Show off your talent!

[Mia14]

Here are the rules:
Read the current story and add three new sentences of your own. You can add multiple times, but not consecutively. Let's make it interesting!

I'll begin.



"Thank you for shopping with us and have a great day," she said, as he quickly walked away from the falsely cheerful cashier and hurried to his car. The door of his rusty, crusty Pontiac squeaked as he slid in and dumped the contents of his bag into the empty passenger seat. He could hardly wait.

[Jennifer5]

Yes, he could hardly wait to go home after the long day, and simply make the dinner he bought and enjoy it without being bothered. After the long days work he just wanted to be left alone. But life isn't that simply, nobody's that lucky.

[pnggrad79]

As he cooked his linguini and clam sauce, he thought about his phone conversation with his mother, in which he was cornered by her question that still pounded in his head, "Son, tell me the truth, are you gay?" It reverberated in his head like the bells of Notre Dame. "Am I gay?" he thought.

[Vanessa White]

He listened to his mother's voice in his head, over and over again, until it made his head hurt. His mother had implied her suspicions to him before, about whether or not he had "somebody" in his life. He really never believed that even she would have the guts to actually ask him.

[Mia14]

The doorbell interrupted his thoughts. He tossed off his cooking apron and did a quick check in the hall mirror before opening the door. "Hey, sweetie."

[Jennifer5]

Yes, it was his girlfriend. He invited her in for dinner and they ended up going out for a movie. But although he had a great time, his mother's words kept spinning through his head.

[SolApollo]

Lying in bed, his left arm went across his bare chest. His mother's words continued to haunt him in his dreams and in his thoughts. In truth, he still loved that one man he met long ago, a lone stranger who understood him completely.

[awediot]

He further faded into a rich, thick black canvas, primed for mister sandman's sweeping, dream brushes to wipe a path into and back out of his dilemma. Dark metallic aquas and flattened granules of sand swiped and splattered a beach under his feet, roots of trees gridded fakely with limes and kotex roses at his back, and his mergirlfriend washed slippery ashore, beached herself, applied mascara and died. The man of his dreams, suddenly barely knee high at his side, made some mean, salt-watery and fishy comment, took a familiar dinner roll from a gaudy cowboy vest pocket on his tiny, hot chest, jangled golden and diamond encrusted heel spurs over to her, put a smear of Smucker's apricot preserves on the tiny bread, and, giving her last rights, made scrambled eggs with cottage cheese just like his mom and dropped through a man-hole that opened below him.


http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-058.gif

[Jennifer5]

Suddenly, he woke. He was so confused, he didn't know what was right and what was wrong. He felt that he loved his girlfriend, but at the same time he felt that he maybe loved that man.

[Daniel]

But the thought terrified him. Everything went black. Then he saw them, Miranda and Jake, standing side by side in front of him, their haloed golden heads twin suns held in opposition with strange unrecognizable symbols on their forheards. There hearts pulsed emerald green in the dark blue night. And then an arch of red lightning flashed out from Jake's body to his. Sam looked down and saw himself standing at attention: head, heart and groin fused to the man of his dreams. As Jake's cerulean eyes stared into his, Sam heard the whine of summer cidada's buzzing in his ears which grew louder and louder in intensity as an overwhelming feeling of heat encompassed his body. "No!" he cried out. Sweating and shaking, he woke for the second first time and up straight in bed, heart pounding, breathing fast.

(inspired by Zerbie's dream)

[Jennifer5]

At that point he didn't know if he could even make it through the rest of the night. He felt like his mother was haunting, even though it was just a question. Why did he feel so threatened by that question? I mean he couldn't be.... But he wasn't so sure.... which one did he really love? how would he know? did he love either of them? did he love them both?

[Mia14]

As the morning's sun kissed his eyes, he rolled his naked body away and tried to steal a few more minutes of rest before he had to face the day. The phone's incessant wailing cut through his drowsiness and he lunged at the receiver. "Hello?"





*let's remove the sentence limit and instead just try to limit ourselves to a paragraph or two*

[Jennifer5]

It was his mother again. She just innocently called to invite him to a family picnic that afternoon. Of course being a big family guy, he couldn't say no to his mothers offer. But the hard part was, she said "bring somebody", a friend or something.

