Tales from the Players 4

Tales from the Players Part 4

“How are you holding up man?” I approached Johnny and sat next to him on the bench.

“Not the best, but I’m hanging in I guess.” He held his basketball on his lap, leaned back and closed his eyes. “It’s just kind of hard.” He let out a heavy sigh. Recently his mother had become very sick and she only seems to be getting worse. It’s been weighing on him pretty heavy; which I guess is fully expected.

“Yea it must be… What did the doctor’s say when you went to see her?” I didn’t know if that was appropriate or not to ask or if he even felt like talking about it.

“Just—nothing good, they don’t know what they’re doing. No one knows what’s wrong with her, so she’s just lying in a hospital in pain. I hate it…and there isn’t a thing I can do about it!” He sat up quickly and bounced his basketball violently and then rested his head on it for a second or two. “I don’t know what I’d do without her…I don’t even want to think that far ahead, but…I’m scared man.” I didn’t have the right words to say to him, I wanted desperately to find them, but they just weren’t there. “Hey, T. You’re religious right?” He looked up slightly at me, head still on his basketball. “How does God work? Since I’m not religious or nothin’, can he still help me?” Again, I didn’t know what to say, I couldn’t put the words together properly in my head. I wasn’t even totally sure how it worked myself but I couldn’t say nothing.

“I don’t know…I guess he helps everyone at some point with what they need if you ask earnestly enough. Even if you’re not religious, but…I honestly don’t have an answer for that” He looked at me kind of confused. I know I gave him a really bad answer, I barely understood what I even said to him.

“I don’t understand. What do you mean? How do you think he will help? Do you mean like prayer or something?”

“Uh…Like prayer, yeah. That’s one way...”

“…I don’t really know how to pray. If you think it would help at all can you pray for me? Or at least with me?” He seemed so desperate for something. I felt terrible, I wasn’t the right person to be asking or talking to about any of this stuff. “Do you think it would help at all?” Honestly I didn’t know, I didn’t have any solid answers to give him.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try right?”

“Hey guys, what are you up to? How are you feeling Johnny” Mimi walked up to the bench with Sarah. Johnny waved and gave a slight smile.

“We were actually just getting ready to say a prayer for Johnny and his mother, would you guys care to join us?” I really needed the extra assistance. I was very glad they came when they did.

“Absolutely, anything to help.” Sarah quickly sat down on the ground next to Johnny.

“Of course.” Mimi sat on the ground next to me.

“Alright great. Let’s all join hands.” Johnny placed his basketball on the ground and lifted himself up about and linked hands with myself and Sarah. “Let us bow…” I hadn’t actually prayed in a very long time except for food so I had to really try to get my thoughts collected. “Dear heavenly father, thank you for waking us up this morning to see another one of your beautiful days…we come to you today on behalf of our friend Johnny …his mother is very sick right now and ….If it be your will, I pray that you bless the doctors and nurses to be able to help, uh…find…the issues that are causing her to be sick and I pray that…” I could feel my thoughts slipping, I didn’t know what to say. I felt nervous and unsure. I knew I was letting him down. I briefly lifted my head and opened my eyes. I could see that he was starting to cry a little. I didn’t really know if it was because he was thinking about his mother or what but I knew I couldn’t stop. I bowed my head and closed my eyes again. “I pray that, you bless us as friends to be able to help Johnny during this time and be a stronghold for him to rely on. Give us all the strength be able to show the support and love we need to…in Jesus’ name, Amen.” We all opened our eyes and lifted our heads.

“Thanks a lot man…I really appreciated that.” He gave me a quick hug and wiped his eyes. “I’m gonna head out for now and go visit my mom…I love you guys…I’ll see you all later.”

“Hold on, I’ll go with you.” Sarah got up and walked off with Johnny.

“That was a really nice thing you did for him…” Mimi got off the ground and sat on the bench next to me.

“Yeah…I guess so. I don’t even know if it was helpful…I don’t remember the last time I took the time out to say a prayer. It honestly felt like I was just telling him one big lie.” I looked down at the ground near my feet, I didn’t know whether I should feel proud or ashamed.

“It was the right thing to do. I know how you feel about your religion and I know it can be confusing, but…I think it really helped him. Even if you didn’t have confidence in it you gave him a little more courage to at least know that we were here for him when he needed it. He really needs that right now, you did a good thing.” She grabbed my hand and smiled at me.

“Alright...thanks. Who knows, maybe some type of brilliant divine intervention will come through and someone really did hear my prayer ya know? I feel like my connection with God had been severed a long time ago, I just don’t think he can hear me anymore...but hey, I guess we just have to trust in wait in something.” I smiled back at her slightly.

“It’s hard sometimes…to believe in something. Especially when you feel things aren’t going the best but, we’re all gonna be ok. Don’t worry” She leaned in and hugged me.

“…Am I interrupting something?” Tom walked up to the bench laughing “I mean I just came to find Johnny, I won’t stay long.”

“Shut up. You just missed him though. He and Sarah went to go visit his mom. You could probably meet them at the hospital if you shoot Sarah a text or something.” Mimi gave him all the details and he went on his way.

“Well I think I’m going to head home, want to walk me? It’s getting dark out. You can carry me bag.” She laughed and motioned me towards her bag.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. I’ll say a prayer for you.” I smiled jokingly, she gave me that glare she gives when she doesn’t find one of my jokes very funny. “It was just a joke, sure I’ll walk you home.” I grabbed her bag and got off the bench. “I’m still having trouble with the whole prayer, God thing. It’s just difficult for me to really grasp that he’s out there watching over everyone, listening to their needs and what not. I really do feel like I’m just not on his radar. Ya know?”

“Ya…I know” she leaned her head on my shoulder and we started walking towards the street. “I’m sure you’ll find your answers soon, T.”