The Final Moment

by Stephen Nielsen

  The halftime show starts and the boys aren’t back; I can only assume that they have ordered some fries to eat at the bar and not out here. “So do you know which college you are gonna apply to?” I shout to Riley above the noise. “Umm, no, not yet. Jack has gotten a few scholarship offers to some places and we are looking at them; somewhere in Cali probably. How about you and Chris?” she replies. “Yeah, we are thinking about Baylor. It is a Christian school and seems like a nice place. Maybe he can be the new ‘RG3’,” I point out.

  RG3 is the Redskins quarterback; he was at Baylor last year and runs a college style offense. He also has another rookie with him on offense, Alfred Morris. He is the Redskins’ leading rusher and my favorite player.

  The boys come back with the drinks and settle in for the second half. It is an intense second half with a few interceptions thrown from Romo and a few punts by Sav Rocca. The final score is 38 to 37 for a Redskin win.

  I am the last one dropped off and gives Chris a kiss on the cheek.

  I am blonde 5’5 with green eyes. My house is about 4000 square feet and has two stories. I share it with my two little brothers, Max Miles who is 14, and Terrence Miles who is 10. My bothers both have short brown hair, both are also pretty athletic. I normally have to take care of them when my mom and dad are out. This is basically every day until my parents get home from work. My dad, Austin Miles, and mom, Ashlyn Miles, both work at their own firm that they had started a few years back when we moved here. My dad is the CEO and chief architect while my mom is the boss of communications and public services. The business is quite successful and now has over 100 employees.

  My brothers are both into golf; I play a bit with Riley, but we aren’t very good. Chris and Jack are pretty good. However, they only play for fun and both have around a 15 handicap I think. Jack and Chris seem to be good at nearly every sport they have tried; I think it is because they are really athletic and fit. Riley and I are pretty fit and slim as well, we also run together every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Both of us are cheerleaders as well.

  Putting my hobbies aside; I work at my parents’ firm a couple of hours on Saturdays to get a bit of extra money in. It is not a lot of money, but enough to buy me a front row seat at any Redskins home game once a month. Most of the time I get invited out by Chris though.

  I love Sunday night dinners, we always have something that is roasted, beef, ham, turkey, or chicken. I must say I am quite a good baker/cook. I love to help my mom out with the cooking. It is one of our bonding moments you could say. That is when we would talk and interact the most with each other.

  “I swear you guys can’t get enough of golf,” I say to my brothers as I walk in the living room. Staring at the TV Max says: “So. Is there a problem with that?” At that moment my dad comes in and says: “Nope there isn’t. Who is winning guys?” Insert here some geeky stat about how many fairways whoever is winning hit I think to myself. Before they can respond I turn off the TV, and tell them, “Dinner is ready. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 6: Riley

  It is Christmas Eve and I still don’t have a present for Jack! What am I going to do? I know Christmas isn’t all about the presents, but it will still be nice if I get him something. I wonder what he is going to get me or what he has gotten me. Well I hope it is nice; who am I kidding? All of his gifts were nice. There was the bracelet he got me for my birthday, the chocolate that were supposed to look like hearts that he made, and this beautiful picture of us. Speaking of the picture I need some cash to buy him something. I slowly slide the back of the picture and find only ten dollars in it. Ugh!

  I park the car next to the bank and get out. Sadly there is a line at the ATM so I have to wait. The sky is grey; it looks like some rain is coming soon. Hurry up people! Finally it is my turn. I put my card in and enter the pin code. I want 100 dollars in tens. I am about to click the OK button when I notice that there is a 10 dollar bill that the person in front of me had left. He is an old man, maybe around 80. I look around frantically trying to see if I can find him. Yes! There he is, about to cross the street. I press the button, take my money and card, and take off after him.

  “Sir! Sir!” I shout. I come up beside him and say with a smile, “Hi. I think you left this at the ATM back there.” He opens his wallet, checks his money, looks at the receipt and says: “You are right. Thanks.” He didn’t take it so I ask, “Are you going to take it?” He looks around then said: “I’ll tell you what, you keep it and if you see a beggar then give it to them. If not, just keep it.” “I will do sir,” I reply then walk back to my car.

