The Sacrifice

By Christopher Chapman

If you are the young or the young at heart, this book is for you.
Have you ever asked yourself if you believe in miracles or what
what you would sacrifi ce for someone else?
At fi rst glance, this book is a simple love story between the main
characters Flynn and Misty.
Underneath their romance lies the notion of sacrifi ce and what an individual
would sacrifi ce so that another person may reach his or her dreams.
When Misty helps Flynn become a gentleman by her eccentric rules,
Flynn helps Misty become a woman by just loving her.
Together they solve the old age mystery of how to accomplish the
change from being love sick puppies with childish ideas towards being
emotionally responsive adults.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479703548

Christopher Chapman

After 50 odd years of wandering around the globe in a state of drunken debauchery I have now settled down in South Wales sans the debauchery and before the memory cells go completely am writing humorous articles and books in a nostalgic vein, about it all.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Christopher Chapman.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2013906775

ISBN:                  Hardcover                        978-1-4797-0353-1

                            Softcover                          978-1-4797-0352-4

                            Ebook                               978-1-4797-0354-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 06/11/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

550154

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: The Miracle

Chapter 2: The Sitter

Chapter 3: The Early Years

Chapter 4: College

Chapter 5: The Draft

Chapter 6: The End of Adolescence

Chapter 7: The Meeting

Chapter 8: The First Date

Chapter 9: The Beach

Chapter 10: Paradise by the Car Headlights

Chapter 11: The Chair

Chapter 12: The Pool

Chapter 13: The Library

Chapter 14: The Secret Room

Chapter 15: The Changing Times

Chapter 16: Christmas

Chapter 17: Playoffs and the End of the Season

Chapter 18: American Championship Bowl, Here We Come!

Chapter 19: The Interview

Chapter 20: The Pregame

Chapter 21: The American Championship Bowl

Chapter 22: Rehabilitation and the Next Step

Chapter 23: The Time for Confrontation

Chapter 24: It Is Time for the Movies

Chapter 25: The Ring Ceremony

Chapter 26: The Charity Event

Chapter 27: To the Theme Park

Chapter 28: Wiseman

Chapter 29: The Showdown

Chapter 30: Thank God It Is Saturday

Chapter 31: Together at Last

Chapter 32: SAGE

Chapter 33: The Attack

Chapter 34: The Hospital

Chapter 35: The Death

Chapter 36: The Offer

Chapter 37: The Ending

CHAPTER 1

The Miracle

What is sacrifice? By most definitions, sacrifice is the act of giving up something you love for the common good. Sacrifice can be defined as just the act of giving or the act of giving up your dreams so someone can fulfill theirs. Possibly, if you had the ability to read minds, you may find that every stranger who walks past you in your daily life has sacrificed something in his or her life. Have you ever asked yourself what you would sacrifice for the good of the many? Sacrifice comes with hurt and pain, in exchange for someone else’s joy and happiness. Is it an even swap? Only those who have sacrificed can answer this question.

And here is the beginning of our story.

Here in a small house, in a small farming town, in a small area of the suburbs were Patricia and Jonathon, both in their late forties. They were childhood friends who became high school sweethearts. They married and began a family right out of high school. Patricia was the homemaker and caregiver for the family, while Jonathon went to college and later earned money for the family—what some may say as a stereotypical 1950s family. Jon ended up with a prestigious job in computer engineering with a company called BMI. In the 1980s, this was the industry to have a career in. The computer age had just reached a peak level. Pat and Jon, as they were called, had been planning for their golden years for the last few years, especially after Patricia had just beat breast cancer and was in remission. Together they had raised two daughters, Janis and Christy, and have four grandchildren. They were planning on purchasing a vineyard property in the foothills and learning viticulture within the next few years. Their goal was to produce wine on their property and have a small tasting room in a rural foothill town in their golden years.

However, everything was to change with a phone call from Doctor Chapman’s office. Ring, ring, ring went the phone on a beautiful Thursday evening. Pat had been to the doctor’s only a day before for her monthly check-up. Doctor Chapman told Jon and Patricia to come to the office as soon as possible. Patricia, fearing the worst that her cancer had returned, scheduled the appointment for the next morning. Jon, also very worried, decided to go with her and take the morning off at work. Jon lay awake all night worrying about Pat. She had gone through so much over the past few years. Pat, however, was sound asleep. Jon looked at her and wondered how she could be sleeping when there is so much confusion and trouble in her life. I guess, when someone goes through cancer, he or she doesn’t worry about the worst but only look toward the positive. You understand your morality and place in the world. Pat had already appreciated her life.

After being seated inside the doctor’s office, Doctor Chapman told Patricia that she had cancer. He informed her that the cancer may be treatable. He laid out her diagnosis and treatment plans. Oh, by the way, the doctor said, I need you to take a pregnancy test.

