Malcolm

Malcolm

By Drew Given

Malcolm's eyes lit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July when he saw the black Mustang in the hospital parking lot. The automatic doors to the lobby barely had time to open before he was squeezing through them and sprinting toward his brother.

Michael was smiling too wide to remind him to look both ways before crossing the street. Malcolm had been in the hospital for three weeks. Seeing him with this much energy and enthusiasm was a welcome change from the comatose boy he'd been looking at only days earlier.

Before Michael knew it, Malcolm was barreling into him like a forty pound cat that hadn't seen its owner for a week. Michael staggered a little bit, but maintained his balance. He lifted Malcolm up and pulled him into a tight embrace against his chest.

“It's good to see you, buddy,” Michael said. He barely noticed the tears in his eyes.

“Did you miss me?” Malcolm asked, his voice slightly muffled.

“I sure did. I came to see you every day while you were here.”

“But I was sleeping?”

Michael gently put Malcolm down. “Yeah, you were sleeping.”

“Well I'm awake now!” Malcolm said, bouncing up and down with excitement. And then, as if a switch flipped in his mind, he suddenly had a confused look on his face.

“What's wrong?” Michael asked.

Malcolm bit his finger. “Where's daddy?”

Michael grinned again. “Dad thought you'd like it if I came to get you and took you out for a little bit. If you'd rather go home and see him now, we can.”

Malcolm perked up. “We can play first?”

“Of course.”

Malcolm made a strange sound that Michael assumed was one of excitement, and then he walked over to the passenger side and opened the door.

“Can you move the seat for me?”

Michael looked down at him, and then to the car. He rubbed his chin for dramatic effect.

“Tell you what,” he said. “If you promise not to tell Dad, I'll let you ride up front.”

Malcolm's eyes widened, followed by his smile, which was as toothy as a four year old's could get.

“I won't tell, I promise!”

Michael nodded. “Hop in, then. Wear your seat belt.”

“Okay!” Malcolm said. He jumped in the seat and had his seat belt on before Michael had time to blink.

Smiling, Michael shut the door and walked around to his side. He got in the car and started the engine. He looked at the radio, and then to Malcolm.

“Anything you want to listen to?”

Malcolm shook his head. “I don't want music right now.”

“Fair enough.” Michael backed out of his spot and left the hospital. He checked the clock on the dashboard and saw that it was a little past noon.

“I'm hungry,” Michael said, turning onto the highway. “Want to grab some lunch?”

“Sure,” Malcolm said.

“Where do you want to eat? We'll go anywhere you want.”

Malcolm furrowed his brow and rubbed his head as he thought.

“Anywhere?” he asked.

“Anywhere.”

“Can we go to McDonald's?”

Michael nodded. “McDonald's it is.”

…

The parking lot was empty when they arrived.

It was one of the McDonald's that had an indoor Play Place. Malcolm's happiness was almost resonating in the car. Michael half thought he was going to jump out of his door before he had the car stopped. But Malcolm had always been good at being patient. It was one of the many things that set him apart from other kids his age.

He waited for Michael to get out of the car and come let him out. Normally, his brother would have walked a little slower to let him out, just to tease him a little bit, but Michael wasn't in the mood for games. He just wanted to see Malcolm enjoy himself.

Malcolm jumped out of the seat as soon as the door opened. Michael had expected him to run to the building, but instead Malcolm put his hand in the air for Michael to take. Michael smiled and grabbed it, and they held hands as they walked across the parking lot.

“If you want to go play, I can order your food and bring it to you,” Michael said when they entered the restaurant.

“Malcolm looked over at the Play Place, but shook his head. “Is it okay if I eat with you first?”

“I would love that.”

The cashier was smiling at them as they walked to the counter. “What'll it be today?”

Michael looked down at Malcolm. “Happy Meal?”

Malcolm nodded shyly.

“One Happy Meal, and a medium Quarter Pounder meal. Two chocolate shakes.”

Michael glanced at Malcolm, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Go find a seat, buddy. I'll bring the food over.”

Malcolm nodded and walked over to one of the booths as slowly and quickly as he could. When he sat down, Michael motioned to the cashier.

“He just got released from the hospital. He's been sick for a few weeks. Think you can throw in a couple extra toys?”

She looked at Malcolm and smiled. “I think I can do that.”

“Thank you,” Michael said. He gave her an extra five dollars.

Malcolm was swinging his legs under the seat when Michael walked over to the table with the food. Michael placed the tray down on the table.

“Dig in,” he said.

Michael had expected Malcolm to eat his meal at light speed and then sprint to the Play Place. Instead, Malcolm was watching Michael eat and was matching his speed. Still, it was plain on his face that he wanted to finish eating and play.

Michael swallowed a bite of his burger and said, “Hey, you want to see who can finish their food faster?”

“Yeah!” said Malcolm. “I'm going to win!”

“We'll see about that. Ready, go!”

Malcolm fit more food in his mouth than anyone his age should have been able too, but was still careful to make sure he chewed it before swallowing. Michael was impressed. He took big bites himself, but was sure to eat just a little bit slower than Malcolm.

“Can I go play now?” Malcolm asked, the second he'd inhaled his last fry.

“Go play,” Michael said. He barely saw the blur that was Malcolm scurry over to the Play Place.

…

Malcolm was sweaty when they left McDonald's, but smiling.

