“Sounds like a plan then,” I agreed, almost uneasy of the sound of his voice while speaking those last words. “Let’s get’er done!” We dallied out together to the mile-long stables. I discovered what little I could squeeze out of him about his life while he attempted to assist me saddling the horses.
“They are beautiful!” Joe exclaimed.
“Yea, buddy. They should be, seeing they cost my mamma here an arm and a leg.”
“I mean it, Diane! These horses should be running so freely in heaven.”
“What chu mean, boy?” I questioned.
“Well,” he attempted, “heaven only allows things beautiful and pure…” Silence.
“Mind if I ask you a person question, Joe?” I asked.
“Go ahead,” he answered.
“Why ain’t you at school?”
“Well,” he started, “I have other activities going on during the day right now.”
“Like what, lil’ Joe?” I pressured him.
“I don’t usually tell people this, but I have…” He closed his eyes and folded over his curled eyelashes. When his green eyes erupted like the sea and suddenly popped open, I saw a tear constructing inside.
“You got what?” I calmly asked.
“Cancer.” He spoke in such a whisper I had to strain to hear his voice. And without another word, we rode into radiant red and yellow sunset. The Kansas fields were like a path. What they could lead us to, I never thought I would know. After about four hours of quiet riding, we reached my farm.
“Thank you for letting me have an opportunity to ride such a beautiful creature,” managed Joe.
“Ain’t no problem. This ol’ paint could be getting ya anywhere.”
“Do you think we could hang out again?” Joe questioned.
“Anytime,” I answered.
“Really?” he asked. “No offense, but when people find out about my problem, they kind of stay away from me. It’s like they believe just hanging out with me could infect them. Sometimes I just don’t understand how people could be so cold-hearted. But not you!”
“That don’t faze me,” I responded.
“You’re awesome. So I’ll see you tomorrow, Diane?”
“That’s a big 10-4, lil’ Joe.”
“Bye then,” Joe remarked.
Without another word, he was gone. Relaxing a bit on my bed, I fell asleep. Ring! Ring! Ring! I grasped the phone with dead fingers. My face drained a ghostly white while my hands clinched up into fists. The voice on the other end was telling me Joe was in the hospital. Not wanting to accept this, I burst out with anger and sobs.
“Diane! Diane! Wake up! It’s going to be okay,” Joe shook me.
“Joe?” I asked, opening my eyes.
“It’s okay, Diane. It was only a nightmare.”
“O Buddy!” I exclaimed. I grabbed Joe into my arms and gave him the longest bear hug.
“Diane,” Joe began, “can you not squeeze so hard? I love you too but ease up on the steroids, girl.” We both chuckled.
“You’re different, Joe. You’re awesome! You ain’t caused me no troubles yet. I thought y’all had left already.”
“Well, you see, Diane, I talked to my father in the car about our day together when I heard you screaming.”
“I got me some lungs, huh?” I giggled.
“You sure do,” he agreed.
“See ya in the morning, Joe.”
“Goodbye Diane.”
Hours passed. I still had not spoken to my mother since she arrived home from work. I hated the fact I may have to admit she was right, AGAIN!
