Part Two
The doors to the delivery room flew open and the
nurses pushed a very pregnant Karen Chasez towards the
delivery room. "Tonight must be a full moon," the
doctor said. "Babies popping up everywhere....Mrs.
Chasez, you're gonna have to share a room with another
woman in labor."
"Don't...care," she huffed. "Get..baby...out..."
"Honey, your doing great," Roy gleamed while he held camera to her face.
"Don't make...me....throw that...out the window."
He chuckled and then kissed her head. "You're
beautiful."
"Yeah, yeah," she said with a smile and clasped her hand with his.
They took her into a room, with another woman who was in the middle of a contraction. Karen's eye's
widened. "Suzy?"
Karen's next door neighbor and long time friend
managed to wave at her at the end of the contraction.
"Hey sweetie, I tried to call you."
She managed to laugh. "I tried to call YOU!"
Roy shook hands with Robert Jones, Suzy's husband. "Well, I guess the little ones planned to come out
together," Roy joked.
"Guess so."
An hour later, Roy and Robert stood in front of the glass, both wide eyed as they stared at the two babies
laying next together. One baby wrapped in blue, the
other baby wrapped in pink. Roy placed a hand on his
shoulder. "What's her name?"
"Samantha Ann," he said proudly. "After my
grandmother."
"That's pretty," he said and then looked at his son. "Joshua Scott.....meet Samantha Ann."
April 12, 1978
"Hey, Karen," Suzy beamed as she opened the door for her. "Come on in."
"Thanks," she said as she carried her 20 month old son on her hip. "Where's Sammy?"
"In the den, coloring of course," she laughed.
"She'll color on anything."
The women walked to the den and Sammy looked up and smiled. "KK!"
Karen laughed. "Such a smart girl, here Josh....Go play with Sammy."
"Thammy!" he exclaimed as he pointed.
"That's right, Sammy," she laughed and then went to sit with Suzy.
Josh trotted up to the coffee table, next to Sammy who was drawing with a blue marker. He picked up a
green marker and started to draw all over her blue
marks. Sammy started making a sound of protest as she
pushed his hand away, but Josh made the same sound and
continued to draw. Josh then grabbed her blue marker and tried to yank it out of her hand. "Mama!" Sammy cried. "Make Osh
stop!
"Thammy stop!" Josh yelled.
"Osh stop!" she yelled back and then started to hit him with her hand and they both fell to the floor.
Suzy rolled her eyes. "Not again," she said and then the mothers ran to pull away their own child.
July 4th 1982
"You see that tree over there," Sammy said as she
pulled her blonde hair up in a pony tail.
Josh put his fists on his small hips. "Yeah, so
what?"
"I'll race you to the tree," she said challenged as she grinned.
"You think you can beat me? A boy?"
"I can sure try!" she boasted. "Plus, once we get to the tree we start climbing. First one at the top
wins."
"Climb the tree?" he asked warily. "Have you ever climbed a tree before?"
"Sure," she lied. "When I was four."
"Yeah, right," he said. "And two years later your a tree expert."
"Look, if your scared, we can...."
"I'm not scared," he interrupted. "I just...don't want you to get hurt."
"Yeah, yeah...so are you in or out?"
"In," he said. "Ready, set, GO!"
"Hey!" she exclaimed as she ran after him. "You're a cheater Josh."
They were both side by side as they let their little legs take them as fast as they could go. Josh pulled
ahead and turned around and stuck his tongue at her
and then laughed quickened the pace. Sammy ran harder
and by the time she finally got to the tree, Josh was
already on the second limp. She jumped up for the
limb, but she couldn't reach it. "Wait, Josh...I
can't reach it!"
"That's not my fault," he said as he laughed down at her. "Looks like I'm gonna win."
"That's not fair, I didn't realize how tall the limb was."
"Too bad," he said and then climbed higher.
"Sammy!"
"Josh!"
They both turned to see their mothers running after them. "Oh, no, we're in for it."
"We?" she asked innocently. "You're the one in the tree, not me."
"Yeah, but it was YOUR idea.."
"My idea? What are you talking about?"
"Josh what are you doing up there!" Karen yelled.
"Get down right now!"
