Miguel: So what are you trying to say?

Miguel is still in the hospital as a doctor sits down next to him looking at some charts. Miguel has just received some news about himself.

Doctor: Well you blood is lacking a large number of nutrients, and the loss of blood you received didn’t help things. I’m afraid.. you have a serious condition. Tell me Mr. Tigre… do you suffer from insomnia?

Miguel: Yeah I’ve had it since high school.

Doctor: Okay.. are you prone to fits of irritability?

Miguel: You mean am I moody? Yeah.. more than I care to discuss.

Doctor: Yes well.. we did some tests on you and .. you have some unusual brain activity. Tell me did you suffer at blow to the head as a child?

Miguel: [now concerned] Yeah.. I fell down a ditch and split my head open on a pipe when I was 4.[looks at the doctor oddly] Is this going anywhere?!

Doctor: Miguel….. there’s no real way to put this to you.. but.. you have 2 major problems. One you have a rare blood disorder.. much like sickle-cell anemia . It’s a condition where blood cells start to deteriorate…. It’s rare and mostly found in hybrids.

Miguel: [balls his fists up and trembles] Is this why I get convulsions and spit up blood?

Doctor: No.. that’s the second problem…[sighs and looks at him] you have a brain tumor. There was brain damage done to you when you suffered that injury when you were four.. and sadly.. it’s been getting worse.. your illness has aggravated it.. it’s not something we can just remove….I’m afraid it’s branched deep into some portions of your brain. If we operated on you.. there’s a slim chance you wouldn’t make it.. and even if you did.. there’s a chance there would be serious side effects.. you could go blind, lose memory, or even be a vegetable.. and there’s still a chance you’d die soon afterwards anyway.

Miguel:[is claws tear into his sheets as he fights back tears] I..[composes himself] I don’t suppose you have some good news?

Doctor: I wish I did.[closes the chart]

Miguel:[lowers his head again] How long?

Doctor: A year, a year and a half at the most.. but we can give you treatments to prolong..

Miguel: I’d be dependent on chemicals and drugs to stay alive? No way.

Doctor: I’ll give you some time to consider..

Miguel:[takes his arm] Do me a favor..[looks at the doctor] keep this between you and I.. I don’t want anyone else knowing.

Doctor: As you wish.[gets up and stops at the door] I’m sorry.

Miguel: No more than I am.. believe me.

The doctor leaves and Miguel breaks down crying. So over come with grief. Thoughts of all the time he wasted, and the things he wanted to do, and the things he’d never get to do.. then what hit him worse was.. he finally had something he wanted.. and now he was going to lose it…Sabrina. This only makes him tremble all over in rage and sadness. Then the phone rings in Miguel’s room. He stops and looks at the phone. He wipes his eyes and clears his throat and answers.

Miguel: Hello?

The scene changes to Sabrina and Amy’s place. Thomas is on the phone as Sabrina walks madly in circles, hysterical. Amy tries to calm Sabrina down but she’s unsuccessful. Thomas hands the phone over to Sabrina. She takes it and puts it to her ear.

Miguel: Listen gypsygal.. you’re stressed, and really, really tired. Do me a favor.. get some rest.. eat something.. whatever it is that’s bothering you.. you can handle or fix with a calm cool head okay. Do this for me… please?

Sabrina: Sigh. Okay.. okay tiger. [slicks her hair back] But…

Miguel: [wipes his eyes again] Whatever it is.. it can wait.. just get some beauty rest.. not that you need it mind you.[smiles weakly]

Sabrina:[smiles weakly also] Okay.

Sabrina drops the phone and wobbles to her room shutting the door behind her. Thomas picks up the phone and thanks Miguel. He hangs it up as Amy hugs him.

Amy:[places her finger on his nose] Very sweet thing you did there.

Thomas:[puts his arms around her] Yeah well it was a long shot.. but hey..it was worth a try.

Amy: Remind me to thank you later.

Thomas: Well um.. I’m not doing anything right now.

Amy:[smiles] Yes you are…[hands him a towel] your turn to do the dishes. Later.[walks off]

Thomas: [glares] No Amy.. I will not do the dishes.. it’s your turn and don’t think you can sweet talk me into doing it either.[scene pans back to him washing dishes] yeah.. that’s what I should have said. Sigh.

Miguel sits in his bed and sighs. He wipes his eyes and looks at the reader. He slowly composes himself and speaks.