[pnggrad79]

He felt after the startling dream that he needed to have a heart to heart with his girlfriend. So he invited her out for ice cream before the big day with his family. She sensed his apprehensiveness, and asked him, "Hey you, why the sad face. You know I can tell when something is bothering you." He looked up with tears in his eyes. " I don't quite know how to say this, because I want you to know that I love you, really I do, but..." She looked stunned. "I love you, but? What the hell does that mean?!!" He wringed his hands. "I think I am..." She stared at him intently, "You think you are WHAT?" Unable to finish his ice cream, he stood up grabbed his jacket and walked quickly out the door. She followed. "Look, just tell me. Whatever it is, we can work this out." He said, "There is no WE, because it is MY problem."

[Jennifer5]

He felt so mad... he knew he needed to tell her, but he didn't want to hurt her. How could he tell that she would understand... she was always understanding... but would she still feel that way about this?

He really loved her and wanted to be her friend, but he realized that he couldn't live with her.

[Rainbow kittens]

Lying in his bath tub, completely numb he watches the blood run from his wrists. It will be over soon. Suddenly every thing shifts, seated facing him in the tub is the most beautiful male angel. The angle flashes a loving smile, sighs; the words begin to flow. Your God loves you unconditionally. Your Gods love is not based upon who you love. Now he closes his eyes wrapped in the angel’s arms.
In moments he is completely awake, alone, standing naked in a sparkling white tub, not a sign of the maroon stream, not a single wound on his body. The knife gone; breathing in large gulps of air. Suddenly he realizes that the phone and doorbell are both ringing.

[pnggrad79]

He answered the door shaken and afraid. It was Jake. He stared at Jake. " I told her, I told Miranda and she freaked out." Jake reached out to hold him. "I love you so much, and it was a very brave thing you did." He pushed him back," Look, I need to sort through this. I can't, not tonight." Jake let go and said, " I am only trying to help. I want to be with you through this." He stammered, "I just need to be alone. I need to talk to God. He is the only one who knows me well enough to get me through this." Jake said, "You are right. Let me hold you. Let me love you." He nodded his head no. "I am a basket case right now." Jake said, "OK, I will leave you alone. But listen to me. I love you, you love me, God loves us. That is all you need to focus on. Your girlfriend and mother will come around." Then Jake left. Alone with his thoughts, he....

[Jennifer5]

...turned and went back to see who had called. As if he wasn't already having a hard enough time.. it was his ex-girlfriend. She said she wantd to talk. How was he every going to explain things to her, when he wished someone could explain it to him..

[pnggrad79]

At the family gathering, he was noticably (sp?) nervous and feeling vulnerable. His grandmother took him to the side, "Marty, you seem so upset, what is wrong?" Marty decided to just be honest with his grandmother. She had always understood him, when his parents seemed to be disconnected, she was always there. "Grandma, uh, can I tell you something?" She smiled in her understanding way. "Sure, you know you can." He swallowed hard, "I think I am gay." Grandma's smile slid off her face like ice cream melting in the Arizona sun. She bowed her head, then looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Marty, I know. I suspected it when you were a boy. And it's ok. Is there someone in your life now? Another man?" Marty smiled nervously, "Yes, his name is Jake, and I met him 3 years ago when we were summer counselors at camp." Grandma smiled, "I had a thing once with a young woman. It was during the war, and we were nurses at the Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. She was beautiful, and we were friends, and one afternoon, we...

[Jennifer5]

...were almost caught. That scared us so badly that we never saw each other again. It was the best and worst thing that had ever happened to me, the love of my life was gone forever, and there was nothing I could do about it."

Marty looked up at his beloved grandmother with tears in his eyes.... finally someone who understood him. Then his grandmother always knowing exactly what to do, didn't saw another word and just gave him a big hug.:love: Although still a little confused Marty was feeling much better.