"But Mom, it was Sa...."
"I tried to stop him, KK, but he wouldn't listen."
"Sammy!" Josh yelled in shock. "You li..."
"He wanted to prove how tough he was."
"All right, mister...get down....NOW."
Josh mumbled something under his breath as he
carefully made his way down, and then finally plopped
on the ground. "Traitor," he said as he stuck out his
tongue.
"Hey, just trying to defend myself."
March 7 1984
"Hi Josh," Suzy said when she saw him at the door.
"Hey, Mrs. Jones," he said with a smile. "Is Sam
here?"
"She's in the den, watching the carebears."
He rolled his eyes. "Again?" he asked.
She laughed. "Yeah, she loves them...come on in."
"Hey, Sam," Josh said as he walked in the den and sat next to him.
"Hi Josh," she said as she kept watching the screen.
"Tell me again why you watch this show?" he teased.
She eyed him. "Don't get me started, Mr. HeMan."
"Hey, HeMan rocks...and he could kick those fury
stupid things any day."
"Oh yeah?" she asked. "Well, let's see HeMan come against the carebear stare."
Josh just laughed and patted her head. "Aww, my
little carebear."
She crossed her arms. "There's nothing wrong with the carebears."
Josh laughed. "If you like them, then that's cool," he said. "But don't you ever make me play pretend and
force me to be a carebear."
She laughed. "Deal," she said and stuck out her
hand. "As long as you never make me play SheWoman.
He grabbed it and shook it. "Deal, my little
carebear."
September 23 1985
"Okay carebear," Josh said as he lowered his voice to her. "This guy Johnson...is a jerk."
"Yeah I know," she said as she clinched at her bat and twisted her hands on the grip. "He's a pig."
"Yeah, and he doesn't like girls playing baseball," he said as eyed him. "I really don't like you hitting
with him pitching and...."
"Josh, quit the protective thing okay?" she asked
nicely. "I can handle him."
"Just watch him, okay?" he said worriedly. "Don't be surprise if he plays nasty."
"Okay," she said and then walked up to the plate.
Danny Johnson shook his head in disgust and then
laughed as he turned around. "Come on in, guys," he
said as he waved his arms.
Sammy sighed in annoyance. "Come on, Johnson, throw the ball."
"Whatever you say," he said and threw a straight ball right at her head.
Sammy flew to the ground to avoid the hit. "Danny, you better watch it!" Josh warned as anger swept over him.
"Ohh, I'm shaking in my cleats," he said and then
watched Sammy dust off and get back in to position.
"You don't know when to quit do you?"
"Just pitch," she demanded.
"Oh, okay," he said sweetly and then threw a
underhand throw.
"For cryin out loud," Sammy said as she caught it. "For real," she said and threw it at him.
He flinched and caught it right before it hit his
face. Damn, he thought as his hand stung. "Fine," he
finally said. "Right down the middle," he said and
then pitched it to her.
The ball cracked against her bat and it sailed into the sky. "Wahoo!" Josh yelled. "That's my carebear."
Sammy replied by blowing him a kiss and then ran the bases, as Danny stood their in shock. "Hey Johson!"
Danny looked over at Josh. "How does it feel to be
played by a girl!"
February 14th 1987
"I hate recess," Sammy mumbled and then kicked the soccer ball to Josh.
"Here, here," Josh said as he kicked it back.
Sammy heard some giggling and looked over where a
group of girls were standing. She rolled her eyes.
"The A team is swooning over you again."
Josh looked over and made contact with Jeanna, the leader of the A team and the girl that has been chasing him for a year. "Will she ever know when to quit?" Josh asked with disgust and then kicked the ball back to Sammy.
"I guess not," she mumbled. "Cuz they are coming our way."
Josh looked at the group of girls, Jeanna leading
them. "Great," he said under his breath.
"Okay girls," Jeanna said as she stopped. "Go for it."
Four girls giggled and then ran right towards Josh. Josh's eyes widened when he saw them coming towards
them and started to run. One of the girls grabbed his
arm and another girl grabbed his other arm. "What are
you doing?" he asked as they pulled him to the ground.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Sammy said, but another girl in the A team held her back.
