Choices of Life

Chapter 1. Reminisce The phone rang waking the entire Stone household which sat on a street called Brookdale drive in Houston Texas. The House itself was two stories tall, with a brick chimney, a large yard and a swimming pool in the back; it was the fourth house off the corner. Everyone in the neighborhood was very friendly and they watched out for each other’s kids and houses. Most of the people in the neighborhood went to church for one reason or another. The Stone family was saved sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost and attended a church named Everlasting Faith. When the phone rang it was Michael C. Stone who answered the phone by the third ring. “Hello…” he answered the phone yawning, “…Mr. Dayson waite …hold on a minute…” Michael sat up. “Baby who is that?” Shannon his wife of twelve years asked; it was twelve thirty-nine am. He placed his hand over the phone, “Its Mr. Dayson… Go ahead sir… Oh my God! Alright… No its no problem, I’ll drive up tonight… okay bye…” Shannon sat up, “I know that look, what's wrong?” He looked at his wife who was wearing his college t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her hair was a wild mess pinned atop of her head. Her brown skin looked as if she always kept it oiled with baby lotion. “That was Mr. Dayson…” he replied wrapping an arm around her, “…it’s about Nathan.” Nathan was a long time friend and the Dayson’s adopted son. “He’s…” Michael was nervous and his voice began to shake as he spoke, “…He… ah… He’s got aids…” Shannon sat up next to him and stared into his brown eyes, “My God No!” was her shocked reply. “I don’t have any details but he is asking for me…” “You want me to come with you?” He kissed her on the cheek grateful she would want to come with him. Their relationship had only gotten stronger over the past five years and her concern for Nathan was evident on her face. “No I don’t want the kids to miss school…” “Don’t be silly… we can drive the kids to mother’s.” “No the best thing to you can do is be here and pray.” “We should both pray…” She said and together they knelt beside the bed and asked for God’s mercy and healing for Nathan and his parents. After an hour of prayer they got up. “I’m going to check the kids…” Shannon said, “…you want me to pack you a bag?” “I would appreciate that.” He replied with a kiss, “I have a long ride ahead… I am going to get ready.” Shannon left the room and as she did Michael tried to stand, but he dropped back to the bed as what Mr. Dayson told him really sunk in. “Oh my God…” he kept repeating as his eyes watered, “…oh my God …Dear Jesus help Nathan …help me!” Michael was finally able to get up to go to the bathroom and start washing up. As he did his mind flashed back to the year nineteen ninety freshman year of high school. Michael’s family had just moved to Houston, his father Charles Stone had taken a new job as general manager over a ford dealership. After the second week of school a skinny little girl was running around telling everyone that Michael was her boyfriend. Who knew she would fill out the way she did and become his wife. As for Nathan, Michael met him the forth week of school, it was lunch hour and three boys were picking on the kid. Michael stood watching as one of the boys punched Nathan in the face and that was it for Michael he ran across the yard and shoved the boy who threw the lick to the ground. He turned and deflected a fist from the second boy, then side kicked him in the stomach, the third boy ran off with the other two limping behind him. Michael was a third degree black belt and hated bullies with a passion. He got a three day suspension, but Michael and Nathan became the best of friends. At first Shannon didn’t like Nathan and only tolerated him because of Michael, but over time she became a genuine friend to Nathan. Two weeks later Michael was inviting Nate over for the weekend, when Sunday came it was time for church. (“My parents don’t believe in God, we don’t go to church…”) revealed Nathan that Sunday to Mr. Stone. (“Well we do… and I will invite your parents over for dinner next Sunday… and we can all sit down and talk.”) And talk they did.