Cold World IV

Looking through a mud smudged window at a tree blowing in the wind, Tammy worries. She doesn't know what could of happened to Mark. He's never left for this long without even a phone call to let her know he's alright. She can no longer focus on the television. It is only being used as background noise for thoughts that rage within her mind.

As her worries turn to despair, the door cracks and opens slowly. To her surprise, it wasn't Mark but her mother. She just got back from McDonald's and fetched Tammy a value meal. As they begin to eat in silence, the door opens once again. Mark was behind that door. Without one word spoken, he runs to the bathroom and you can hear the noise of dry-heaving in the background. Tammy nor her mother knew why he was feeling so ill. So they both wander to the back with their ears to the door.

Tammy- Hey baby, are you alright.

Mark- oo-uh *cough* *spit* Uh-ooo-agh! *cough* *spit* Can you give me a minute?

Tammy- Yah, I'll be in the kitchen.

As Mark prays to the porcelain god, he flashes back to what happened last night. His friend Chris was shot three times. As Mark thought about walking away, he couldn't bring himself to do so. He had to see if Chris was o.k. Mark walked toward him as he lay on that gravel road. What once was a light grey gravel is now covered in red. Chris can no longer do much else but cough, weaze and mumble. By now, there was a crowd of people surrounding him with encouraging words wrapped in emotion. Someone hurried to grab a car to take him to the hospital. Mark considered going to the hospital but as the crowd dispersed and went back to business as usual, he just started walking.

The journey was a long one. Roughly 15 miles from his girlfriend's trailer to where he was at. No matter the length he felt compelled to make this trip. This was a chance to help put his mind at ease and think of a way to pull forward. Find a way over the huge barriers he's put in his path. There has got to be a solution which incorporates a sledge hammer breaking these barriers away.

Mark has finally finished praying to the almighty porcelain god and decides to discuss some of the issues he's having with his girlfriend. He is unsure of himself. He asks question such as: how does she plan on raising the twins she's carrying, how he does he repair the damage he's done with his relationship with his mother, and how can they live a normal life. She's frustrated by all this talk. A fight begins to rage on. She tells him how he needs to step up for the family he created and how he needs to be more concerned with finding some money for the children's sake. This all begins to come to a boiling point as he leaves her place confused.

Not knowing where else to turn, Mark gives me a call. I again feel very weary about giving this young man some advice. I do and have always said he needed to talk out the problems he's been having with his mom. Maybe they can work things out for the best. And that is exactly what he does...

So what happens after this conversation with me? Glad you asked. Here is a quick cap of what happened after that talk with me:

-One week after their argument, Tammy has two slightly premature healthy baby boys.

-A month after they were born, Tammy realizes she can't take care of them and puts them up for adoption.

-Two weeks from the date of the adoption Mark moves in with his dad somewhere in the Mid-West.

-Last I heard Mark graduated high school and joined the Air Force.

-As for Tammy... she was still looking for stability in her life. I hope she found it.

-And as for me, well let's just say I got my diploma a little bit later on and the rest is history.

-I almost forgot about Chris. Chris pulled through that experience. Anything after that is all just speculation.