Miguel: Quite a shock huh? Funny.. I used to kid about something like this happening, it was either this or dying on my wedding day. Sigh. So what do I do now? Deep down inside I want to leave.. get up and run… just leave Sabrina and go off and die. [lowers his head and trembles for a bit. His hands dig into his sheets. Finally he straightens himself up and looks back at the reader.] But I’m not going to…. I finally found the person who I want to spend the rest of my life with.. I may not be able to grow old with her… but I’ll be damned if I let life beat me. I’d rather spend my final days loving her.. being with her.. than die alone. I’m staying with Sabrina… till the end. But I can’t tell her.. how would she handle this..[swallows hard] I will tell her.. just not right now. Fact is……… I need her more than ever. I’m not going to let this have it’s way.. I will live with Sabrina.. I will love her..and god help me.. I will make my last days on this god forsaken earth…. count for something!![punches the wall and puts his fist through it] Great.. sigh.. [shoulders droop] they’re going to add this to my bill.

The following day Sabrina wakes up and stretches. She looks at her clock.. it’s 1:45 PM. She overslept, but she did feel better. She crawls out of bed and gets to her feet. She takes her glasses from her night stand and puts them on. She then looks at the picture of Miguel next to where her glasses were. She smiles and picks it up. She holds it close to her.. as her tummy rumbles loudly.

Sabrina:[sweating put the picture back] Yeah food would be good right now.

Sabrina sits at the table eating like mad. Thomas sets a plate of hotcakes in front of her then pulls his arm away fast as Sabrina stabs the stack with her fork and places them on her plate.

Thomas: WOW!![holds his hand and stares at Sabrina putting it all away] Almost lost a finger that time?

Amy:[smiles and walks over to Sabrina] In a better mood are we?

Sabrina:[drinks some milks an then speaks] Yeah a lot better, thank you.

Amy: Well… I’d hate to rain on your parade.. but you did the DUMBEST thing you could ever do last night?

Sabrina: [smiles] Really? Did I try and put the moves on Miguel again? [giggles as she drinks some more milk]

Amy:[leans over looking at her with her hands on the table] No.. you don’t remember doing this?

Sabrina: [a bit uneasy now, she plays with her hair] Um no..what did I do that was so awful?

Amy:[sighs and stands up straight and places her hand on her forehead] Well without being blunt.. let’s just say.[Sabrina takes another drink of milk] You……

Sabrina’s eye open wide as her mind is flooded with the memory of what she did. She spits out the milk and soaks Thomas who was walking by with more hotcakes.

Thomas:[dripping in milk] A simple "no thanks , I’m full" would have done.

Sabrina: [gagging] Oh my god!![she places her hands in her lap and trembles like mad] I..I.. to Miguel’s mom??!! [see takes her glasses off and places her hands on her face]

Amy: Um..[hands Thomas a towel] That’s not the dumb thing you did that I was talking about.

Sabrina:[straightens up and looks at Amy] You mean there’s more!!!??

Amy: Well yeah..see Miguel got out earlier today from the hospital against doctor’s wishes.

Sabrina:[covers her mouth] Oh god. Please Amy don’t tell Miguel what I did..okay..I need to tell him when the time is right. I got a few days as I know right now Miguel won’t see his mom till he’s a bit better and his mom has had time to cool off. Shoot why did he get out already?!![looks off]Crazy guy!![gets mad] I ought to give him the chewing out of his life!!

Amy:[crosses her arms and shifts her weight from one leg to another] Um.. HELLO!!! Stupid thing I haven’t said yet.

Sabrina: Sigh..[puts her specs back on and sits back in her chair] What is it?

Amy: Late last night you got up in a groggy stupor.. crying OH GOD MIGUEL FORGIVE ME!!! And you called and left a message on his machine confessing the whole thing. [Sabrina’s hands and fingers dig into the sides of her chair as she hears that. She shrivels up her face and grinds her teeth and there’s a loud crack]

Sabrina:[ sees pieces of the chair in her hands] Um…..[sweating looks a Amy]

Amy: Yes the chair my folks gave us….but right now I’m willing to over look it, considering what you’re going through.

Sabrina: [hangs her head] Why is this happening to me?![takes a deep breath and stands up] Well there’s only one thing to do, we’ll have to go into Miguel’s house and erase that message before he hears it.