"But out, Sammy," Jeanna said and then smiled down Josh as she kneeled down and gave him a kiss.
Josh froze when their lips touched; not sure exactly what to do. She finally pulled away and smiled down
at him. "Tag...you're it," she said and then giggled
as they walked away. Jeanna turned back around and
smiled at Sammy while Josh was getting up and dusting
himself off. "Thanks for lending me your boy toy,"
she teased.
Sammy picked up the soccer ball and tossed it a
couple of times in the air and then threw it right at
her face. Jeanna yelled in pain as she grabbed her
nose as she fell to the ground. All of the girls
gasped as they surrounded her; making sure she was
okay.
Josh's draw dropped when he watched Jeanna take the fall and then looked over at Sammy's red face. He
busted out laughing and then threw an arm around her.
"Jeanna, I just think you faced the carebear stare."
November 20th 1990
Josh walked out of the courtyard after his fifth
period class, and combed the area for Sammy. They had
the same period off, after going to the office and
begging them to swap Josh's math class with his off
period. After long moments of whining and persisting
they agreed. Him and his carebear were a great team.
He found her sitting at a bench, under a tree. Her back was facing him, but he could still tell something
was wrong. Her head was down and her shoulders were
slumped over and she casually kept kicking the ground
with her feet. Josh smiled softly as he trotted over
to her. "Hey carebear."
Her body froze. "Leave me alone."
Josh laughed. "It's been fourteen years, Sammy, and I have still yet to leave you alone."
Sammy turned her body away from when he sat down next to her. "Sam, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she mumbled.
"Okay, who hurt your feelings," he said with a sigh. "Let me beat the crap out of him and then we can....."
"I'm not going to run to you every time I get my
feelings hurt."
"Care...."
"Stop calling me that," she said as she wiped a tear away. "I hate that name."
He replied by grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
"No you don't."
"I'm fourteen years old now, I don't need stupid
nicknames."
"Sam, I'll call you carebear when I'm giving your
toast during your rehearsal dinner. Now, talk to me."
She sighed and then finally turned to him and his
heart went out to her when he saw the tears. "It's
Danny."
He sighed. "What did he do this time?"
"Called me metal mouth," she said as she looked at the ground and touched her mouth.
"And you care becaauuse??"
"Because, I don't like to be picked on."
"Who gives a crap what Danny says....he's a prick."
"It's not just him, I mean....look at me,
Josh.....I'm a dork."
"Why? Cuz you have braces?" he asked whit a laugh. "It's not that bad I mean...."
"Josh, you didn't have to wear them, only a retainer and you wore them during middle school and EVERYONE
was a dork in middle school."
"Look, I know they suck," he said with a smile. "But think how beautiful your smile will be when you take
them off. Your smile is beautiful now."
"Josh," she said as she turned red and looked at the ground.
He chuckled. "Come on, give me a smile."
"No," she said trying hard not to laugh.
"Come on, my little carebear," he said and then
began to tickle her.
Sammy flinched and started to laugh as his fingers poked at her sides. "Okay okay," she said with a
laugh and then gave him a big smile.
"Woah, that's bright," he teased as he shielded his eyes.
"Why you little....."
Josh dodged her fist and jumped off the bench and
Sammy just laughed. "You can run but you can't hide!"
May 3 1991
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Sammy asked.
He sighed. "Well, I'm leaving....I'm moving to
Orlando."
Her eyes widened. "What the hell for?" she asked as she jumped off the couch and started pacing the room.
"Sammy," he said as he stood up and walked to her. "Calm down, okay, just...."
"Calm down?" she asked as she turned to him. "My
best friend is leaving me, and you tell me to calm
down!"
"Remember that audition I told you about over the
phone," he said as he placed his hands on her
shoulders.
"Yeah, sure," she said. "You sounded excited."
"Yeah, well I got it," he said with a smile.
Her eyes widened. "You did? You're gonna...be on that Disney show?"
"Mickey Mouse Club," he beamed. "Can you believe
it?"
She smiled, even though the tears started to come. "Oh Josh," she cried happily as she hugged him. "I'm
so proud of you."
"I know it'll be hard, but I'll call every night, I promise."
