**July 21, 1980**
“Hi! Can Brian come out to play today?” I asked Jackie when she answered the door.
“Sorry Anne he’s very sick. Remember when he fell yesterday?” I nodded my head yes. “Well, when we took him to the doctor’s office, and they sent him to the hospital.”
“Does my mommy know?”
“I was just ‘bout to call her.”
“Okay, tell Brian to feel better so I can play wit him.”
“I will,” Jackie answered with a weak smile. I went back home sad because I had no other friends from the neighborhood to play with and now my buddy Brian is in the hospital.
**September 6, 1980**
“Annie, dear, come here,” my mom said.
“Yes, mommy.” I looked up from the TV screen.
“Come sit on my lap.”
“But mommy Sesame Street is on,” I pouted.
“Please.”
“Okay” I got up from my beanbag and sat on her lap on the couch.
“As you know, Brian is in the hospital… well honey I don’t know how to say this but Brian is dying.”
“Oh mom, you’re silly. You don’t die till you’re 100.”
“Honey, you can die right now, doesn’t matter how old you are.”
“Mom…” I didn’t understand what she was saying.
“Listen. You know if your heart stops beating you’re in trouble, right? Well Brian’s stopped for 30 seconds.”
“Wow. Can I go see Brian? I miss him. I haven’t talked to him on the phone in ages Mommy!”
“No, you can’t, but ya’ know what you can do?”
“What?”
“Can you pray to God for me?”
“Sure, I’ll pray for Brian. I want him to get better.”
“Thank you.”
Later that day:
“God, can you make Brian feel all better. I really miss him. Who am I supposed to play cops and robbers with? And I don’t wanna see my mom and Brian’s mom cry anymore. Please God? Thank you. Amen.”
The next day:
“Annie wake up.”
“What? Is there a new Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood on?”
“No, but guess what?”
“What c’mon, I hate to play guessing games.”
“Brian is all better, he can come and play with you in 2 weeks.”
“I knew he would get better, I prayed last night.”
“Thank you.”
Chapter 2
