Part 11: Gimme Shelter
John tied the piece of cut tarp to the metal pole. Erecting a shelter wasn’t going to be easy but with McKay’s help; it seemed to be coming along nicely. Yolanda and Marita had gone off to find any clothes that were abandoned, so they could get out of their stewardess uniforms. Eddie had walked down the beach to find some supplies. Tony sat by himself. He squinted in pain every once and while, moving his bandage around. “You okay over there, doc?” asked McKay.
“Never felt so useless in my life.” He muttered.
“What makes you say that?” asked John.
“You guys are doing all the work and I am sitting over here in the dark. I wish I could help.”
“What are you talking about, Tony?” John said, finally securing the tarp like tent, “You are helping.”
“How the hell is sitting on my ass helping, John?” Tony screamed.
“Well, for instance, yesterday, I didn’t know what Diovan was. Also, Marita may have needed to rest with her concussion but had I not known you, I probably would have already tried to keep her awake, maybe causing her brain damage.”
“And lets not forget the most important thang, Doc,” McKay sniffed, “Had it not been for you, little Eddie would have stayed on the beach and succumbed to the water in his lungs.”
Tony lowered his head and fell silent. John walked to his friend, placing his hand on his shoulder. “That boy is alive because of you.” He whispered, “Never doubt your worth to us again.”
“Thank you,” Tony patted his arm.
Almost as if on cue, Eddie came back with a rolled up shirt, filled with items. John smiled at the little scavenger. “I found some stuff, Tony.” He said, proudly.
“What did you find, Eddie?” the blind doctor smiled.
“Looks like some Sprite cans, a notebook and several packets of peanuts. Plus, “Eddie grunted as he hoisted up the large object, “I found you a cane.”
Tony felt the young boy place the long pole in his hands. The blind man felt of its smoothness and its tip. It felt like it might have indeed been a cane, more than likely for an elderly individual. It would be suitable for Tony and he was pleased at the thoughtful gift of a boy he met only two days ago. “Thanks, kid.” He smirked.
“Pretty soon, your other senses will be sharp and you’ll be just like Daredevil!” Eddie laughed.
John and McKay laughed with him. Even Tony found himself laughing, remembering the movies but never read any of the comic books. “I don’t think so but I’ll make sure to try, Eddie.”
“Is that our tent?” The little boy pointed.
“Sure is, “John smiled, “Why don’t you give it a try?”
The little boy dove into the tent, laughing. John smirked, happy to see at least Eddie agrees with his tent making abilities. Tony’s smiled slowly crept down into a frown. He massaged his cheek, moaning. His friend took notice of this. “Tony, what’s wrong?” John asked.
“He’s in denial.” He whispered.
“Who, Eddie?”
“He’s projecting onto me the love he should feel for this father, “ the blind doctor whispered, “Sooner or later, he’s going to have to come to grips with the deaths of his parents.”
“How old is this kid, ten?” McKay piped in, “I’m sure we can spare him a few years before he comes to grip with death.”
Eddie crawled back out of the tent. He was all smiles. The three men changed their somber mood back to jovial for Eddie’s sake. The little boy laughed as he ran off to find more supplies. Tony could only sigh. John came over and sat down next to him. “Give him time, Tony, “he whispered, “Be there for him. Eventually he’ll grieve but right now, we’re all he has.”
“Right, “Tony agreed.
“Never felt so useless in my life.” He muttered.
“What makes you say that?” asked John.
“You guys are doing all the work and I am sitting over here in the dark. I wish I could help.”
“What are you talking about, Tony?” John said, finally securing the tarp like tent, “You are helping.”
“How the hell is sitting on my ass helping, John?” Tony screamed.
“Well, for instance, yesterday, I didn’t know what Diovan was. Also, Marita may have needed to rest with her concussion but had I not known you, I probably would have already tried to keep her awake, maybe causing her brain damage.”
“And lets not forget the most important thang, Doc,” McKay sniffed, “Had it not been for you, little Eddie would have stayed on the beach and succumbed to the water in his lungs.”
Tony lowered his head and fell silent. John walked to his friend, placing his hand on his shoulder. “That boy is alive because of you.” He whispered, “Never doubt your worth to us again.”
“Thank you,” Tony patted his arm.
Almost as if on cue, Eddie came back with a rolled up shirt, filled with items. John smiled at the little scavenger. “I found some stuff, Tony.” He said, proudly.
“What did you find, Eddie?” the blind doctor smiled.
“Looks like some Sprite cans, a notebook and several packets of peanuts. Plus, “Eddie grunted as he hoisted up the large object, “I found you a cane.”
Tony felt the young boy place the long pole in his hands. The blind man felt of its smoothness and its tip. It felt like it might have indeed been a cane, more than likely for an elderly individual. It would be suitable for Tony and he was pleased at the thoughtful gift of a boy he met only two days ago. “Thanks, kid.” He smirked.
“Pretty soon, your other senses will be sharp and you’ll be just like Daredevil!” Eddie laughed.
John and McKay laughed with him. Even Tony found himself laughing, remembering the movies but never read any of the comic books. “I don’t think so but I’ll make sure to try, Eddie.”
“Is that our tent?” The little boy pointed.
“Sure is, “John smiled, “Why don’t you give it a try?”
The little boy dove into the tent, laughing. John smirked, happy to see at least Eddie agrees with his tent making abilities. Tony’s smiled slowly crept down into a frown. He massaged his cheek, moaning. His friend took notice of this. “Tony, what’s wrong?” John asked.
“He’s in denial.” He whispered.
“Who, Eddie?”
“He’s projecting onto me the love he should feel for this father, “ the blind doctor whispered, “Sooner or later, he’s going to have to come to grips with the deaths of his parents.”
“How old is this kid, ten?” McKay piped in, “I’m sure we can spare him a few years before he comes to grip with death.”
Eddie crawled back out of the tent. He was all smiles. The three men changed their somber mood back to jovial for Eddie’s sake. The little boy laughed as he ran off to find more supplies. Tony could only sigh. John came over and sat down next to him. “Give him time, Tony, “he whispered, “Be there for him. Eventually he’ll grieve but right now, we’re all he has.”
“Right, “Tony agreed.
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