“You have a little ketchup on your face,” Michael said. Malcolm rubbed it away with his sleeve.

“What are we doing now?” Malcolm asked as they got back into the Mustang.

“It's a surprise,” Michael said. “But it's a long drive, so I was thinking that first, we would stop at a toy store so you can have something to play with on the drive.”

“The toy store?” Malcolm asked, as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

“Yep. You were in the hospital for a long time. You're due for some new toys.”

Malcolm all but squealed with excitement. He kept eagerly looking out the window as they drove, as though the toy store was going to magically pop up on the side of the road. Michael didn't bother hiding his grin. Malcolm wasn't going to notice.

After a ten minute drive, which probably felt like ten hours to Malcolm, they pulled into the Toys R Us lot. Again, Malcolm waited until Michael was there to hold his hand before walking into the building. They walked together, Michael taking short strides so that Malcolm wouldn't struggle to keep up.

Malcolm was on autopilot when they were inside. It was like he had a sixth sense that told him where the action figure aisle was. Michael had expected to be there for a while, but Malcolm seemed to already know what he wanted. He walked to the middle of the aisle and pointed at the middle of the wall of toys.

Michael followed his finger. “Batman? Good choice. Which ones do you want?”

Malcolm bit his lip as he thought. “Batman and Bane,” he said.

Michael grabbed them and handed them to Malcolm. He looked back up at the wall.

“You want any more? They have Joker and Mr. Freeze too.”

Malcolm shook his head. “No, two is fine.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “Why don't you want more than two?”

Malcolm raised his hands and spread his fingers. “Because I only have two hands!”

Michael laughed. “That's a good point. Okay, Batman and Bane it is.”

…

Four hours later, Michael was pulling into another empty parking spot. Malcolm was asleep with his head resting against the window, his mouth slightly open.

Michael nudged him gently. “Wake up, buddy.”

Malcolm blinked a few times, then sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked confused for a brief moment, until he looked out of his window and saw the sign that said Magic Kingdom. Comprehension dawned on his face, and for the first time all day, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Disney World!”

He was too excited to notice that the dashboard clock hadn't changed all day.

…

It was night time when they left the park. Michael was carrying a sleeping Malcolm in one arm, and seven souvenirs in the other. But he was smiling. He put the souvenirs in the trunk, and then gingerly put Malcolm in the seat and buckled his seat belt. Malcolm shifted and grunted quietly, but didn't wake up.

They had one more stop to make.

…

The boat was waiting at the dock when they arrived. Malcolm was a little groggy from sleep, but was in good spirits. He was going on his first boat ride. What Michael hadn't told him was who he was going with.

They walked up to the boat and Michael yelled, “I have another crew member for you!”

A few moments later, Malcolm's father walked out, a wide smile on his face. Malcolm's jaw dropped, and then he was running into his arms.

“I've been waiting for you,” his father said. “Did you have a good day with your brother?”

“Yeah! He bought me McDonald's, new toys, and took me to Disney!”

“Wow! Did you tell him thank you?”

“Oh!” Malcolm said. He turned to Michael. “Thank you!”

“You're welcome, buddy.” Michael looked at the man on the boat. “I think he's ready.”

The man nodded. “Let's be off, then.”

Michael waived goodbye to Malcolm, and left the dock.

…

The funeral was underway when Michael arrived at the cemetery.

There were well over a hundred people in attendance. Many of them were children. Classmates. Maybe neighbors. Everyone was crying. Some harder than others. But Michael wasn't there for everyone. He looked through the crowd, and started walking when he found who he was looking for.

The man and his son were standing together, removed from the crowd. The man had his arm around his son, and he was saying a prayer. He was crying so hard that it was difficult to make out what he was saying.

The man's name was Bruce. His son was Will. Every once in a while, Will would look up at the coffin (which was still open) and get a look at his brother, dreading the moment when it would be the final time. Michael walked up behind them and put his arms around both of their shoulders and spoke to them. They wouldn't hear him or know he was there, but they would feel his presence. His words would work their way into their subconscious, and one day they would find them and it would be as if they knew them all along.

To Bruce, he said, “This pain will never go away, but one day you will heal. In time, you will realize that your son never had to experience true pain, or loss, or suffering. He only ever saw the world as a perfect place, through the eyes of a child. He will now live for eternity, without ever knowingly experiencing death. He felt no pain in his passing, and knew only happiness as he left this world.”

To Will, he said, “Your brother left this world with nothing but love for you. In his mind, you're the brother that gave him the best day of his life. He'll continue to live that day for as long as he chooses to. One day, you'll see him again, and you can share those moments for eternity.”

As Michael turned to leave, he noticed Will look up, as if startled by something. He looked straight at Michael, but didn't see him. There were still tears in his eyes, and there were many to come, but Michael could see the seeds of healing already being sown. He smiled sadly and walked away. He watched the rest of the funeral from afar. He didn't need to hear the words. He'd heard them thousands of times before. But he watched. And he felt every grieving heart as if they were his own.

Finally, the casket was buried. The priest said the final words. Everyone left.

Bruce and Will stood by the grave for a while longer, before saying their goodbyes and leaving. Bruce drove away in his Chevy pickup truck.

Will followed him in his black mustang. 

Reviews

[Marie]

This is good, but it's too long and a little confusing. I enjoyed reading about How much Michael enjoyed himself, but you need to tighten things up and make it a little clearer.