[pnggrad79]

His grandmother went on to explain that one couldn't help who they fell in love with and that love whenever it happened was a beautiful thing. Marty asked, "Did you love grandpa?" Grandma smiled, "Yes, I did, but not like I did my friend, Amanda was her name. Your grandfather was a special man, and I loved him like a brother. I married him because I knew Amanda was not a possibility and I knew he would be a good person to marry. So I did because I had no other choice. Things are different now, Marty, you need to pursue this thing with Jake. It may be your only chance at true love." Marty hugged his grandmother, and she held him for a long time as if to say, "I understand, I really do." Now, he had something to do...

[Jennifer5]

He was so happy to have heard what his grandmother had to say. How he just needed to talk to Jake.

[pnggrad79]

His mother, still wondering about her son, cornered him after his conversation with his grandma. "Son, I saw you talking with your grandmother. What did she have to say?" Marty looked into his mother's eyes and wondered if she knew about her mother. He glanced over at grandma, and she nodded approvingly. "Mom, I told her about Jake. She said it was a beautiful thing, and that she had had a similar experience during the war." Grandma came alongside them, putting her arms around both of them. She spoke softly to her daughter, "Clarisse, Marty is gay." Clarisse just looked at both of them, as tears welled up in her eyes, "I know, I have always known. Marty, I just want you to be happy. If this makes you happy, then I am behind you. You can't fight love." Marty cried, as he held his mother and grandmother.
Later, he called Jake...

[NathanATX]

Meanwhile, a furor of activity was happening down at the Sweetland Baptist Church. Pastor Lawson had called an emergency meeting of the church's elders & deacons in order to respond to the news that he had just learned from Mrs. Clarisse Betters, one of their church's more prominent members.

Mrs. Betters had called Pastor Lawson earlier in the week and asked to talk to him about a private family matter. Later, in his office, she told him that she had been suspecting that her son Sam(aka Marty) was gay for a long time and that she was really afraid he was going to confirm her suspicions. She was scared for him and wanted to know what to do and how to respond with love. Pastor Lawson gave her the traditional Baptist advice and assured her that Jesus could heal her son's demonic sexuality, but something Mrs. Betters said at the end of their meeting angered and worried him.

"Pastor Lawson, I hear what you're saying and in my head I know you're right, but my heart is still struggling with this. I think I'm going to go visit with the United Church of Christ pastor and get her feedback. I really want to do the right thing. I'll let you know what she says."

Mrs. Betters' husband was the famous and wealthy, John Betters Jr., sole heir to the oil empire of his dying father, John Betters, Sr. Clarisse's financial contributions to the church usually averaged about 45% of the annual budget. If she left the church, EVERYTHING would fall apart. They had to decide what to do.

[Jennifer5]

... when he got a hold of Jake he desided to just ask him over to talk in person. So the next day Jake came over to talk. The talked for several hours and Jake ended up staying there for a few days. Things were going well, Marty felt that maybe things wouldn't be so hard.. until his mother called a couple days later.

[Mia14]

"Marty, sweetie," she cooed into the phone. "Please, just meet with Pastor Lawson. He just wants to talk to you. He cares about you, I care about you... we just want what's best. We know that this isn't easy for you and it hasn't been easy growing up without a father figure. There's this new therapy that Pastor Lawson heard about..."

[Jennifer5]

Marty shocked at what he was hearing dropped the phone. Jake asked what was wrong, but he was completely speechless. How could his mother say such a thing after what she said the other week? She said she couldn't fight true love.... now is she taking that back? Jake came over a hugged Marty, until he was okay enough to get back on the phone. He said to his mother...

[Mia14]

He could hardly believe his ears when he heard himself tell his mother "Ok, I'll meet with him". Jake gave him a sad, confused look. He didn't know what Marty had agreed to, but sensed that something dangerous was about to happen.


challenge: see if the information on this website can help you create a dramatic account of what might happen next to Marty if... :( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparative_therapy#Techniques

[Jennifer5]

So Marty got of the phone and just sighed:o, Jake came over and hugged him again. Marty was suddenly feeling so hurt by his mother, he didn't feel in his heart that his realationship with Jake was wrong, but his mother did. He was feeling so rejected by her, and wished that could pretend that he never heard her say those words. Did she still love him? Did he really want to talk with the pastor? Was all of this pain worth the trouble?

