A Hard Lesson

March Madness is beginning, and Bobby's all hyped up and ready for today.The Only thing that matters is the game, and winning it... right?

Bobby woke up to someone shaking him.

“Coach!? What!? Who’s that!?” Bobby looked around. He relaxed as he noticed it was only his girlfriend, Shella, shaking him awake.

“Shella! Why’d you shake me awake!?”

“I just wanted you to wake up early so you could practice! The first game for March Madness is today, remember!?” Shella smiled at Bobby in a way that made him soften up. Shella went on to tell Bobby about all the great sweets she would make once he got home from his big game.

Bobby smiled. “Thanks babe.” he kissed Shella and got up.

Of course Bobby remembered about the big game today. This was one of the biggest games of his college basketball career. He quickly slipped out of bed, brushed his teeth, put on some workout clothes.

Everything was going according to plan so far, but he felt like he was forgetting something. His sneakers!? He had purposefully left them right by his bed before he went to sleep. Now they were missing. He looked for them all over upstairs, and then went downstairs.

He went to Shella, who was busy scrambling eggs in the kitchen.

“Hey, Shella, have you seen my basketball sneakers? I need them.” Bobby told her.

“Yeah. they're in the wash.” Shella nodded over to the washing machine under the roofed side of the backyard.

“The wash!? Why are they in the washing machine!? I need them for the game today!”

“They were dirty. You don’t wanna look scrappy for your big game today, do you?” Shella teased.

“No, but Shella, you could’ve washed them yesterday. I need those shoes to play in the tournament, and now I’m gonna have to practice in my old ripped up sneakers. You know I only have one good pair of sneakers!” Bobby argued with her.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. But the washing machine is almost through and your sneakers should be able to dry in the sun, so don’t worry!”

Bobby huffed and shook his head. “Alright.”

Soon enough, the washing machine did stop, but Bobby’s sneakers were wet, and so he had to sit them in the sun. It made Bobby furious he had to wait until his shoes would be dry, but he didn’t have a choice.”

Then came 4:30 p.m., and with the first game being at 6:00, Bobby knew he had to get to the stadium now. Bobby yelled to Shella to get ready to leave for the stadium, but kShella explained that she couldn’t go to the first game since she had to work the night shift at the restaurant that night.

“Shella, why do you always do something stupid when I actually need you!? First you wash my shoes, and now you can’t even go to the game because of your stupid kitchen job!”

“First of all, being a chef isn’t useless to me! Someone has to keep income coming in when you aren’t getting paid, and second of all, I was only trying to help you! You’re sneakers were a mess! You need to learn to take it easy, because your attitude is getting ridiculous!”

“Oh, sure!” Bobby said back, and, just to get the last word, Bobby added, “You always act ridiculous!”

Bobby began to get ready for the big game himself.

“Oh, Bobby, could you turn off the oven, I’ve got some chocolate cookies cooking in there for when you get back from your game,” Shella told Bobby. But Bobby was on an angry tangent and could hardly listen.

How could Shella be like this on today of all days!? She knew Bobby was very stressed about winning and staying in March Madness! Whatever. He was out of here.

Bobby played hard that day, and though the game was close, he threw a buzzer-beater shot that made his team win the game. Bobby felt great, but he truly wished that Shella was in the crowd to see it. He did love her dearly.

When he ran to the coach, the coach looked at him strangely, as if he had terrible news. Bobby couldn’t figure out why this was, until the coach was done talking with the rest of the team and signaled Bobby to come over.

“Bobby, I just got a call from your neighbor. He said that your house exploded due to a stove fire, and your girlfriend was caught in the fire. I’m sorry.”

Bobby’s heart raced. He couldn’t believe the news. The words felt fake, as if the coach were just telling a awful morbid joke. Bobby quickly drove to his house, only to find it ashy and dark, orange flames leaking out from every burnt-out hole.

“NO!” yelled Bobby. He ran straight up to a policeman that wouldn’t let him go any closer to the house.

“Let me in! My girlfriend’s in there!”

“I’m sorry, but if your girlfriend is in there, then she is already dead.”

“Bobby felt like punching the man, but another officer approached him. “You’re looking for Shella Jhonson?” He asked.

Bobby nodded, and was led on an ambulance to a hospital stretcher, where Shella sat, ashy and her eyes closed and her skin covered in ash.

“I’m so sorry Shella! This is all my fault! If only I had turned the darn stove off when you asked me. If only I had been nicer to you!” He kissed Shella, and a moment after, her rich, dark brown eyes flew open.

“B-Bobby?”

Bobby could feel tears behind his eyes. Shella had survived! “Yes, Shella, it’s me! I’m sorry I was being such a dummy today. I was so stressed about the game, and I took it all out on you, the person who cares about me most. Please forgive me.”

But Shella frowned. “I-I’m sorry Bobby… but if you let this happen when you got mad, who knows what you would let happen the next time you get angry? I think I need some space, Bobby.”

It broke Bobby’s heart to hear those words, but he understood the reasoning. Shella had nearly gotten killed, all because of his stupid actions. Shella had the right to want space or even break up with him.

Bobby and Shella ended up moving into separate apartments, and only saw each other once again at the store. Bobby had learned his lesson about being that rude to his girl. Hopefully one day, Shella would want to take him back… End ~

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Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

I was relieved at the end to know she survived the fire. Mistreatment, stress, worries can lead to many bad consequences. It can even lead to separation. Very good and very realistic story.
Oh, how we all fight over silly things.