Better man than i

I Robert D Anderson being of sound body and mind. Leave everything I have, all my assets,  money and houses, both in Florida and Michigan. To my wife candy Anderson. Anything eles? Said the lawyer sitting behind a large wooden desk. His eyes  had puffy dark bags under them. He looks as though he had slept here in his office last night. His suit was wrinkled and his combover was all over the place. His breath gave off a strong coffee odor. Would you like to leave anything to Robert jr? No! I said as my hand slams down on his desk. Ok ok just double checking. Sorry i didn’t mean to upset you. My thoughts wander as he continued to type up the will. No I couldn’t leave anything to junior. He’s a walking disaster.  He isn’t gonna be too happy to hear that he’s got nothing coming to him. But he and I have been down this road countless times. He’d swear that he is a  changed man and wanted rehabilitation therapy. But it never stuck. He always ended up quitting. Saying it was too hard and he wasn’t strong enough. He just didn’t have the will power to stop. It all started after my first wife died after a long battle with cancer. I don’t blame him. If I lost my mom when I was 12. I’d probably be a screw up too. He just got in with the wrong crowd. I kept telling myself.  sigh…  he’s really was a good kid. Maybe I’m to blame as well. It’s not easy loosing your true love.  I started drinking. It was easier than facing real life. Sober, that is. Junior started staying out late. And hanging With that no good kid tony. Tony was no stranger in the  juvenile detention center. But after the incidence. They tried him as an adult.  As for junior, it was already too late. He was addicted to meth. And did whatever he could to get it. Lie, steal, eventually he started breaking into houses. He was In and out of jail.  I don’t even know him anymore. He’s strung out. Last I heard he lives in that abandoned house down on second street.  I drove past few years ago. I Saw him lying on the steps outside. I didn’t stop. I didn’t even slow down. That part of my life is done. He is past helping. No I wasn’t leaving him anything. He would  just get high with it. I know, Ive tried a 100 times before. I guess I’ve given up on him…. I didn’t have much choice. He gave up on himself,  long ago. The phone rang and startled me out of my deep thought. The lawyer answers. Hello? Yes. Yes, he’s here. Ok I’ll tell him. Ok, thank you. Bye. He turns to me and says that was candy your wife she wants you to call her. I excused myself and went into the hall. Candy? Yeah, it’s me what’s up?  No, How? Ok I’ll be right there.

Junior is in the hospital. He was hit by a car. I excuse myself and rush to the hospital. as I’m driving I’m trying to think what I will I say? It’s been awhile since we spoke. Just treat him like your son I told myself. He still is and always will be. No matter what life has brung to the table. I arrive at the hospital and hurry down the hall I’m looking for Robert Anderson junior. Room 11 the nurse tells me. Ok room 11. I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm, And go in. Candy is already here. Her eyes are red as if she’d been crying. I look at junior. He’s just skin and bones. And he’s pretty banged up. His head is wrapped in a white bandage. He has tubes going into his mouth And His face is pretty scraped up. Junior? I say quietly. Candy looks at me. Her voice quivers, he’s in a coma, Robert. she’s says through her tears. Just then the doctor enters. Are you his father? he asks, yes I replied. Robert was crossing the street, .He was struck by an on coming vehicle. He’s in a coma. We are testing his brain waves. I’m sorry, he isn’t having any activity. He isn’t responding in any way. His body is still alive with the help from the ventator but that’s it. You need to make a decision. If you want to continue the ventalater. Or remove it  and he will naturally pass away. NO I tell him NO I need to talk with him! I need to give him another chance. This can’t be happening.  Eventually Reality sets in. Candy and I talk about how we would like to proceed.  We decide to discontinue the ventilator. We set all the arrangements for the funeral.  It was on a saterday at one o’clock . some friends he went to high school with showed up. But that was about it. We drove to the cemetery I laid my son to rest in the plot next to his mother. Candy walked back to the car giving me a moment alone. Tears roll down my cheek. Under my breath I say I’m sorry, I wish I could have helped you more. The following Monday I receive a call. It’s from Dan my lawyer. I apologize that I never got back to him about the will. But he replies no no that’s not why I’m calling. Oh? I say very curiously. He goes on to tell me my son junior had a insurnce policy made out a few years back.  Thinking to myself he had enough to pay for insurance? Dan continues that he had a 50,000 policy. What?!? I say in disbelief. You are the beneficiary that he named on his policy. I’ll be sending you a check after I receive his death certificate from the hospital. In shock I say um okay thank you and hang up. Candy is looking at me with question upon her face. I explained everything to her. Wasn’t he on meth? She says. Yeah, I havnt seen him in a few years but yeah he tried to quit many times.  Curiously I call his doctor at the hospital. Was he on meth? I asked we didn’t do an autopsy because he was hit by a car. But I do think I saw some lab work in his file, let me check. He replied. He came back on the line. Nope,  no meth no drugs of any kind or alcohol. He was clean and sober.

That night. I take a long look at myself in the mirror. He left you all that money. I say quietly but you, no you weren’t gonna give him a dime. He overcame his addiction… he was a lot stronger than I ever gave him credit for. He was a good man. A lot better man than i.