His head was spinning with questions of is this right, but all the while the only thing that could make him feel safe was the feeling of Jake's arms around him.

[Vanessa White]

I know what God means to me, Marty thought. Right here, right now in Jake's arms, with his love enclosing me like a blanket on a cold night, to wipe my tears, reassuring me, enjoy the blessings of the day with me. Isn't God represented in that? he thought. In every blessing, every challenge, every part of our every day? In addition, isn't God's love for me without judgment, without penalty, as long as what I do is in the name of love? Somehow, Marty thought, I don't know that the Pastor sees it that way.

[pnggrad79]

Marty went as scheduled to see Pastor Lawson. "Sam," Lawson began. "Uh, I prefer to be called Marty, now." Lawson digressed, "Very well then, Marty, I hear from your mother that you think you might be gay." Marty swallowed hard, "I am, and before you say anything, I know what the Bible says, and I don't need the preaching. I am comfortable with my sexuality and I know that God loves me regardless of who I sleep with." Astounded at his own bravery, Marty sat back with his hands on the arm rests of the chair. " I see, but Marty, I have to say that our church's official position is to condemn homosexuality as a deviant lifestyle and we do not condone it in any way shape or form." Marty smiled, "So pastor, what is YOUR position?" ....

[Mia14]

For just a moment, the pastor was back with his best friend, Sarah. She was so young then, so full of life and happy. He remembered the tears that followed, and the night her parents told her they "wouldn't accept her choice to lead a gay lifestyle". He still had the little newspaper clipping - "Teenage Girl Found Dead, Probable Suicide". And now here he was with this young man who had no idea how easily being gay could ruin his life. He wouldn't fail him like he'd failed Sarah.

"Marty, no good can come of being gay"...

[Jennifer5]

Marty completely horrified tuned out. All he wanted was to go home and feel again the feeling of Jake around him. How could this feeling of love he wondered? He knew that he was going to need to speak with his grandmother again, she always knew what to say...

[pnggrad79]

Jake and Marty went over to Marty's grandmother's house. "Grandma, this guy mom wanted me to talk to, Rev. Lawson, said that nothing good could come from a gay lifestyle. He related to me a story of a young girl he knew that committed suicide because of it. What do I do?" Uncharacteristically, his grandmother's face grew red and she said, "I must speak with your mother and this pastor of hers. No daughter of mine will ever get away with the mistreatment of my grandchildren, and certainly not a gay one." She marched over to the phone, "Clarisse Anne Betters, how could you do this to Marty? If I am the only one in this family to stand by him, then so be it, but I am sorry, daughter, for you to send him to some bigoted preacher, who spouts off about something he has no idea about, then maybe you should cart me off, too! I am a lesbian!" Clarisse was aghast. "Mother I ...." Marty and Jake looked at each other. "Well I am going over to that church myself and confront this pastor."
Pulling up to the church parking lot, Marty's grandmother was a woman on a mission.

[Vanessa White]

Marty and Jake spoke for a long time after his grandmother left. What sacrifices she must have had to make, they both thought, to keep that true part of herself hidden, for so long, from so many people, even people that she loved and cared about the most. No wonder she could offer such support to us, no wonder she feels so strongly about this. I wonder if she had some of the doubts I have, about so many things, wondered Marty to himself.

[Jennifer5]

Pretty soon the phone rang and it was his grandmother, she said I'm on my way over to your place, we need to talk. She sounded so energetic, but in a more happy way. Soon the doorbell rang and she was there, was he ready for the whole story?

[pnggrad79]

Marty answered the door, with Jake by his side. His grandmother walked in. "I spoke with your mother and then with Pastor Lawson, today." she began. Marty was nervous. She continued, "I told both of them that is was NOT Jesus' plan to exclude anyone and that Hebrews 4:4 says that God had a plan to save us from the foundation of the earth. I said that if they were going to rewrite the Bible then they would answer to God for it. I told Clarisse that you were welcome in my home anytime with your cute little boyfriend here (Jake blushed), and if they couldn't accept it, then they didn't have to come over. I told Pastor Lawson that I was leaving his church and I am taking my money with me, since that is all he seems to be concerned with." Marty hugged his grandmother. "Grandma, you didn't have to do all that. But I am proud of you standing up to Mom and Pastor Lawson like that." His grandmother looked at him, "I have made a decision, Marty, and it is about my will..."

