Part 435: A Tough Decision

Eddie rested in the hospital bed. He was checked out and free to go. However, he didn’t see Tony and Marita yet. They called and said they were on their way to make sure he was indeed fine. The young man already called his mother and left a message. He hoped she wouldn’t be too upset but then again, in the end; this wasn’t his fault. Eddie twisted his head toward the distance of the other beds and saw Bonnie. His redheaded girlfriend was talking to the cops about the incident they went through tonight. Then Marita and Tony finally came into the Err room where he was resting. “Oh, my God!” Marita cried as she saw him with bandages on his arm and small ones on his face.

“Marita, it’s okay,” he said, leaning up and embracing her, “I’m okay. I’m not that bad hurt.”

“What happened, Eddie?” Tony inquired.

“That moron from school, Brian Sage,” he sighed, “I beat him up along time ago for what he said about Jilly, remember? He came out of nowhere and tried to kill me . . us, he tried to kill me and Bonnie. I managed to hold him off and keep him from pushing us into the embankment on Route 72.”

“What happened to Brian?”

“He flipped over into the embankment he intended for us. The moment I made sure that Bonnie was safe, I ran down and got him out before his Viper blew up.”

“You saved his life . . .after he tried to kill you?” Marita said, then embraced him, “You are such a noble soul, Eddie.”

“I was taught well.” He said, hugging her.

Tony smiled at the young man. Like Marita, he couldn’t have been more proud of him. It takes a lot for 17 year old to risk his life to save someone’s who almost didn’t deserve it. Eddie then parted from Marita and got up off the bed. “Is . .Turk okay?” he asked Tony.

“Your car is fine, Eddie,” the one eyed man laughed, “He’s got a few scratches and two dents but otherwise he’s intact. He was built to last.”

“Yes, yes he was,” Eddie smiled.

“Okay, Eddie,” Marita said, rubbing his back,” You go make sure that Bonnie is okay and we’ll be waiting for you outside.”

“Kay,” he said, resting his hands on both their shoulders, “I love you guys.”

The Largos walked down the hallway back toward the exit. Eddie walked in the opposite direction and then entered the ER room where his girlfriend was speaking with the police officer. The moment she saw him, she scooted off the ran and embraced him. Eddie held onto her, happy she was okay. The cop looked at him and the young man could tell by the stern look on his face that he needed to tell him something. As they parted, he looked down at Bonnie; gently stroking her hair. “You okay?” he asked her.

“My neck hurts a bit and the cut on my hand is already healing,” she smiled.

“Mr. Trascal, we’ll need a word about what to do with Mr. Sage.” The police officer said.

“I’ll be right back,” he told her.

Bonnie held her arms by her side as her boyfriend walked out into the hallway with the police officer. The young man massaged his wrist as he and the cop stood in the white washed marble hallway. The cop then rested his hands on his belt. Before he said anything, a doctor began walking toward them. The cop then held up an index finger, silently telling Eddie he’d be right with him. The doctor removed his mask as he coughed a bit. “Officer, you wanted to know the condition of Brian Sage?” he asked.

“Yes, doctor, how he is?” the cop inquired.

“He’s stable but we’re going to have to put him in surgery soon. We may be able to save his leg.”

“May?” Eddie raised an eyebrow.

The doctor looked at him, unaware he was listening in. “Yes, MAY save his leg, Mr. Trascal,” the medical man said sternly, “You did good by getting the tourniquet on him but you were in a region of the upper country where the ambulance didn’t get to you in time to insure he’d be okay.”

“Brian . . .is going to be a cripple?” the young man asked.

“It’s too soon to tell.” The doctor said, as he began to walk away.

Eddie rubbed the back of his head. Brian was a complete ass but he wouldn’t have wished this on anybody. The wreck had mangled his leg and early guess says his prospects of being an All Pro Quarterback were looking very slim. The cop then slowly walked back over toward the contemplative teenager. “Mr. Trascal, I need to know if you are going to press charges against Mr. Sage?” the cop asked.

“What . . .what charges is he facing?”

“Attempted vehicular homicide, if convicted, runs a maximum of 30 years. He’s at the age where he’ll probably be tried as an adult.”

“I need to see him.” Eddie said coldly.

“Mr. Trascal, I don’t think that is such a good-“

“I NEED . . . .to see him.” The young man repeated bluntly.



The cop escorted Eddie through the upper level ER surgery room. The two men stopped behind a class window. Through the opening Eddie could see the nurses helping Brian get prepped for surgery. The quarterback was barely awake. His eyelids were flickering back and forth; as he tried to remain conscious. By happenstance, he tilted his head toward the direction that Eddie was in. The moment the eyes of the quarterback fell on the young man, they went wide open.

Eddie stared at him. The hate in Brian’s eyes was unmistakable. Even though it was his own stupidity that might have cost him his career as a football player, Eddie knew that the fool would blame him for this. However, he also knew that one way or another, he was going to ruin Brian’s life. Would the quarterback come after Eddie for revenge after he left prison? The young man had seen one too many times what the price of vengeance was and how loved ones would suffer for it. He didn’t want that for him, his family and possibly even Bonnie. He had to think of their future and he wanted to make sure Brian was no where near it. “Yeah,” the young man whispered toward the cop, “I’ll press charges.”

“Good,” the cop began to escort him away, “Tomorrow you’ll need to come down to the precinct and fill out some paper work. But now, go home and rest.”

“Yes, sir,” Eddie walked down the hall with him.


After working his way toward the maze of hallways, he made it back toward the ER. As he looked into the distance beyond the nurses going about their daily business, he could see Bonnie. Then he recognized her mother, Mrs. Tefpourth was there, obviously making sure they were okay. Eddie walked up and expected to get yelled by her mother, for having her daughter in a dangerous situation. As he walked up, Bonnie smiled at him. Then without warning, Mrs. Tefpourth grabbed Eddie by the cheeks and kissed him. His eyes went wide in amazement, not expecting her to do this. “Oh, my goodness,” she nearly wept,” Bonnie told me what you did, Eddie. That is the most heroic thing I’ve ever heard of.”

“Oh, please, Mrs. Tefpourth, it was nothing.” He blushed a bit.

“No, it was everything, Eddie,” Bonnie said, holding onto his arm.
“Yes, it was and from now on you call me Julia.” Her mother smiled.

“Thank you . . Julie.” The teenager smiled.

“So, now you must come to dinner at my house on Friday,” she pointed out, “So my husband can thank you for saving the life of his step-daughter.”

“Matt’s coming to town!” Bonnie gasped.

“Yes, his rotation from his studies is up and he’ll be spending the next two weeks with us,” the older woman placed her hand on Eddie’s arm, “Please tell me, you’ll be joining us Friday, Eddie.”

“I look forward to meeting him.” He smiled.

The older woman then began to lead the way out of the hospital with the young couple in tow. Eddie was concerned about Brian and wondered if any repercussions would come from this attempt on his life. Pressing charges against the quarterback was the only way he could see that none would happen. But was that what he was truly nervous about? No really; he was more nervous about the one thing most young men are nervous about in regards to their girlfriends.

Meeting their fathers.