She nodded. "We'll work it out," she said softly as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. "And I'll
watch your show everyday."
"I love you, carebear," he whispered. "You know
that, right?"
"Yes, I know," she said as she started to cry. "I love you, too."
April 4 1992
Josh, now called JC, collapsed on his bed after a long day. He had been rehearsing all day and he was tired as hell. He let out a sigh and turned to his side and looked at the clock. He had two hours to sleep, then he had to go back to the studio. His eyes then flickered to a picture of him and Sammy, when they were only eight. Their arms were wrapped around each other, and they were grinning at the camera Whenever he was lonely or homesick, he would stare at that picture and everything would be okay. He closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep as he remembered the times they shared when they were young. One particular night came into mind and he smiled.
"Josh," she whispered as she nudged him. "Wake up."
"What?" he groaned as he sat up tiredly and then
rubbed his tired eyes.
Today was they had just had their 7th birthday and they had fallen asleep on the couch. "Where are we?"
he asked.
"We're upstairs, in my parents bed, they must have caried us upstairs....listen do you hear that music?"
He opened his ears. "Yeah, so"
"It's pretty," she said and then smiled when she
heard their parents laughing. "Let's go see."
Josh rolled his eyes as he kicked off his covers and followed her out the door. They made their way down
the hallway and slowly down the steps. They knelt
down and stuck their heads against the poles of the
banister. Their parents were laughing as they danced
to Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight."
"Okay, great...can we go back to bed now?" Josh asked tiredly.
"Listen to the song....it's pretty."
Someday, when I'm awfully low,
when the world is cold,
I will feel a glow
Just thinking of you,
And the way you look tonight
Josh looked over at her and saw her smiling from ear to ear as she watched their parents dancing to the music. He paid attention to the words and figured out that they really did describe her. Granted, he was only seven years old and didn't think about girls that way, however his Sammy looked almost....beautiful.
Yes you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight
JC smiled softly, knowing he would never forget the way she looked that night. He pressed a finger to his lips and then touched Sammy's eight year old face. "Love you, carebear."
January 3 1993
Sammy walked down the sidewalk to her house hand in hand with Danny Johnson. She smiled up at him, still
couldn't believe that she was dating him now. Her
childhood enemy, was now a sweet and generous person.
He had changed so much in the past year, and he made
sure that she was the first person to know.
They hadn't been dating long, only for about a month. She hadn't had the guts to tell Josh yet about their
relationship because..well....he'd probably fly on the
first plane and kick Danny's ass. She hadn't seen him
in six months and hadn't talked to him in a week. He
was busy, and she needed to get on with her life.
"What's the matter?" Danny asked when she saw the
worried look in her eyes.
She shrugged. "Just thinking about Josh."
"Haven't told him yet?"
"No," she mumbled. "He's not going to be happy."
"He'll get over it," he mumbled. "I mean I know he's your best friend, Sam...and I respect that, but he
can't act like your his property, cuz he's not."
"I know," she said as they walked up to her house. "He just gets protective."
"Don't worry, Sam," he said as he turned to her.
"It'll be okay."
"I hope so," she said.
He smiled down at her and then tilted his head down and brushed his lips with hers. When she didn't
object, he kissed her longer, lingering on his lips.
On the other side of the door, a smiling JC ran to the door, wanting so bad to take her in his arms. He
flew open the door with a smile, but his smile dropped
when he saw Sammy....HIS Sammy...kissing none other
than Danny Johnson. "What the...."
"Josh?" Sammy asked in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"What the hell do you think your doing?" Josh said as he pushed Danny away.
"Now, Josh," he warned. "Back off, okay?"
"I will NOT," he said and pushed him again.
"Josh, please," Sammy begged as she pulled him away. "Don't do this."
He spun at her. "You were kissing Danny Johnson,
Sammy!"
"Yes, I know," she said. "And if you'll give me a chance, I'll explain everything."
"What the hell is there to explain, the guys an
asshole."
"Josh, he's changed, I promise," she begged. "Why would I go out with him if...."
"That's bull, Sam," he said angrily He would die
first than to see his Sammy with someone like him.
"Josh, man....I have, I swear, I...." He stopped
talking when Josh turned back toward him.