  I stop outside of a gaming store. As it so happens there is a beggar close to the entrance. What to do... I could keep the 10; it is not like that old man will know. Plus, the beggar might go and buy beer or cigarettes. No! Why am I even questioning it?

  “Here,” I say as I give it to the man. What else to say … it pops into my mind, of course. “Merry Christmas,” I say with a smile. I walk into the store and pick up the new Madden 13. I’m sure Jack will like this; he has about every Madden except for this one. I read the price tag, 40 dollars; he better get me something nice.

  I walk up to the cashier and hand the case over. “How much you give that fellow outside?” he asks. “A ten, why?” I respond. I hand over the 40 dollars and he gives me the game with the receipt in a bag. “Thank you,” he says. I nod and leave the store. Odd he didn’t give me a response after I replied. I open the case to check if the disc is OK. Yep, it is fine as always. I put it back into the bag and feel two sheets of paper.

  I run back into the store and say: “You accidentally added this into the bag.” I hand over a 10 dollar bill. He refuses the note and says: “No, you did a good thing out there. You didn’t know whether he would waste it or spend it wisely.” “Are you sure …” he cuts me off by saying, “Yes, I am positive.”

  Chapter 7: Jack

  I am in a well-known jeweler shop looking for a good gift for Riley. She already has a bracelet from me and a ring is too soon, but I want to be the one to put it on her. I explain my situation to one of the jewelers. “Yes I understand your situation. We have some nice necklaces over here,” the woman directs me as she speaks. Showing me to some of the necklaces she says: “Here we have our open heart collection.” “Um,” I started, “Do you have anything with a cross on it?” Quickly she said: “Yes, if you will follow me.” There are ones that have diamonds covering them, there are also some gold ones.

  “What are these?” I ask pointing to two open hearts with angel wings. “That is the Angel Heart Necklace for fifty-nine dollars. You can get them with different types of stones,” she says. “I’ll take one of those with a white stone please. Can you wrap it?” I ask as we moved over to the counter. “I can. That will be 59 dollars,” she says. I hand over the money and leave the store.

  The mall is kind of big depending on where you are. It is like 500 yards long and I don’t know how wide. I walk to go look at a sports store that is quite a way away from Kay. I need some new laces for my shoes. The laces have gotten worn out over the course of our football season. We finished with as many wins as we had losses; we didn’t make it as far as I had hoped. Besides that the scouts had been watching me and I did play pretty well.

  I got offers from Oregon, UCLA, LSU, and Old Miss. Riley and I have now narrowed it down to either UCLA or Oregon. UCLA is probably what we are going to go to. They have everything that Riley needs and a good football program. After college I hope to go to the big league: the NFL.

  I don’t find anything in the store that fits with my shoes so I walk outside to the parking lot and I see my car in the distance. As I am walking towards my car, still a way away, I see a car in front of my car blocking it from my view and hear a crunch. I run to the car and the owner of the other car had quickly pulled into a parking spot with the front of the car facing out.

  I get to my car and see that the man who had hit it is pretending like he just got to his spot and that someone else hit m
y car. I shout: “Hey! Why did you hit my car?” He responds by saying: “It wasn’t me. It was the guy leaving in that white sedan over there.” There is a white sedan and it has just passed through this lane. I see him and say to the man who I think hit my car: “Look sir, I saw you hit my car from over at the south entrance. You don’t have to lie about it. I want your phone number and your insurance will be paying for this I assume.” “Hey kid it really wasn’t me. It was that sedan that is now gone,” he replies. “Look here mister,” I say sternly, “I know it was you and I don’t want or have to get others mixed in with this. Just do what I have asked or pay me what you think is the right amount for the damage and I’ll follow up with you after the repairs, OK?” At that moment an elderly lady comes over from her car and tells us: “I have already called the police and they are on their way here.” Looking at the man she say, “I saw it was you and you can see a dent on your car at the back over there.” She starts to move towards the back of the suspect’s car when the man pushes her back.