What for? Patricia said in bewilderment.

Your tests showed indications that you may be pregnant. You have high level of progesterone.

Jon said tensely, Are you serious? I had a vasectomy many years ago.

Patricia agreed to take the test. She took the pregnancy stick and headed to the restroom. Moments later, with a look of shock on her face, Patricia exited the restroom. It is positive! The stick came back blue, it was positive, she reiterated.

Unbelievable, Jon said. How, how in the world after all these years? Why now, why now? Jon questioned to himself.

Doctor Chapman said, Jon, your turn.

What?

You can take this jar back with you tonight and return it tomorrow.

Jon came back to the doctor’s office in the morning, and low and behold, his tubes must have fused back together.

Jon, do you realize that this could have happened anytime over the last ten years? Doctor Chapman said.

Why now, why here, and now?

Patricia interrupted, Because it is our miracle.

Patricia, you have cancer and we are almost fifty years old. I don’t see how this is a miracle.

You’ll see, Jon. You’ll see.

Doctor Chapman discussed with both Patricia and Jon the risks involved with the cancer and the pregnancy, yeah, and not to mention Patricia’s age.

Jon pleaded with Patricia that the baby should be aborted due to her cancer, due to the possibility of an unhealthy baby, and due to the effects it would have on her body.

Patricia, you’re sick honey. We can’t keep the baby. Your body can’t handle it. I can’t handle it, said Jon.

Patricia asked Doctor Chapman, Can you guarantee me that the cancer will not kill me? Doctor Chapman replied, No.

Patricia told both of them that she may already be dying; however, this child is not. Patricia said, This baby is our miracle and God will see him through this.

Jon said, What about you? What will I do if something happens to you?

Patricia replied, Don’t worry about me, what is, is what will be. Jon, you need to take care of him if something happens to me.

Don’t talk like that! said Jon.

Somehow a mother’s intuition told her the baby would be a boy.

The doctor suggested they go home and think about what they wished to do.

Patricia and Jon had a long conversation that night. Their future was laid out along with the present. They discussed the negatives and the positives, the bad and the good, and the present versus the future.

God will decide my fate. This is my sacrifice for him, for the future, and for life, Patricia said to Jon.

Fate, Jon wondered, what is fate but only a moment in time that is either a chance or what some people may say is fate

Please support me, Jon. Let’s see what might become of our miracle.

Pat, you have given me everything. You have sacrificed so much for me and our daughters. Why are you willing to do this again?

Patricia said to John, Because I am a mother, a woman, and I am here to love as much as I can while I am here. What mother would not want to give the gift of a miracle? Children are our immortality, Jon.

Jon whispered in her ear, I love you. I will do whatever it takes for you and our miracle.

Patricia had a long, difficult pregnancy. She refused chemotherapy stating it may harm the baby. The doctor also informed her that her breast cancer had returned. She could not tell if it was the cancer making her sick or the pregnancy.

Well, you know the story: nine months later, Patricia went into labor while taking a walk in the neighborhood with Jon. The labor lasted as long as the trip to the hospital and the check-in.

After a few hours, a baby boy was born, but Patricia’s time with her miracle did not last long because the sacrifice was too much. Patricia died while holding the baby in her arms. When she fell asleep, everyone thought she was tired from labor, but she never woke to feel life again. With human life comes human death. She did not die from cancer or from problems from giving birth, like Jon and Doctor Chapman had feared, but from aneurysm in her brain.

Jon was now all alone with a new baby boy. Jon named him Flynn after his favorite actor Errol Flynn.

CHAPTER 2

The Sitter

Occasionally, Jon was able to get his daughters to help him take care of Flynn. His daughters were already out of the home with their own family, but they decided to help their dad, not because of Flynn but because they felt sorry for their father. Actually, his sisters always resented Flynn through the years. They believed he was no miracle, but rather the cause of their mother’s death.

When Jon’s daughters could not help watch Flynn, the next door neighbor, Elderae Casserly, volunteered to help with Flynn. Jon offered to pay her, but she always refused. Elderae would watch Flynn when Jon needed to run errands, go to work functions, or any other time that Janis or Christy could not watch Flynn.

