NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? part 22 (the end?)

NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? Part twenty-TWO – the concluding chapter.

Max

>< >< ><

>< >< ><

FIRST LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS FINAL CHAPTER. TO ME, IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE TO TRY AND CUT IT IN HALF.

PLEASE ENJOY AND IF YOU’D LIKE, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT.

THANKS.

>< >< ><

>< >< ><

Mrs. Morgan suggested that Mary Ellen put the TV on in the den to one of her favorite science programs while she finished cooking dinner. As quickly as the den door closed behind Mary Ellen and Tommy, Mrs. Morgan heard a gentle rap on the front door.

She opened the door to her new visitors, Dr. Sutherland and his wife, Alice. “Come in, come in! Tommy will be so surprised.”

>< >< ><

“Liz, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I’ve become very fond of that boy. He’s something else, isn’t he?” Dr. Sutherland stood tall and proud at the thought of Tommy possibly becoming his protégé.

“You know, Liz,” Alice Sutherland joined in, “Frank told me so much about Tommy, I was more than eager to meet him and when I did, well, I couldn’t have been more impressed.”

Mrs. Morgan smiled at her friends and seemed to glow with the same pride everyone else felt “You know Mary Ellen’s instinct! She saw something in him that he didn’t even know he had. Once she found it, there was no stopping her. Tommy even admitted that Mary Ellen sort of “found” him.”

Dr. Sutherland changed the subject. “Is Dan upstairs?”

“Oh, sorry, Frank. I guess I got carried away. Yes, Dan asked that you meet him and Jimmy in the library.”

Nodding, Dr. Sutherland climbed the stairs to meet his waiting friends.

“Well, Alice, it’s just you and me, now. The men are finally out of the way; Mary Ellen and Tommy are in the den. Now, we need to get to work. Are you ready?”

Alice put her arm around her friend’s shoulder and said, “I’ve never been more ready. Let’s go!”

**

“Mel,” Tommy said, feeling a bit nervous but not knowing why, asked, “so, what is it you wanted to show me?”

“Tommy, it’s the neatest thing. When mom and I went shopping a few days ago, we stopped in a pet store and saw this. I thought it was the perfect thing for Max. I showed it to Uncle Frank, and he said he was sure Max would love it. It’s called a tug-a-toy. You grab one end and Max the other and, well, just tug! It’s supposed to help keep him strong and active, and also helps in keeping his back teeth clean.”

Tommy stood there for a few seconds waiting for her to continue, when she didn’t, he said jokingly, “Whew! That must have been the shortest speech you ever said. Thank heaven for that!”

She laughed along with her friend, gave his shoulder a slight punch, and said, “Huh! Maybe, as I heard dad telling mom, I’m growing up way too fast.”

Before too long, they heard Mrs. Morgan call out, “Mary Ellen, Tommy. Come in, please. Dinner is ready.”

As they neared the dining room, Mary Ellen held back a bit and let Tommy walk ahead of her. As he entered the room, his eyes opened wide as he heard everyone shout in unison, “SURPRISE!”

Mary Ellen leaned closer to Tommy and whispered, “I do hope you’re surprised. We’ve been planning this for weeks.” She raised herself on her toes and kissed his cheek.

As he blushed, he looked at her and said, “Uh, totally! But what’s this all about? Is this all for me?”

Mrs. Morgan answered, “Yes, Tommy, it is and for a number of reasons. You’ve been an inspiration to this family since the first day we met you. Your enthusiasm and sense of humor have put a new spark into our own lives. And finally, you’re a pleasure to have around.”

Dr. Morgan declared, “Tommy, you’re an ambitious young man. You work hard and aren’t afraid of tackling difficult jobs. You’ve overcome your fears and since your uncle told us about your studies, we decided all good deeds need rewarding. Not only have you caught up with your schoolwork, but you’ve also excelled to the point where, in September, rather than entering the eighth grade, you’ll be heading to high school. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

Mrs. Morgan’s eyes moistened, and she hugged Tommy and said, “You’re the son I wish I could have had but never did. So, consider yourself unofficially adopted.”

To Tommy’s amazement and embarrassment, everyone applauded and cheered to acknowledge his hard work.

Mrs. Morgan spoke to her husband, “Dan, can you help me?”

He knew exactly what she needed to do, and they quickly left the room. Just as quickly, they returned with several gift-wrapped boxes and placed them on the small table they set up behind Tommy.

Dr. Morgan placed a hand on Tommy’s shoulder and said, “Tommy, we all want to wish you a very happy birthday, and of course congratulations!”

Tommy’s eyes were as wide as the moon and in stunned disbelief, he looked at Mary Ellen and asked, “All this is for me?”

She giggled and said enthusiastically, “Yes it is, Tommy. Open them”

In no particular order, he began carefully ripping open box after box, careful not to make a mess with the torn paper. In the boxes, he found several shirts, pants, shoes, sneakers, even a new winter jacket!

Looking up with tears he longer tried to hide, he softly said, “I don’t know where to begin to thank all of you. There’s just so much. I just ..” He stopped talking and tried to control the quiver in his voice.

It was Dr. Sutherland that spoke. “Tommy, as I said earlier, Dr. Morgan and I wanted this to be special. You’ve come a long way since we first met you. You’ve proven to be a caring and ambitious young man. I’ve watched you work at my hospital. The care you’ve given to the little animals that have had reason to stay, has made a permanent mark on my mind and heart.”

At this point, Dr. Sutherland slowly pulled from his shirt pocket an envelope and handed it to Tommy.

Carefully opening the seal, his eyes opened to their widest and beads of perspiration formed on his forehead and upper lip. His mouth fell open and his hands began to shake. He looked at Dr. Sutherland and then at Dr. Morgan.

The two doctors now standing side by side walked to where Tommy seemed frozen in time. Dr. Sutherland, after looking from face to face in the room, then settling on Tommy’s still bewildered face, said, “The paper you’re now holding is a legal bank-held scholarship in your name. Right now, it covers your first two years of college. If you continue to prove yourself, the rest will follow. Your career choice, of course, is yours to make. However, I personally would hope you’d choose to be a veterinarian, like me. I can think of nothing more enjoyable than to have you work alongside me. But, if you choose another path, it doesn’t matter. The scholarship is good for whatever goal you choose.”

Waving his hand to implicate everyone in the room, he said, “From all of us, Tommy, congratulations!”

>< >< ><

EPILOGUE:

Tommy’s path was now set. His secret dream for a better life unfolded before his eyes.

The night at Mary Ellen’s house finally ended, but Tommy’s dream continued.

He still found it hard to believe that so many people could care so much, and his gratitude and affection grossly exceeded his meager vocabulary. He swore never to disappoint the people who showed him so much love and trust.

After he returned with his uncle to their apartment, Tommy sat on the floor beside Max, who eagerly licked his master’s cheek. Tommy put his arm around his pet and said, “You know, Max, none of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for you. You went and kissed a silly girl and because of that,” he said as he looked dreamily out the window and into the space beyond, “I was offered the world.”

Pulling Max a bit closer and hugging him a bit tighter, Tommy gently kissed his dog’s nose and as fresh tears of happiness filled his eyes, he said, Thank you, Max. You really are man’s best friend.”

Thank you for reading Now Will Ya Leave Me Alone?

I REALLY HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS STORY.

THANK YOU FOR READING AND ALL YOUR WONDERFUL ENCOURAGING COMMENTS.

>< >< ><