As I came in the door I heard the phone ringing. I dropped my backpack and books fell out and slid across the floor. I rushed over and grabbed the phone off the table.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Winston.”
I could hardly believe it. “Terry!”
“I was hoping I’d catch you,” he said. “Although I thought you might still be at school.”
“I just got in the door.”
“How did it go?”
“Better than I thought it might…I was worried.”
“Worried about what?” Terry asked.
“First day in high school,” I said. “You know, it’s so much bigger, so many more kids, the halls are crowded and everything.”
“High school is a big step, but I know you can handle it. I wanted to call you,” he said. “I guess you’ve heard about everything.”
Of course I’d heard. The whole country knew that he’d had to stop running and that the cancer had returned. What was I supposed to say to him? “Um…um…how are you doing?” I finally managed to croak.
“I’ve been better.”
“I’ve been watching the television reports, reading the papers,” I said, still hoping that somehow all those reports were wrong.
“The cancer that was in my leg has gone to my lungs.” Terry spoke softly, his voice cracking over the last few words.
“Terry…I’m so sorry.”
“I wanted you to understand that I had no choice. I had to stop running. I had to go home,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I had to have some more tests and X-rays, and maybe they’re going to have to do an operation that will involve opening up my chest. Or it could be more drugs.”
I started to cry. “It’s just not fair,” I blurted out. “It just shouldn’t be happening to you.”
“You know, you’re the second person who’s said that to me.”
“Who was the first?”
“My father. Although he wasn’t really saying it to me. He thought I was sleeping and he was talking to my mother. It was when we were flying home. And I’m going to say to you the same thing I said to him.” There was a pause. “It’s not fair or unfair…why not me?” Terry asked. “Why shouldn’t it be happening to me?”
I started crying louder.
“It’s going to be okay, Winston. This is just a setback. I’m not giving up,” Terry said. “Right now I’m going to fight as hard as I can to beat cancer…as hard as I’ve fought to run across the country.”
I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what, and even if I had been able to think of the words, I didn’t think I could have forced them to come out.
“Winston, I need you to know that I had to stop running right now, but I haven’t quit. And I need you not to quit either.”
“Me?” I whispered.
“We made a deal, and you have to keep up your end. Keep going to school. Keep trying. Because you have to know that if there’s any way I can get back out there and finish it, I will.” I heard Terry take a big breath, and I could tell he was working hard not to cry. “Good things and bad things happen in the world, and I’m somebody who’s going to try his hardest.” There was a long pause. “And Winston, even if I die of cancer…even if I die…I want you to know that my spirit didn’t die and that I kept on trying…that I never gave up.”
“I know…And neither will I, Terry…neither will I.”