Ben said as he gave Matt a handshake. The day was complete now in Ben's head. No matter what happened from that moment on he couldn't be sad. His beautiful girlfriend was there, his favorite little cousin was there, and now his best friend.
***************
My eyes opened for what seemed to be for the first time in 30 years. I looked around the room. Bright lights. Machines that pulsed every time my heart would beat. I got up from my chair and looked in the mirror. I saw an old man for my reflection. His blue eyes still stuck out on his face but the rest of the features had become old and wrinkly. A woman walked into the room with the name Margie on her name tag.
"You have been asleep for a very long time Mr. Simpora," the young woman said.
Reality is easily taken away. Never forget that.