Someone Moved the Ocean

“The Earthworms eat gravity in months that end in ‘Y’, Em.”

“Yep, and they eat the apples because that’s where we found the Truth...

“Mhmm.”

“But what happens in months that end in ‘R’, Dad?”

“Someone moves the ocean again.”

“Mr. Freeman, I think you’re onto something there.”

“Listen to the doc, she gets it!”

“But Dad, you know we’re just humoring you because of the brain can—“

“Enough with the brain candy, dammit! The doc said I can’t eat that stuff anymore on account uh the diabeetus!”

“No, Dad, the brain cancer. You know what I mean.”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t, Emily. The best we can do is wait and listen.”

“Some chaplain you are! Don’t you mean “wait and see,” doc? Or did they not teach you that in your fancy theology school?”

“True wisdom doesn’t come from the books, they’re just tools.”

“You’re a tool. And you sound like a fortune cookie.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be here.”

“But I am, Emily. As per your Dad’s wishes. I’m here because he asked for me to be here.”

“But he never asked what I want!”

“He asked for you Here. Now. Isn’t that enough?”

“But now he’s basically a pile of sentient Jello.”

“I heard that, Em! Go get me the Jello, I’m starvin’!”

“Alright, alright, but I want to see that plate empty, you hear me?”

“It’s already empty. We’re all empty, right doc?”

“That’s right, Mr. Freeman. We’re all empty.”

“Miss Em, the best thing you can do now is just listen. When he talks, smile, nod, and talk with him. It doesn’t have to make sense to you right now.”

“None of this makes sense, doc. None of it. Not you, not him, not this, not now, not—.”

“But you being here makes sense to your Dad. Meet him in his reality.”

“And what if I don’t want to?”

“Well, that’s your choice. But you’ll be missing out on his last moments when he’s still able to talk.”

“And then what?!”

“If he’s lucky, he’ll sleep. Otherwise, they’ll be some noise. The “Death Rattle”. It won’t be long after that.”

“What, Rattle like a child’s toy?”

“Sort of. Not a toy exactly, but it’s at that end stage where you see things with the eyes of a child again.”

“What if I think that’s a load of crap?”

“He’s packing for a journey we can’t see.”

“You can say whatever you want, doc, but It’s just neurons firing and your brain shutting down.”

“You can think whatever you want to think. But for your Dad, whatever he’s seeing, will be very real to him. Some people see lost loved ones. Some people see their God. All you have to do is be Here.”

“But I don’t want to be Here.”

“Then you can leave.”

“But he needs me!”

“Exactly. So just listen.”

“It only works once we stop holdin’ it, Em. Didn’t I always teach you that?“

“I—sure, Dad. You sure did.”

*********

“Time of death, doctor?”

“The first of September.”

“I guess someone moved the ocean again, Dad….And the wave knew where it belonged.”

“Bye.”