  Catching her before she falls on the pavement I say: “Hey man that is not cool or right. You know just as well as I do that you hit my car, now let me see the back of your car.” I try to move past him, but his fist connects with my jaw and I spin around.

  He climbs back into his car, starts the motor and is about to drive away when the police pulls right up in front of him. “What is the problem here,” the police officer asks as he steps out of his car. “Well,” I start, “The man in the car crashed into my car and won’t admit it, and then this woman called you and backed me up. She tried to show me evidence on the back of his car when he pushed her over. I caught her and also attempted to look at the back when this man punched me in the face.” He asks the other two with me if what I said was correct, the woman nods yes and the man no. The officer proceeds to handcuff the man and myself. He then runs both of our car’s plates through his system and checks if either of us has been in a collision before.

  He walks to the back of the man’s vehicle and sees a dent with white paint. On my car there is a dent with some red paint. He lets me go and arrests the man for assault and battery. The officer tells me to get it repaired and bring the bill to the station the following day so that they can give it to the man and the man would then pay for it.

  While the repairs are being done I write Riley a card to go with my gift. It goes something like this:

  Dear Riley, I thank God every day that I have someone like you in my life. I don’t know what he has in store for us in our next few years. Whatever happens is for our sake and I hope it is that we stay together. Merry Christmas. I love you so much, Jack. P.S. I like UCLA better, what do you prefer?

  Finally they are done with the repairs and I drive to the police station to drop off the bill to give to the man. They weren’t expecting me, but they take the bill anyway and I am on my way home.

  “Hi Sophie? It is Jack” I say over the phone. “Hi Jack, what do you need?” she replies. Can you come out and get something that I have for your sister?” I ask. “Sure thing, I’m coming out now. Bye Jack.” She hangs up.

  “Here, can you put this under the tree? It is for Riley,” I ask Sophie. “Sure thing. Did you get anything for me?” she asks me. “Umm,” I looked around the car, pick up a chocolate bar and say: “Chocolate?” We laughed. “No thanks,” she replies with a smile. “Alright, I best be going. Merry Christmas to everyone. Bye,” I say as I speed away.

  “Oh honey!” my mom exclaims, “Are you OK?” “Relax mom,” I reply, “I’m fine. Someone didn’t want to fess up after he hit my parked car. I was going to go around his car to see the back when he hit me.”

  Chapter 8: Chris

  Christmas morning is finally here. It is not a white Christmas like some people wanted. It is pretty grey outside; the sun is only just rising. I pick up my Bible and randomly open it to a page and start reading. I usually just read one or two verses, then pray. Today I read a whole chapter and there is one verse that stands out at me. It is Philippians 4:13, it says: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Next year on March the 14th will mark one year without my mom. I have relied on God to get me through that and He did. Sure I still miss her, but I am glad that she is somewhere better now, in a place with no sin, tears, or fear.

  I walk downstairs and open my laptop. I wish everyone on Facebook a Merry Christmas. I can see by the posts of my friends what they all got. Some got a new phone, others money, and watches. I walk over to look in my sock that is hanging over the fireplace. I feel inside, there are a few cards in it. I pull them out and sit back down to read them. There is one from the Warners, the Hardys, Emily, and a few other families. The first two are pictures with writing on the back, written by the moms probably, and everyone had signed it. The one from Emily is a personal letter with a picture of both of us on the front.

  Christmas dinner is going to be held at the Warner’s place at 6:00. We are welcome to come earlier and play a game of touch football in the back. We have to bring some kind of casserole, green bean or broccoli, I don’t know. My brother and I try to help dad make it, it kind of gotten out of hand when we lose track of what is supposed to go in next. Anyway I hope it turns out tasting alright.

  We arrive at around 3:00 PM and are surprised that the other families are already there and the “kids” are outside playing. I tap Bob on the shoulder and say: “Hey, let us go join the others outside and play.” We, of course, hadn’t forgotten our manners and we thank Mrs. Warner for the invite.