"Just keep your mouth shut," Josh warned.
"Josh, you have no right," Sammy said. "You don't OWN me, okay? Look, come with me and we'll talk
okay?"
"I don't want to talk," he said and then shrugged her off. "I have a flight to catch in an hour."
"But...you just got here."
"That's right I did...I came here for the day to see you, but....." He looked at Danny. "You have a life
down here as well and....."
"Josh, I....."
"No, let me finish. I so do not approve of him, Sam. And I know that you are too stubborn to listen
to me, so you'll continue to see him when I'm gone."
He glared at Danny. "But when he finally shows his
true colors and he hurts you...." He turned back to
Sammy and his eyes softened. "I'll be here for you
and the last thing I'll do is rub it in your face."
"Josh, please don't...."
"Good-bye, Sammy bear," he said and then turned and trotted to his house. He slammed the door behind him
and leaned against the door as the tears started to
come. He slid to the floor and drew his knees up.
He was losing her, he thought. He was so scared he
was loosing her.
July 10 1994
JC looked out the window of his mom's passenger
window as he smiled at the familiar surroundings of
his hometown. The show had been canceled, and even
though it was sad, a part of him was glad to be home.
He also couldn't wait to see his carebear. He hadn't
seen her since that day on her lawn when he caught her
and Danny together. Something he has tried so hard to
erase from his mind. According to Sam, they were
still together and he treated her right. It's been
awhile, so maybe he really had changed, but there was
still something about him that he didn't like. Maybe
he made Sammy happy now, but he was sure that one day
he would break her heart. He longed and feared it at
the same time, because he didn't want Sammy hurt, but
then he wanted her to realize that he was wrong for
her.
The minute his mom pulled into the drive, he climbed out and ran over towards Sammy's house. The door flew
open and she flew down the steps. Her long blonde
hair flowing behind her and her smile gleaming with
admiration. "I am so sorry your show got canceled,
but damn it's good to have you home," she laughed and
flung her arms around him.
JC laughed as he stumbled back and lost his balance, causing them to fall on the ground. He smiled and
hugged her tight. "It's good to be home."
She just smiled and rested her cheek on his chest. "How does it feel not to be a mousketeer anymore?"
He chuckled beneath her, not caring that they were laying on the grass together in the middle of the day.
"Are you kidding? I'll always be a mousketeer." He
enjoyed listening to her laugh and then started to
strum her hair with his fingers. "How are things with
you....and Danny?"
She tensed up. "There good," she said not wanting this to ruin the moment. "But let's not talk about
that right now."
"Okay," he said with a sigh. "You know, sooner or later we're going to have to get up."
"Later is better than sooner," she mumbled.
"Got that right," he said and kissed the top of her head.
May 5 1995
"You're going BACK to Orlando?" she asked as she
slammed down her drink.
JC looked around the restaurant and smiled at the
people staring. "Keep it down, hun."
"Why are you going back?"
"Remember Justin?" he asked. "You met him a couple of times."
"Yeah, the one that tried to kiss me."
"What?" he asked suddenly.
She waved it off. "Long story, continue."
He looked at her and hesitated before continuing.
"ANYway, he told me that he knows a guy in Orlando
that's starting a group."
"A group?" she repeated. "Like a musical group?"
He rolled his eyes. "Of course a musical group."
"Doing what?"
"The polka," he teased in annoyance. "Sing silly!"
"How many are there?"
"So far three," he said. "Justin and this other guy named Chris. I met him while I was in Orlando. He's
crazy."
She let out a sigh. "Well, I guess this is the
perfect time to tell you this."
"What?"
"I applied to the college in Orlando," she said with a smile. "When I visited you in Orlando I fell in
love with the city, so I applied."
His eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
She smiled. "Dead serious," she laughed. "I got my acceptance letter a couple of days ago."
"What about Danny?" he asked.
"He's going too," she said with a smile. "He wanted to get out of the community college here too, so he
applied too."
He managed a smile and then hugged her. "Then we
won't be apart."
She smiled. "Nope...we sure won't."
August 12 1997
"Check out this place!" Sammy exclaimed as she turned in a circle in her living room.