[Jennifer5]

...it's going to you"

"What?" Marty exclaimed in shock.

"But, what makes me so special?"

His grandmother said "You're the first one in this family to fully recognize what true love is. Your mother says she knows such things, but then can't show it, she does not know true love. Your siblings say they have found true love, but they have yet to show you, there saying they have not found true love. Until you can feel the love, embrace that love, and then share it with not some but all, that is the day that you have known true love."

Marty with tears in his eyes threw his arms around his grandmother.

[pnggrad79]

Marty couldn't believe what his grandmother had just said.

That night he took his grandmother and Jake out to eat, and afterwards, he and Jake went back to his apartment. Sitting in front of the fireplace, Jake lightly touched Marty and before either knew it, they were making love, and Marty knew from that time on, that if he had no other love in his life, Jake would be more than sufficient. Somewhere though, in his mind, he pictured his grandmother, a younger girl, black hair, blue eyes softly looking into Amanda's brown eyes. He pictured them kissing and holding each other. The passion, the longing he imagined they had seemed to heighten his own.

He called his grandmother the next morning and asked if Amanda was still alive. "Yes, she is," his grandmother said. Marty said, "Grandma, I think you should call her." His grandmother said, "Oh she wouldn't even remember me." Marty said, "Oh I think she will." Digging through her memorabilia, she found a letter Amanda had written her about 5 years after the war. She took a chance and wrote to her. A week later, another letter arrived and grandmother and Amanda reunited for the first time in over 50 years.

They began a sweet, tender relationship. Amanda had married as well after the war, but never forgot Meg, Marty's grandmother. She had had 3 children, and one of her grand- daughters was a lesbian. Her name was Melissa. She and her partner, Beth, came with Amanda on her first meeting with Meg. When Meg opened the door, Amanda took her in her arms and kissed her. "I have waited for this for 50 years Meg." They both cried and hugged for what seemed like hours. That evening, Melissa and Beth paid for a hotel suite downtown for Meg and Amanda. With the passion and strength of youth, Meg and Amanda made love again.

Within the next weeks, Melissa and Beth met Marty and Jake, and they formed a friendship. Amanda and Meg moved in together and began a rose garden that was the pride of the town. Beth, one day, approached Amanda and Meg, about the possibility of having a baby and wanted to know if Marty and Jake would be willing to be co parents with her and Melissa. Meg was ecstatic. Amanda cried, and said, "Our first great grandchild!!" Meg smiled at her lover, "Hold on a minute, my love, Marty hasn't agreed yet."

They had dinner a week later, and Melissa spoke up, "Marty, Jake, we have a proposition for you." Marty blushed, "My, my, a lesbian is propositioning me. What can I do for you?" Beth turned red, and Melissa squeezed her hand. "Marty, Jake, Beth and I want to have a family, and we were wondering if you or Jake, would..." Jake finished," Contribute?" Marty looked at Jake, "What do you think?" Jake stood up, pulled Marty up and faced all four women. "Since meeting you and forming this family that I love and cherish as my own, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to continue this wonderful tradition. I say yes...what about you" Marty, tears in his eyes, "I would love to be a father with you, and you, Melissa, Beth. Grandma, what do you think of this?" Meg and Amanda were hugging and crying. "We will have a great grandchild of our own."

The next week, Melissa and Beth met Marty and Jake at a gay/lesbian lawyer's office and drew up the legal papers. Melissa and Beth took Amanda's last name, Martin, and Marty and Jake took Meg's last name,Taylor, and they agreed to be co-parents together. Any child born to them would have the name Martin-Taylor.

After three attempts, Melissa got pregnant with Marty as the father. Beth and Jake agreed since that would be the bloodline of Amanda and Meg. Melissa gave birth to Jaxon Patrick on May 5, 2007. Marty's mother came to the hospital to see her grandchild. She fell in love with him, and as she held him in her arms, she said, "Mom, Amanda, I was wrong about all of this. This is a beautiful miracle I have in my arms. He is just beautiful. Marty and Jake, and Melissa and Beth will be wonderful parents, and I will be a supportive grandmother.