When Flynn was of school age, Flynn would go to Elderae’s house before and after school until his dad came home from work. Elderae was a sprite, English woman born on the seaside of a coastal town in England. She neither had a mother nor a father. She was an orphan. She was never lucky enough to be adopted when she was young. She was placed in boarding schools her entire life. Her young childhood at the orphanage and boarding schools embedded in her the wild spirit that she would become. Was she English Proper? No! Fun? Definitely yes! Elderae’s husband had just passed away about a year ago from a heart attack. Her children insisted she retire and live in a retirement elderly community. Her children believed that she needed to be around people because she was a social butterfly. They did not want her to be cooped up in the house all alone. Elderae refused to go to a retirement home. Elderae was a retired music teacher from the local junior high. She had taught Flynn’s sisters while they were at school. Elderae had some grand life experiences. She would brag about being a go-go dancer on the BBC hit music show The Hits. She would show Flynn videos of herself dancing on the show over and over. She came to the United States after she fell in love with her husband in 1971. Elderae still had all of her records and would sit Flynn down and make him listen to the Rolling Stones, The Kinsmen, The Kinks, The Animals, and Herman Hermits. She enjoyed some American bands such as the Righteous Brothers. However, Elderae worshipped her British Invasion Rock. Flynn would tell her that he and his dad watched Elvis movies all the time. Elderae would say Flynny, no true fan of British music worshipped Elvis Presley. To Elderae, Elvis had just become a movie star and his music suffered. Secretly, she still loved to watch Elvis movies. She would teach Flynn the twist, the mashed potato, the watusi, the hully gully, the dog, the Freddie, the monster mash, and any other dance moves from the 1960s. Despite having had arthritis, she could really shimmy. She would also teach Flynn to sing. The time with Elderae was fun for Flynn. He thought it was a normal relationship, while others in the neighborhood said it was weird since she was not his grandma. Elderae loved Flynn like a grandson. Through the years, Flynn would continue to visit Elderae even though he no longer needed a sitter.

CHAPTER 3

The Early Years

Flynn was a cute, short boy with pudgy cheeks. Elderae’s children called him cuddles or Flynny. He had blonde hair when he was born, but every year the hair turned a shade browner. Flynn was a shy youth with a British dry sense of humor. It may have been from the Benny Hill episodes that he secretly watched at Elderae’s house. Most of the kids his age did not understand his sense of humor. Flynn was introverted, but not what some people would call deep. Flynn was always thinking about life and the what if disease. Flynn would ask his friends constantly what if. What if the sun stopped shining, what if earth was covered with snow, or what if there was a forty-day flood? The disease would drive his friends crazy.

Flynn enjoyed life and would readily make fun of himself. His attitude was like you only live once, so go out and go for it.

When not in school or playing sports, Flynn spent most of his time with his father. They would watch Errol Flynn and Elvis movies together at night. His dad loved football. His dad was once an All-American at UCLA. He was a fantastic athlete until he fell off a ladder while putting up Christmas lights after his senior season. He broke his kneecap and tore the interior ligament in his knee. His father never climbed a ladder nor played football again. He made Flynn put all the Christmas and Halloween decorations when Flynn was a youth, because he was afraid of getting hurt again. They would spend Saturday, Sunday, and Monday together watching football. His dad was a fan of the local professional team, The Seals. They would go to home games together and participate in tailgate parties. Football was their thing together, their time. Flynn would play pass and catch with the other kids in the parking lot. At school, Flynn would participate in pick up flag football games. Even at a young age, Flynn was fast. Neighborhood kids nicknamed him the road runner. Flynn actually liked hockey much better than football. However, he could never tell his dad that.

Flynn enjoyed the time he and his father had together. However, just like any young male, life was not always peachy with his dad. Several instances in Flynn’s youth shaped his psyche growing up. Flynn remembered a time when he wanted to quit soccer. Flynn told his dad that he hated running around the soccer field just to try to kick a ball.

His father’s response was, You will never quit at anything.

But, Dad, why? I stink at soccer. I’ll try something else, I promise. I’ll be good at it too, you’ll see, Flynn tried to explain.

Flynn, quitting makes you appear inferior. It lets people think that you are a failure and not good enough mentally or physically. You were not meant for anybody to think you are not superior.

Flynn generally received Bs and As on his report card. When Flynn received his first C grade, it was also his last after his dad found out and grounded him for two months. Flynn remembered asking his dad what was wrong with a C grade because it was passing.

Jon’s response was, C means that you are average.

Flynn replied, You know I have a hard time with Mathematics dad.

Jon answered, Flynn you were not born to be average.

Oh yeah, there was a time when Flynn refused to volunteer for a Veterans Day parade and dinner because Flynn wanted to go to a birthday party and sleep over. When he told his dad this, Jon immediately responded, Flynn there is no such thing as doing too much. There is only a problem with doing too little. The latter means that you either did not try hard enough or that you did not care enough.

Dad, there are other people helping out. I just want to hang out and have fun.

Flynn, don’t you care about being the best person you can be. Always ask yourself who needs you more."

I know, Dad, but I just want to hang out and be one of the guys.

"Flynn, you are not just another guy. Are you? Flynn,