"Wow, it's nice," JC said as he looked around the
tiny, yet comforting apartment. "Got cable?" he asked
when he saw the TV.
"Of course," she laughed. "I got my own kitchen and everything....Come see my bedroom, I have a surprise
for you in there."
"Okay," he said and then pet Whiskers, her cat she has had since she was seventeen, as he walked by. He
followed her in her room and stopped short and groaned
in embarrassment. "Take that thing down right now."
She laughed as she stared at the NSYNC poster. "Aww, but it's so cute. I was thinking about putting it on my ceiling, so I can gaze at Just....oops, I mean you
before I go to bed."
"Ha-ha, very funny," he said as he pulled her in a head lock and rubbed her blonde head.
She laughed and then pulled away. "Okay, okay, come look at the bathroom.....Check out the bathroom mat."
JC walked over and looked down. "It's in the shape of a foot."
She laughed. "Isn't it fun?"
He looked at her weird. "It's you that's for sure."
"Oh, the best part," she said as she pushed him back in her room. "Clap your hands."
"Excuse me?"
"Go on...Clap them."
"Oh please no," he said and clapped twice and groaned when the lights went out. "You got the CLAPPER?"
She laughed. "It was my grandmothers, and she gave it to me."
He shook his head. "You crack me up, carebear," he said and then looked at her bed that was covered with
carebear stuff animals. "Still have your collection I
see."
"Yep, have all but one," she said as she picked up Good Luck Bear. "Remember this?"
He laughed. "Yeah, I gave it to you when your
basketball team went to the state finals. For luck."
She laughed. "Yeah, it's one of my favorites."
"I was embarrassed as hell buying it though," he said with a laugh. "But I'd buy a whole box full for you."
She smiled and then smiled down at her collection. She even had all the carebear cousins, but one.
"Still don't have bright heart raccoon."
"I think they stopped making them, carebear."
She shrugged. "Yeah, I know," she said and then
laughed. "It's silly, let's go to the den. I'll cook
you dinner and you can tell me all about the group and
what's going on in Europe."
July 28 1999
After a long tiring day of summer school, Sammy
trudged up the steps to her apartment, unlocked the
door and walked inside. She threw her keys on the
table and picked up Whiskers who greeted her at the
door. "Hey sweetie, you hungry?" she asked as she
cuddled him. She walked into the utility room and set
her down on the floor and poured her some food.
She was about to sit down and watch TV when the
doorbell rang. She opened the door to see a delivery
man with a package. "Package for Miss Jones?"
"That's me," she said with a smile and signed for it. "Thank you," she said as she grabbed the boxed
package and closed the door.
She looked at it and smiled when she recognized JC's handwriting. He was on tour right now and so she
hadn't been able to see him in forever. She had never
been so proud of him, she thought as she sat down and
opened the box. It was filled with stuffing and she
dove her hand through it and felt something soft, like
a stuffed animal. She gasped. "Noo!" she said in
amazement as she pulled it out and almost cried when
she saw Bright Heart Raccoon grinning at her.
There was a note attached to him, and so she
carefully tore it off and wiped her teary eyes as she
started to read it.
Hey Carebear!
Can you believe I found it! You'll never guess how either! I was on stage at....Can't remember what city, sorry I loose track...Anyway, I was on-stage
singing your favorite song, God Must Have Spent, when
all of the sudden this thing comes right at my face
and I caught it before it hits me. And there it was,
looking right at me. A fan in the audience threw that
at me, can you believe it! I thought of you right
away, of course and I smiled at the fan and gave her a
wink. She practically tore her hair out from
screaming so loud....
Sammy let out a laugh and hugged the stuff animal closer to her and continued to read.
Anyway, I hope things are going good for you at school....and for you and Danny. I hope he makes you happy, Carebear...because I care a lot about you and don't want you to get hurt. I love you very much and I'll try to call you as soon as I can. Take care, sweetie.
Love,
Your Josh
Sammy wiped away a tear after rereading his letter a thousand times. She placed the letter on the table
and curled up on the couch and hugged Bright Heart
Raccoon close to her chest. She told herself a
million times she was happy with her life, but she
realized that the only times she was happy, was the
times she spent with JC...and that wasn't very often.