Melissa got pregnant again and this time, a daughter was born. Victoria Elizabeth. Victoria was Meg's middle name and Elizabeth was Amanda's middle name. She was born July 7, 2008.
They had a family. They had a legacy of love to continue. Clarisse was true to her word that she would support them and she became an active member of PFLAG. Meg and Amanda continued with their rose garden, and planted oak trees in honor of their great grandchildren.

[Jennifer5]

There lives went on so happily within a few years the two couples decided that for the sake of there children they should all live together. So they began to look for places to live. Finally the found the perfect home, it was huge a 8 bedroom, and prefectly reasonable price... so they bought it and all moved in.

But then, all loving being parents so much, as Jaxon was about to begin preschool, they decided they really still wanted more kids. This time Beth and Jake tried and got lucky, the first time and Beth was pregnant. She gave birth September 11, 2012 to triplets. Finally one big happy family that was always looked down on had a big family. They couldn't have been happier, their name's were....

[awediot]

...all Jenifer (George Foreman) #6, #7 and #8.:p

[Jennifer5]

(wow, really did miss you Awediot..:lol: )

[pnggrad79]

Emerson, Saxon, and Hilton, all girls. Beth and Jake were proud parents and doted on their daughters. Raising triplets was a daunting task, so Clarisse and Jake's mother came and stayed for 6 months to help them with all the kids.

Jaxon began 1st grade that fall, and his sister, Victoria, began kindergarten. Jaxon's teacher, who liked to have a personal visit with each of her students' parents, invited Jaxon's parents to the conference. Of course, all 4 parents showed up and the teacher was stupefied. "Welcome, I see that we have a cheering section here. Now who are the parents?" she smiled. Marty spoke up, "We all are. My partner, Jake and I, are coparents with Melissa and Beth here." The teacher seemed uncomfortable. Nonetheless, she conducted the meeting professionally and calmly. Afterwards she sent them on their way, and promptly called the principal.

"Jim, we have some wierdos for parents here, and I think they are gonna be trouble. " Jim replied, "We deal with wierdos all the time, Miss Gentry, what makes that so out of the ordinary?" Miss Gentry, or Angela, said, "We have a gay couple who are coparenting with a lesbian couple and they have 5 children together." Jim crowed, "Oh my God! Well, we can't discriminate, those people are militant you know. If we make them mad, they will file a lawsuit on us and we can't have that." Angela agreed.

[Jennifer5]

Angela was troubled that he wouldn't do anything about it, but not wanting to cause any issues that could risk her job she ignored it and treated Jaxon as any other child.

But when the next year came and she got Victoria, when you found out it was the same family, she went to her board and asked to be placed some where else.

Pretty soon it came time to teach Jaxon and Victoria how to swim. Now here was the fun stuff the parents had been waiting for....

[pnggrad79]

Meg and Amanda, now well into their late 70's each, decided to take swimming lessons with their great grandchildren. It provided lots of good pictures for the family and Jaxon proved to be a strong swimmer. Victoria, still scared of the water, needed to wait a little while longer. Meanwhile, the triplets were growing up fast.

