come to grips with the idea that Dan would only be awake for three months a year, and she avoided him. He had twisted, aimless, for five long years until Coach Croft, his mentor, died. That gave Dan a new perspective, and he went after Gabbie hard. He managed to convince her that they could carve a life together, even if they had to live it a quarter at a time.
“Those were some hard times, Sam,” Dan said.
Sam nodded thoughtfully.
“How’s Gabbie doing these days?”
Dan’s eyes teared up.
“She’s been gone for nearly eight years,” he said.
“I’m sorry, Dan.”
Dan shook his head hard and dabbed at his eyes.
“What about you? You went to the Air Force, but then what?”
“Spent eight years fixing airplanes for Uncle Sam, then moved to Cincinnati and fixed commercial planes for another 40. Had my first heart attack the week after I retired. Two more since then. They say the next one will be the last. I don’t have to worry about that, though. The lung cancer will take me long before my ticker gives out.”
“That’s rough, Sam.”
“Damn cigarettes and bacon got me,” Sam said. “Couldn’t resist either one. Or women.” He guffawed at this last.
“Ah, a lady’s man!” Dan said, smiling.
Sam cast a furtive look over his shoulder.
“Don’t tell Melinda, but I did have my charms when I was younger.” Sam winked at Dan.
“I’m sure you did, Sam.”
Sam grew more serious. “Now, you gotta level with me, Dan. How have you stayed so darn young? What’s your secret?”
Dan had long ago stopped trying to explain his appearance to people. No one understood how he could vegetate for nine months a year and then wake up to live a normal life for three months before hibernating again. And, even if they bought that part of his story, they couldn’t swallow the idea that such a condition would drastically slow down the aging process.
So he lied.
“Hair color, exercise, liposuction, girdles, and plenty of plastic surgery,” Dan deadpanned.
“Stop yanking my chain, Dan,” Sam said.
Dan held up his right hand in a scout’s salute. “It’s the God’s honest truth, Sam. Vanity is my biggest shortcoming, and I just cannot stand to look old. I’ll do anything to stay as young as possible.”
Sam pulled a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket, slipped them on, and leaned to within an inch of Dan’s face. He flicked it with a finger. Then he grabbed Dan’s meaty right bicep.
“Horse pucky!” Sam said. “Your skin is clear, your muscles are hard. Dan, you’re young. You’re not just faking it.”
“No, Sam, you’re mistaken.” Dan was resolute.
“Dammit, Dan, why are you lying to me?” Sam’s voice rose, and he was breathing hard.
Dan caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. Melinda had come to claim her husband.
She lay a gentle hand on Sam’s shoulder and said softly, “Come on, dear. You’re starting to burn.”
She pointed to Sam’s unprotected bald crown.
Sam looked at his wife with wild eyes, then back to Dan. He patted the top of his head and winced.
“Oh. Oh, sure,” he said. “I didn’t realize how long I’d been out here.”
Mel tugged at his arm, not waiting to be introduced to Dan. She pulled Sam to his feet, and the old man shuffled out of the stands behind her.
“Goodbye, Sam,” Dan called. “It was great to see you.”
Sam looked back, jaw hanging slack. He raised his hand halfway into a wave, then let it fall. His stoop bent him forward, and he shook his head from side to side.
Diamonds Are Forever
Dan could hear the birds chirping before he ever woke up. He incorporated them into his dream: blue jays and orioles and cardinals flitting from bat to bat as the Cincinnati Reds took the field for their first full Spring Training practice of the year.
It had been decades since Dan had seen the beginning of Spring Training, and making it to the first day of Reds camp was at the top of his bucket list, right alongside watching Cincinnati win a World Series.
Slowly, the field zoomed away from his field of vision, and the birds’ songs became more clear. He rolled over in his bed, and a beam of sunlight splashed him in the eyes. He pushed himself to a sitting position and looked around the bedroom, the one he had shared with Gabbie for 40 years. She still smiled at him from a picture on the nightstand, and he smiled back.
“Love you, honey,” he said.
He rolled onto his other side and dropped his feet to the floor, then stood. His legs were wobbly, but he had been through enough of these awakenings to know he’d be fine if he took it nice and easy his first day. He shuffled into the bathroom and flipped on the light.
His reflection was thin and pale, but he still looked good. Vaguely recalling a conversation he’d had in a dream, Dan thought, “Yeah, I do look about 30.”
It was his curse and his blessing.
He spent a few minutes cleaning up and threw on some sweats, then made his way into the kitchen. He wasn’t hungry yet but knew that would come soon.
Before he ate, he wanted to figure out what had happened in the last nine months.
He sat down at his kitchen table and turned on the tablet that was plugged in and waiting for him. It glowed to life, and he navigated to the website for the local newspaper. Generally, he’d start with the most recent news stories and make his way backwards, but on this morning he felt compelled — he didn’t know why — to click elsewhere first.
—
Obituaries
Samuel Butler, 75
Samuel Butler, formerly of Rosedale, passed away at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona, on Wednesday, February 20. He was 74.
Born at Pickens County Hospital to James and Sara Butler on June 20, 1956, Samuel was a 1974 graduate of South Pickens High School. He was a member of the Eagles baseball team that won the 1974 Indiana State baseball championship.
After high school, Samuel joined the Air Force, serving for eight years before settling down in the Cincinnati area.
He married Melinda Trusty on May 28, 1979, and she survives.
Also surviving are a son, Stanley (Martha), of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and a daughter, Melissa (Todd) Heaverly, of Dayton, OH.
Samuel was a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Bears, and he finally accomplished his dream of attending the Reds’ Spring Training camp this February.
—
Dan dropped the paper to the tabletop, his encounter with Sam in Arizona swimming into full focus.
It had just been a dream.
Hadn’t it?
Thank You — and a Free Gift
Thank you for reading Diamonds Are Forever. If you liked this story, then you might also enjoy Alive on Opening Day, the novel-length tale of Dan Hodges and his unique situation, with the 1974 baseball season as backdrop. Get your FREE copy here: https://adamhugheswriter.com/alive-opening-day-giveaway/ — it’s my gift to you for taking the time to read my work.
I would also love to hear what you think of this tale and what types of stories you would like to read from my pen in the future. Feel free to drop me a line at
[email protected] Thanks again,
Adam Hughes
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