Fiction - Capture the moment

Jason Stephenson, Contributor

It was always like Graham to never leave the house. He never made friends, never played any sports or extra-curricular activities, he didn't talk to his neighbours and he most certainly didn't talk to girls. It was just school and back every day for the last 15 years of his life.

His parents, Mr and Mrs Benjamin were very worried - it wasn't healthy for a teenager to live like that. They had already spent tons of money on child therapists, fitness experts, nutritionists, chi consultants, even interior decorators to trim up his dreary room, but none of it helped. Graham was unyielding to the world around him.

"Mom," said Graham as his mother cleared the table after dinner. "I don't feel so good."

"What's wrong sweetheart?" she asked wiping her wet hands to give him a closer look. "Is it your head again?"

"No." said Graham. "My legs, they feel - numb."

"Maybe if you went for a walk every now and then that wouldn't be a problem," huffed his father from behind the newspaper.

"I-I'm serious," croaked Graham attempting to stand to his feet. "I feel a bit ... ."

Graham collapsed. His mother's screams filled the room as he blacked out on the kitchen floor.

THE AWAKENING

Sometime later, Graham awoke in a hospital. His parents were asleep beside his bed. He stirred trying to get up but was strapped to a bunch of tubes and machinery beeping and buzzing loudly.

"Don't overexert yourself," said his father quickly sitting up in his chair. "How do you feel?"

"W-What's going on? W-Why am I in the hospital?" said Graham.

"You fainted in the kitchen three days ago. Don't you remember?"

"Three days ago?!" shrieked Graham. His mother jerked awake in her chair.

"You're awake!" shrieked his mother swooping him up in a hug. "I was so worried."

There was a soft knock at the door.

"Good, you're all awake," said a man in a white lab coat. "Hello Graham, I am Dr Webber. Nice to finally meet you." He outstretched a hand which Graham feebly shook. "Err, Have you told him as yet?" he asked.

"Told me what?" fidgeted Graham turning to his parents. Mrs Benjamin immediately began crying before bludgeoning her son with sloppy kisses. "Mom, Stop!! Stop!!" hissed Graham. "What's going on?"

Both Graham's parents and the doctor began exchanging awkward glances.

"WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME SOMETHING?!" he yelled.

Dr Webber took out a pen and a piece of paper and began to draw. "Graham, this is a liver," he said showing him the completed pictured. "It aids in digestion and detoxifies your body." Dr Webber drew another picture. "This is your liver."

Graham stared wide eyed at the pictures. It was clear his was far smaller than the other.

"W-Why does it look so small?" said Graham nervously.

Dr Webber sighed. "You have a rare condition called Bennett's Disease, Graham; it causes the liver's walls to cave in on itself, making it hard to carry out its regular functions. You're lucky to be alive."

Graham swallowed as his mother hugged him even tighter.

"B-But, you can fix it right? You can give me an operation or medicine, right?"

"No, Graham," said the doctor. "We can't"

The reality of the news struck Graham like a brick. After days of crying, not eating a drop of food and barricading himself inside his bedroom for days, he finally decided to have a change of heart. Graham Benjamin, son of Gregory and Amy Benjamin suddenly wanted to go the community pool - he felt like swimming.

Before they knew it, he signed up for basketball at school, then he started talking to those kids his age down the street. He started going to plays and concerts, he visited the beach and the zoo with his flock of new friends. Who was this boy? Surely it wasn't Graham. The transformation over the passing weeks was amazing.

A NEW GRAHAM

It wasn't until Graham asked to go to a sports bar in the town that his parents saw how different he truly had become. The way he said 'Hello' to everyone he passed, he was so courteous and friendly.

"I dare you to eat all the gum under this table," giggled a voice from a group of teenage girls by the bar.

"Can I play?" asked Graham as he boldly approached them.

"And you are?" said one of the girls looking him up and down.

"Graham," he said. "My doctor recommends I have at least two doses of cute girls daily and you guys match my prescription."

Loud giggles escaped from the table as Graham attempted to charm the girls. In the meantime, his parents grabbed a table on the other side of the bar as they watched their son is amazement.

"How long do you think it will take before he figures it out?" said Mrs Benjamin.

"Who knows? Four, six, maybe eight months, give or take," replied her husband.

"We took a really big risk doing all of this."

"Relax."

"We're terrible parents," said Mrs Benjamin looking through the menu.

"The worst," said Mr Benjamin.

"He'll hate us for months."

"Years," said Mr Benjamin.

"He'll never trust another word we say. Alex could have lost his job for lying to a patient like that."

"He wanted to help, Amy."

"He'll never really be the same again."

"Thank God!" said Mr Benjamin.

The couple smirked as they witnessed their son Graham, doing The Robot on the bar counter.