Amy: [raises an eyebrow] What do you mean WE?

Sabrina: [grabs her keys]Cause you saw me do this and you didn’t even try to stop me!!! Now come on.

Amy: [turns her head] I’d love to help but I have plans with Thomas right now.

Thomas: Um sorry , I have dishes to wash so go ahead and run along with Sabrina.[picks up Sabrina’s plate]

Amy:[glares at Thomas] This was for making you wash the dishes last time wasn’t it?[Thomas smiles and nods.. then waves good-bye to her as he goes into the kitchen] You are SOOOOO going to pay for this when I get back!!.

Sabrina:[yanks Amy off screen] COME ON!!!

At Miguel’s home the door opens and Sabrina pokes her head in and looks around. Amy walks in and heads for the bathroom.

Sabrina: WAIT!!!! [frantic]How do you know he’s not here?!?!?!

Amy:[from down bathroom] I don’t care..I’m carrying a child that’s sitting on my bladder with the weight of a wrecking ball. Sides I’m not the one who’s in trouble.

Sabrina:[sighs and sits in a chair] At least he’s not home yet.

Amy:[ a bit later walks out of the bathroom]I won’t even ask why the door to Miguel’s bathroom is a bookcase.. in all fairness I thought you were pulling my leg… but MAN.. Miguel’s bathroom is clean!! I mean you could eat off of the floor.

Sabrina: [eyes narrow] Why would you want to? [gets up and exhales] Okay let’s find that answering machine.

The girls look around and try to find it They have a hard time finding the phone to begin with. But finally after finding it they take the tape.. run a magnet over it a few times, break it and then Sabrina sets in on fire.

Amy:[watching all of this] Don’t you think you’re going a bit too far with this?

Sabrina:[putting out the fire in the trash can] Can’t take any chances. With my luck, the ashes will reform and play on it’s own.

Amy: You know.. [rolls up her sleeves]you are a perfect match for Miguel.

Sabrina:[smiles] Yeah I know…lucky me.

Amy:[looks over at Sabrina as she eggs the ashes on to smolder] Can I ask ,how you got a key to this place?

Sabrina: Miguel gave me a key to his house. For stuff like if I needed a place to crash.. or a hiding place for when my mom needed to dump Tabitha on me. He’s hardly ever here anyway.

Suddenly they hear something, and they freeze. Then they hear someone coming. They scatter just as Miguel enters his bedroom. Miguel sets his specs in his dresser and sets his Chinese shirt on a chair. He sits down for a moment and groans in pain and holds his wound. He pops some pain killers into his mouth and leaves to take a shower. Sabrina crawls out from under his bed as Amy comes out of his closet.

Sabrina:[sweating] THAT WAS CLOSE!!! [covers her mouth] Shoot.

Amy: Sure, give away that we’re here after all of that. [places her head in her hand] Can we go now?

Sabrina: No.. I have to get rid of the ashes or he’ll wonder why his trash can has something burning in it.

Amy: Fine.[walks off]

Sabrina: Where are you going?

Amy:[out the door] I’m going to start up the get away car.

Sabrina: Good idea.

Sabrina gets the ashes as best she can after dumping a glass of water on them. She puts them into a trash bag and then.. notices the water has stopped running. The bathroom door opens and Miguel walks into the room drying his hair.. nude. Sabrina sees him and stops in her tracks and turns red. Miguel has not seen her so she scurries into the closet just as Miguel stops drying his hair. He looks around and shrugs as he thought he heard something. Miguel goes and opens the closet door.

Amy:[tapping her fingers on the wheel] What the hell is keeping that girl?! [suddenly she hears Sabrina’s piercing scream and shutters as the windows in the car crack.] Crap.. she’s on her own!![Amy pulls out and drives off]

A bit later Miguel is walking. He has a mortified look on his face. Sabrina is trying her best to keep up with him. Her face is red as a beet. Miguel says nothing and does not look at her. Finally…

Miguel: I knew about the incident with my mom.. I called and checked my messages. [Sabrina whimpers] That’s why you were there right?

Sabrina: I’m sorry Miguel.. really I am!![tries her best to keep up with him] It’s just I tried to make up with her and she pushed me and I snapped and…

Miguel: I understand Sabrina.. I do. Trust me… in your shoes I would have probably done the same… you were stressed, fatigued, and barely able to stand. For that I forgive you… but..[winces as he makes a face and picks up his pace]

Sabrina:[sprinting now] I’m sorry really… it wasn’t like I broke into your house to see you naked or anything.