One day, Emerson was with Meg and Amanda visiting, and she fell off the porch when Meg's toy poodle, Sally, jumped off into the bushes, and she followed and broke her arm. and they rushed her to the hospital. The doctor was dumbfounded when he looked on the intake form to see under Father's name, Marty and Jake Taylor and for Mother's name, Melissa and Beth Martin. Meg and Amanda sat their like prim and proper elderly ladies, and when the doctor looked at them, he said," What is the meaning of this? Two mothers and two fathers? Who ever heard of such nonsense! How can anyone have four parents?" Meg calmly replied, "The fathers are my grandson, Marty and his partner Jake. Melissa and Beth Taylor are the mothers. Beth and Jake are the biological parents." The doctor was shocked." I have seen a lot of strange things, but this has got to be the ..." Amanda stopped him. "Look, Dr. Shapiro, my great granddaughter needs some attention. Could you stop focusing on who her parents are and treat her? Do you pronounce judgment on the crack addicts that come here, or the beaten up prostitutes? Do your job and leave the judgment to the Christians, please?" The doctor stomped out of the room. Minutes later, a rather butch looking female came in and said, "I am sorry, Dr. Shapiro, doesn't take well to us." "Us?" replied Amanda. "Gays and Lesbians." Meg said, "So do we get a doctor?" The butch lesbian said, "Yeah, me, I am Dr. Trahan, and I will be treating your little one here." She went over and tenderly examined Emerson. Just then, Marty, Jake, Melissa and Beth burst in. "Where's
our baby? What happened?" Meg put her hand up, "She fell off the porch chasing the dog, and broke her arm. Dr. Trahan is taking care of her." Beth gasped as Dr. Trahan turned around, "Sandy?" Dr. Trahan said, "Beth?" Melissa said, "So this is the famous Sandy you were dating before me?" Beth nodded her head. Sandy trying to act professionally said, " Emerson has a compound fracture and I am going to have to put a cast on her arm." Sandy took Beth out into the corridor, "Is this little girl yours and Melissa's" Beth still shocked,"Yes"
Sandy said, "I am afraid we have a problem. Her blood analysis...

[Jennifer5]

(someone else needs to add here... I don't know enough about this stuff)

[pnggrad79]

showed an abnormal growth of white blood cells. The doctor, also former lover of Beth, looked concerned. "What are we going to do?" Melissa asked.
"Well, I want to send her to Texas Children's Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for tests. That will give us a better idea of what to do." the doctor replied.
Back home, they had to tell Meg and Amanda. They agreed to keep the kids while Marty, Jake, Melissa and Beth flew with Emerson down to Texas. Clarisse offered to help Meg and Amanda. Marty prayed all the way down to Texas for his daughter's safety and healing. Melissa and Beth both slept, and Jake held Emerson all the way, and read to her and played with her until she, too, fell asleep.
At the Medical Center, they were impressed with the hospital, but also taken by shock at the number of children with life-threatening diseases being treated there. It was a hard pill for them to swallow, but they decided to be strong for each other and to help Emerson cope with all the procedures that were to be done to her.

[Jennifer5]

The hospital was also impressed with the four parents, every one of them completely concerned and looking like they would die if something happened to one of there babies. Beth, Melissa, Jake, and Marty, all looked like walking ghosts, they could hardly speak at the thought of something happening to their baby.

The docters suggested that they stay in a hotel for a few days until the test results came back, so they did. They were shocked to see how they all came even closer to each other as they stayed in the hotel. Every night they found that all four of them ended up in the bed with Emerson.

The next day the hospital called...

[Mia14]

...and the large family rushed to the hospital where some very bad news was waiting.

"The abnormally high level of white blood cells in your daughter's full blood count is what made us request that bone marrow biopsy," said the rather young doctor, sitting behind a desk. Marty stared at the fancy nameplate, J.R. VAUPEL, MD. He wondered how many years this boy had been out of medical school and decided the older doctors must have passed the unpleasant job of discussing test results to this young newcomer.

"The results of your biopsy suggested a diagnosis of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_lymphocytic_leukemia). It's a type of cancer that causes immature and malignant white blood cells to reproduce in Emerson's bone marrow. We're very lucky she broke her arm or we might not have caught it in time. This disease can move very quickly..."

[Jennifer5]

All of them in shock, Jake and Marty soon became no help and passed out. It was up to the Beth and Melissa now, and they knew they just had to make it clear that they just had to do what ever was necessary to take care of this issue. So they went to talk to the doctors....

[pnggrad79]

Meg, Amanda, and Clarisse went to talk to the hospital chaplain, and together they prayed for their granddaughter. Beth and Melissa kept a vigil by Emerson's bedside, as they struggled to tell their precious 3 year old how sick she was. Soon, Marty and Jake joined them.


They contemplated what course of action to take.

[Jennifer5]

Soon the doctor called them out to talk to them.. and they found that luckly it wasn't quite as bad as they thought... but something still needed to be done so that things wouldn't get any worse.