“I’m proud of all my students,” Mr. Grissom said in assembly. “All of you are invited to the presentation ceremony, but dress warmly. It is December. I hope it’s just cold and not raining. It’s less than three weeks until Christmas. Won’t this be a magnificent early Christmas present for the school?” The students cheered and whistled.
“Will Marshall be there?” Bonnie called out.
“Will he?” Mr. Grissom turned to the twins.
“You bet. He can hardly wait,” Tim laughed.
The day was bitter cold and windy, but a huge crowd had gathered on the Canine Wonders lawn. “I’ve never seen so many people outside of a stadium,” Jake spoke in awe. “They’re standing, so let’s get this show on the road. We’ll try not to keep them out in the cold too long.”
Sharlene and Brian walked beside Marshall’s chair as Chuckles pulled him to the area around the microphone. The dog recognized the twins and went straight to them. The twins looked sadly at each other at the sight of Marshall, but put on a big grin for his benefit. Out of the corner of his eye, Tim saw several girls hugging each other and trying not to cry. He glared at them and slightly shook his head.
Jake welcomed everyone and informed them of the pamphlets inside. “We had planned to bring small groups in to see a video and tour the building, but there are many more than we anticipated and we just can’t. We also planned on refreshments, but come on folks, we didn’t plan on so many. I guess I’ll just extend an invitation for you to make reservations to visit. Now I’ll turn the program over to the young people whose hearts are bigger than this building. Thanks to them, we’re having this day.”
Tim took the microphone. “It looks as if I’ve been elected spokesperson. First I want to welcome the Governor of our great state.” The gentleman stood among loud applause and cheering. Tim introduced several politicians and local people of importance.
“I couldn’t be more proud than I am right this minute. My heartfelt thanks goes to the people who responded and helped so much. I am blessed to be able to call these people friends,” he waved toward the students. “My greatest blessing is my friend right here.” he dropped to a knee beside Marshall’s chair. Chuckles pushed between Tim and Marshall. “The courage this young man has shown puts us all to shame. Talk about big hearts. Marshall has more love, caring for people in general and just plain intestinal fortitude.”
“What’s that?” Marshall piped up. His clear little voice ran over the microphone. ‘Does it mean I have some bad disease?” he frowned.
“No.” Jacob knelt beside Marshall. “It means you got guts, kid, and you’re our hero.”
“Hero! Me?” Marshall beamed. Daddy, Mommie, did you hear that? I’m a hero.”
“You’ve always been our hero,” Sharlene whispered trying to quiet him. Brian choked and got red in the face knowing Marshall’s medical problems.
Tom took the microphone. “Let’s get to the business we’re here for before we all have icicles running down our cheeks. Marshall, my good buddy,---”
Marshall turned his chair with Chuckles determinedly trying to get ahead of him to pull. Tom knelt beside Marshall. “I hope you’re ready for a nice, big, big surprise. With the fund raisers we had through the school, and Anna’s college friends, we are presenting Canine Wonders with a check for ---” he hesitated for effect - “Are you ready for this?”
“Oh, you meanie. Tell me quick. Is there enough to buy a dog for a little boy or girl?”
“More than enough. The grand total is twenty-four thousand eight hundred fifty dollars, and, oh, yes, forty-seven cents. Enough and more for two dogs.”
A gasp rippled through the crowd and then a cheer went up that must have been heard in the next county. John Middleton took the microphone not ashamed of the tears in his eyes. He meant to thank them, but couldn’t talk for the lump in his throat.
Marshall had no trouble talking. “Really? Will it buy two dogs?”
“More than enough,” John finally said. “It will furnish the dogs, all the training and veterinarian care. I can’t find words adequate enough to express my appreciation and love for you folks. You’ve worked faithfully and all of you have become like my own children,” he told the teens. “A speech would spoil the moment so I’ll: -- he choked and waved his hand in the air. “I understand there’s cookies and punch if anyone’s interested.”
None wanted cold punch and they wanted to get home because the sky threatened to open and dump snow. Tim thanked everyone again and told them they had planned to make it a yearly even to raise money for a dog. People were quickly going to their cars shivering.
“Can you come home with me and play video games?” Marshall asked the twins even though he was weak and tired.
“We will soon, but not today. We’d better get home before it snows on us,” Mark explained. Putting his hand over his heart he said, “I promise we’ll come soon. It’s just a few days until Christmas. I bet Santa will bring a lot of great things to our hero. We want to be there and see what you get.”
Although the snow had spit off and on throughout the afternoon, it didn’t snow full blast until seven. “I’m so thankful we made a good sum for the school and hopefully everyone is home safe and warm. We should go to the hospital tomorrow and visit Alex and Trina,” Tom yawned.
Herb and Irene looked at each other with warm, gentle expressions of love in their eyes. They were so thankful. Tom had matured at last.
Irene went to answer the phone and turned to the twins with a big grin. “Fans of yours are on the line.”
The twins took extension phones. “Hello,” Tim spoke hesitantly.
“Hi ya, old buddies.”
“Benjamin Yoakno! What a great, nice surprise.”
Ben laughed. “There’s someone else here.”
“Greatheart?” the twins spoke as one.
“Wrong,” came another familiar voice.
“Charlie Running Horse.”
“You win the prize, but there’s others here.”
Sam Cramus and Alan Brave Bear also talked some. The boys in Alaska took turns and they talked for some time.
“Let me tell you what happened,” Tim broke in.
“That’s what we called about. How much did you earn and how is the little boy?”
The boys cheered in Alaska. “We’re happy for you. Please write a long letter and tell all the details. We want to know all about Marshall.” Ben finished. “We feel as if we’ve met him.”
