11 First Steps Taken (2/2)
”I don't know what to say.” Artie said as he was truly speechless.
”How about this,” David said as he was clearly speaking for them all, ”If Mohammad cannot come to the mountain then bring the mountain to him. Instead of tricking us to all come here, respect the fact that we are busy people and come to us instead. Crash in the guest room for a few days and make us pay the way for a change. It's not like you haven't earned it putting up with us. Money isn't an issue but it would be less intrusive if you came to us sometimes.”
”I'll do that next time,” Artie said to them as he padded his sons on the shoulder.
”Good because funerals are expensive!” Malcolm said with a laugh.
”That they are.” Artie said as he recalled paying for a wake. ”I don't want to do that again anytime soon.”
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”Neither do we,” Dick said as he hugged his father, ”Neither do we.”
”We may disagree on a lot,” Malcolm said as he shook his father's hand, ”But that doesn't mean I don't love you. The same goes for all of you.”
”Deep down he's just a big softie.” David said.
”Keep that to yourself.” Malcolm chided back.
After saying their goodbyes, Artie watched as the three cars all departed one at a time much like had they had arrived. As they drove off into the distance, Artie for a change left the holidays with hope for the future. For the first time since his wife passed away, he looked forward to the New Year and the promises they held. When the cars all finally vanished from sight, he walked back into the house and began to clean up from the mess that was left from having four adults and as many kids there for a whole week. Was a chore he was proud to do as it was the sign of what a good time he and the rest of them had had. When it was taken care of and the trash properly tossed out, Artie sat down and at his desk with a glass of scotch and relaxed. He used a key to own a locked drawer in his desk and pulled out the medical papers he had been looking over for months. The very forms that reminded him about the tumors and how aggressive they had been despite the he had taken to fight them. The old man didn't have the heart to tell him. This holiday was truly going to be his last, which was the reason for his deception. He wasn't going to live to see the next one so he did whatever he could to make this year the best it could possibly be, even if it meant deceiving his own children. He was going to keep his word; the next funeral wasn't going to be fake and it was going to come a lot sooner than they had hoped. Artie looked at the forms and concluded he would try treatment again. He had considered letting go and passing on without a fight but seeing his kids and the things they wanted to do gave him the zeal he needed to carry on. He would contact the doctor the next week and sign up for another round. If he didn't make it, it would no longer be from a lack of trying. Artie had all the motivation he needed; one more Christmas with the family.