Miguel: [shakes his head]I know that.. but still.

Sabrina: But.. [stops as Miguel does too.. she catches her breath] It was something I was going to see anyway right? Someday? Sides from what I saw..[scratches the back of her head and sweats bullets] you really don’t have anything to be ashamed of. [Miguel stands silent for a bit and slowly grimaces and walks off again] What I say!?!?! That was a compliment!!![chases after him] Come on tiger…if you want you can see me naked.[Miguel stops in his tracks and shakes all over.. then keeps on walking]Sigh. Come on!!![yells at the top of her lungs] I DIDN’T MEAN TO SEE YOU NAKED!!!!

Sabrina covers her mouth as she sees people around her staring at her. She looks at them sweating as she then at full speed dashes off after Miguel. The people then go about their business. Sabrina catches up to Miguel who is seated on a bench in the park.

Sabrina: [fidgets a bit] I’m sorry..I really am.

Miguel: [looking down] I know. Just….

Sabrina: I know you’re embarrassed.. shoot I would be too…and you’re probably in shock and…

Miguel: That’s not all……….[sighs as he rests his arms on his knees and sits forward]I wanted THAT to happen under better circumstances. Not like that.[shakes]

Sabrina:[smiles] Aw…[sits down next to him] You’re a hopeless romantic aren’t you?

Miguel:[looks at her] Well I’m hopeless anyway.

Sabrina:[rests her head on his shoulder] My offer still stands…you can see me naked if it will even things up.

Miguel: [turns and looks at her] Someday…not right now..not like that.

Sabrina:[smiles] If that’s what you want.

Miguel:[looks away and then looks at her a bit nervous] Um.. you saw…um.. the stripes on my um.. chest and tummy.. right? That’s not normal.. and um…

Sabrina:[smiles and places her hand on his shoulder] They were cute, they’re not as freakish as I think you think they are. I take it.. no one’s ever seen them before.

Miguel: [a bit uneasy] Y..yeah. Matt and my father don’t have them.. and well…. I grew up.. feeling very uncomfortable about them.. I mean no one else had them.

Sabrina: Don’t worry.. they’re very appealing.[smiles her best smile]

Miguel: Sigh. Thanx..[lowers his head] that’s one of the big things that was bothering me about that.

Sabrina: Sides.. I wasn’t looking at them much.[face turns red]

Miguel:[face turns red and he gets up and walks off] AW GEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZ!!

Sabrina:[runs after him] HEY!!! I’m soooooooorry!!!

Meanwhile, in a café a ways off….a VERY cross panda makes her way to a table and sits down. She starts eating her baked potato as she grumbles to herself.

Hilda: I still cannot believe that girl did that to me!!![stabs the potato with her fork] It took me 2 days to get that stench off of me. I even lost some fur I scrubbed so hard. For HER sake..it better grow back!!

Hilda continues to take her anger our on her baked potato as a female skunk makes her way to the tables. We all recognize her as Endora, Sabrina’s mother. She looks around for a place to sit but finds all the tables full. She sighs until she turns and sees an empty chair at Hilda’s table. She walks over.

Endora: Um excuse me? Would you mind if I sit here with you?[Hilda looks up] All the tables are full.

Hilda:[sighs and drives her fork into the poor potato] Sure..be my guest.

Endora: Thank you very much..[sits down and sees Hilda stab and stab her potato and eating angrily] I don’t mean to pry..but is something wrong?

Hilda:[sighs] I’m fine..just.. I’m having trouble with the WOMAN.. my son is with. Lousy skunk sprayed me!!![looks at Endora who sits silent and notices she is a skunk] Oh my.. sorry..I didn’t mean to… um..

Endora: That’s quite all right. If what you say happened I don’t blame you… no civilized skunk nowadays would do such a thing.

Hilda: I tell my son that she’s bad news.. but he never listens.

Endora: If I may…. [takes a sip from her drink] I take it your son is no longer in your house. They still don’t seem to grasp that we worry about them.. even more now that they are out of our sight and protective care… we just try to look out for them. My daughter is the same way.

Hilda: When will they listen to us?

Endora: I don’t know.[smiles] I’m Endora.

Hilda: I’m Hilda.