“Whoopeee,” Herb laughed. “I’m glad I’m not paying for that phone bill. Did you wish the boys a Merry Christmas from us?”
Tomorrow’s the last day of school before the holidays,” Mark said. “How about us planning a skiing trip?”
“I’ll have to talk to my parents before I can commit,” Jacob frowned.
“Yeah, us too,” Tim said. “It sounds great, but we don’t know what family plans will be. Besides I’m worried about Marshall. I have a bad feeling that I can’t explain. I don’t want to go too far away.”
Tom explained. “We want to be near if Sharlene calls us with bad news. She promised to contact us if there is a change of any kind.”
“We all want to be there for Marshall,” Mark agreed.
“I’m heading home now,” Jimmy told them. “It looks like more snow. I’ll probably see all of you tomorrow. Be careful going home.”
The day passed slowly for the students. There was a loud cheer all over the building when the final bell rang. Teachers thanked students for their gifts and drew a breath of relief.
Mr. Grissom spoke over the speakers. “My wishes are for everyone to have a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Happy New Year. See you next year.”
Tom, Tim, Mark, Ellen and Doris went to the hospital to visit Alex and Trina.
“Hi, gang,” Alex was cheerful.
“How are you doing, pal?”
“I’m not in much pain any more, but, for some reason, I still can’t stand. I guess it’ll come slowly.” they talked a few minutes and then the group left.
“Trina, look at you. You’re up and dressed,” Doris was pleased.
“My doctor said if I passed all my tests tomorrow and still doing as well as I’ve been, I can go home tomorrow.”
“Hooray!” Tom hugged her.
“We’ll see you at home during the holidays,” Ellen promised.
Herb got up from the dining table to answer the phone just as the family was finishing dinner. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry. We’ll be right there. No, we want to be with you.”
“Is it Marshall?” Tom asked softly.
“Yes. He had to be rushed to the hospital and it looks bad.”
“Let’s hurry and get down there. Sharlene and Brian will need comfort and moral support.” Irene reasoned as they hurried to prepare to leave.
“Absolute not. You cannot go in there. That’s a mighty sick little boy and you can help him by leaving him alone.” A nurse spoke sternly to the twins.
“Only immediate family.”
Brian came out of Marshall’s room. “What’s going on out here?”
“This --- this nurse won’t let us in to see Marshall,” Tim spluttered. “He’ll want to see us.”
“Nurse, these boys are like big brothers to my son. I request -- no, I demand they be allowed to visit for a couple of minutes.”
A doctor hurried to them. “Mr. Wolverton?”
“I’m Brian Wolverton. That’s my son in there.”
“Your son is very sick, but you know that or you wouldn’t have brought him here tonight. We’re doing all we can to make him comfortable and giving his antibiotics for a high fever. I’ll be able to tell you more after the results of all the tests arrive. In the meantime, he must be kept quiet and stress free and as happy as possible.”
“Thank you, doctor. He’ll be happy and stress free if these two boys will be allowed to go in for a couple of minutes. He loves them dearly and expects them.”
The doctor dropped his head and thought a moment. “It’s not something that is normally done, but if you say so, they can go in for not more than two minutes. Boys, remember, no stress.” He shook a finger at them.
When the twins eased into the room Sharlene started crying. She quickly turned her back so Marshall couldn’t see her. The twins stood on either side of Marshall’s bed.
“Hi, champ,” Tom whispered. “How’s it going?”
“Tom, Tim,” Marshall whispered. He smiled sweetly at them. “Santa won’t know where I am.”
“Oh yes he will,” Tim answered. “We’ll phone him and let him know.”
“Are you sure?” he asked weakly
“Do dogs bark?” Tom smiled. Marshall tried to smile.
“We have to go and let you get some sleep. Your body will heal quicker if you rest, eat good and take your medicine.” Tim patted his arm.
“Yuck,” Marshall made a face.
Sharlene walked out with the twins and Brian came in to be with Marshall. Irene and Herb hugged Sharlene. “Is there anything we can do?”
“Not at the moment. Just pray and stand by. Thank you, boys. Your being here is better than medicine for him.” She smiled through tears.
“If you and Brian need to go home, we’ll be glad to sit with him,” Herb said.
“I’ll let you know. Saying thank you is not enough. How blessed we are for having good friends like you.”
On the way home, Tom asked. “Do you think we should call Anna?”
“Not tonight,” Irene answered. “Wait at least for another day and maybe we’ll have more information. Besides it’s too late for a call to her dorm.”
It was difficult for the twins to settle for the night. They called the group that went to Canine Wonders with them. All of them agreed to pray.
“Can I see him?” Mark almost sobbed.
“No. Only immediate family,” Tom told him knowing it would not be wise to tell of their visit.
The concerned young people all gathered at the hospital the next day to speak to Brian and Sharlene and just to be together.
Tom answered the phone and hung up with a grin. “That was Sharlene. Marshall’s pulled out of this -- again. It was a virus. His immune system is very low because of his medical problems. The doctor said he was lucky this time, but Marshall’s body can’t take more of this.”
Irene hugged Tom. “Our prayers have been answered. Your friends will want to know, but remind them that he is still in a dangerous situation. Love him and make him happy. Always be up beat when you’re with him. He knows he’ll never be out of the wheelchair, but he doesn’t think of death.”
Two days before Christmas, Irene and mark’s mother went to Marshall’s house with Tom, Tim, Mark and Jacob. They dressed Marshall warmly and carried him out to the car to take him and Sharlene to see all the lights and decorations. Marshall was thrilled when they came home with him for hot chocolate. They didn’t want to tire him, so didn’t stay long.