Freddy the Fly 2

I woke up when Joey came in and slammed the door. I heard Julie say she had something to tell him. “Maybe curiosity killed the cat, but it won’t get me. I am Freddy Super Fly.” Freddy flew into the kitchen and found a nice place to land, high on the pale yellow wall. 

“How was your basketball game?”

“It was fine, but Anthony wasn’t there.”

“That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Anthony’s mother called. She told me a car hit Anthony at the corner of Maple Ave. and Main Street.. He is pretty banged up with broken bones, a concussion, and a chest tube. His broken rib pierced his lung, and he is on a breathing machine.”

“Mom,” Joey croaked out as his eyes became tearful,” Anthony is my best friend. What do I do.?” 

Joey sat forward in the kitchen chair with his hands folded on the table, 

You might think a fly does not have feelings when Flossie died from a fly swatter. I was sad, and if you had looked into my eyes with a magnifying glass, you would have seen tears rolling down my cheeks. Some people say men/boys should not cry. "My question is: do women and men experience sadness differently? I don’t think so."

Back in the kitchen, Joey is trying to hold back the tears. Julie moved close to him and put her arm around his shoulder. The dam burst, and tears were running down his cheeks. 

Julie said, “When Dad gets home, he will take you to visit Anthony.” Joey dragged himself out of the chair and shuffled out of the kitchen

As he was leaving the kitchen, he said, “Call me when Dad gets home.” 

I returned to my usual landing spot on the Spring Rain light green wall in the living room. One issue about being a fly, even Freddy the Super Fly, is that I have no sense of time. I park my tiny fly butt on the wall until something happens. 

The next thing I know, in walks Joe Hardy.. He is wearing his usual work outfit, blue denim overalls, and a blue T-shirt. The bib pockets hold two construction pencils and a pair of glasses for close reading. Julie met him just under my spot on the wall with a quick kiss and a hug.

“How is Joey?”

“He is having a hard time.”

“I am going upstairs to talk with him.”