  “Hey guys, what’s up?” I ask everyone. They all turned around and stare at me. Weird I think to myself; and where are the girls? I have just seen them out here before. “Hello people,” I repeat. They are frozen there and are not saying anything. I start to walk towards them when I feel water bursting on my left shoulder and spraying my face. The spray forces me to turn to the right and I catch a water balloon right in my face.

  The people on the grass burst out in laughter and the girls come out of hiding. Jack’s dad produces a towel and gives it to me. I am standing still with a very surprised look on my face. Bob is still laughing as he hands me a plastic bag. It is a change of clothes. Obviously Bob knew about this whole trick. I wipe myself as dry as I can so don’t get the house wet as I make my way to the bathroom.

  I come out again and get a proper greeting. I even got a hug from Emily, although that is pretty normal. We divide up the teams so that it will mostly be fair. I have Riley, Mr. Warner, Steve, Mr. Miles and Terrance on my team. Our opponents are: Jack, Ryan, Emily, Sophie, Max, and my dad. It is a pretty fair game, and by the time we are called in to eat it finishes 145-128 to us, we win by a touchdown.

  The dinner is amazing. The parents sit together at one table and the kids sit at another. Jack, Riley, Emily, Ryan, and I sit at one end and mainly ask Ryan what college is like and what to expect. He in turn asks us how we are doing.

  The dinner and desserts are both very delicious as well. As I am saying goodbye to everyone I notice that Riley is wearing something shiny. I walk over to give her a goodbye hug and ask, “Where did you get that necklace?” “Oh,” she says as she touches her necklace, “Jack got it for me as Christmas present.” “I hope Emily doesn’t feel left out that I didn’t get her anything,” I say and give her a hug. “But you guys don’t really do presents right? She said that she didn’t mind that you didn’t get her anything,” Riley responds. “Yeah, that is true. Oh good. See you later,” I say and walk away.

  Chapter 9: Chris

  I have just finished my last exam of my senior year and head out the door to wait for Jack and Riley and meet Emily. I walk up to Emily, give her a hug and ask, “How did your exam go? And have you seen the others?” “It went well I think. And no I haven’t seen … Oh yes they are right over there,” comes the response and she points over to the doors.

  The two come over and Jack is the first to speak, “Hey guys. Aren’t you relieved that it was our last exam of High School?” “Not real
ly,” I start, “We now have about four more years of college with exams.” “Oh come on, look on the bright side please. I don’t want to think about college until I have to,” he responds. Emily speaks this time and says: “Speaking of college, this was the last exam. It is about time you told us where you guys are going. Oregon or UCLA?”

  Jack and Riley look at each other for a moment. Jack speaks first: “Well you see, the Duck’s uniform is much nicer than a Bruin’s I think.” Now it is Riley: “But we are going to go to UCLA and be a Bruin. So, we can’t be with you guys at the same place together for a while. We’ll Skype together, OK?” “OK, good to know that you are going to a good school,” I say. Turning to Jack I say: “So today is the last day we see you then, right? Cuz you are going on your summer holiday tomorrow and then college.” “Yeah that is right,” Jack confirms.

  Emily says solemnly: “So this is goodbye then. I hope you guys have a great rest of your lives.” Jack responds to that by saying: “The day is not over yet guys. What about a celebration and goodbye dinner?” Riley chimes in: “Yeah that it a great idea. How about Italian?” We all agree to meet at 6:00 at the restaurant.

  We start walking to our cars and I ask Jack: “So what does your dad think of you going to UCLA?” “I don’t know. He is probably planning something so that I cannot make the games or something,” Jack replies. “You are really paranoid about it, why do you just relax. I’m sure your dad won’t do that to you,” I respond. Then he says: “Trust me you don’t know my dad; when he wants something then he tries for it. I have no clue what is driving him to try and destroy my ambitions of being a NFL wide receiver.” I shake my head in unbelief and get in my car.