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TOMMY BOY
Summary: This is just something I did for English it's slightly different from the version I handed in. It's based on the song "Tell Laura I love her". (Revised from the original, shorter version. One-shot)
'He isn't a worm! And I love him!'
'Bah! Puppy love...it never lasts!'
Laura thought back to that fateful conversation with her father over nearly half a century ago, and which had ended with the man severing all ties with her. Now, white-haired and wrinkled, Laura still loved that young man who was a worm in her father's eyes. Lost in her thoughts of the past, she turned down the cemetery's pathway with an ease from years of treading the same path. She walked towards the particular grave that was her destination and stopped in front of it.
'He said I was throwing my future away...but I have no regrets. None at all.'
She ran her hands over the inscription on his headstone-Here lies: Tommy Jones, beloved son, friend and lover (1940--1960) -as tears began to slip down her cheek. After a few minutes, she mustered a watery smile and spoke in a surprisingly conversational tone, 'You must think of me to be a stupid ninny! Not even five minutes into my visit and I'm already crying. Hoe silly is that?'
Laura swiped away her tears and stood silent. Amidst the stillness of the air, a young man's voice could be heard. A rather familiar one-- could it be..? She turned for confirmation and her shoulders sagged with disappointment. Of course not; he was already dead. It was just a young man comforting a girl of his own age who was sobbing her eyes out beside one of the many graves. A similar scene rose before her eyes; and she found herself reminiscing about the past. She was back again in the church where she had waited for Tommy on that fateful day...
Nineteen-year-old Laura stood in front of the altar, clutching her bouquet of flowers nervously. St. Andrew Chapel's splendour overwhelmed her, and she could hardly wait for her beloved Tommy to come. The vicar patted her hand reassuringly and she looked up to give the silver-haired man a somewhat uneasy smile.
"There now, dear, you're not nervous, are you?"
Laura shook her head no, and was about to continue when the chapel doors swung open. She turned her head to greet Tommy; however, the sight of her mother hurrying in quite took Laura by surprise. "Mama, what are you doing here? Papa would kill you if he finds out!"
The vicar slipped out of the room to give mother and daughter some privacy. "I don't care about that man's opinons anymore! How could I miss my own daughter's marriage?" They embraced, and Laura's tears trickled down her face, wetting her mother's blouse.
"There, there," her mother whispered soothingly. "It's bad luck for a bride to cry on her wedding day! Oh, and love, Tommy called our house and asked me to tell youthat he'll be late as he has something urgent to attend to. And he also asked me to remind you that he loves you." Her mama smoothed a hand over the fabric of her dress and cupped her cheek gently.
"You get some sleep, child. I'll help you look out for him." Laura nodded and closed her eyes as she sat down on one of the benches.
"Laura... Laura...!"a voice was calling to her--her mother's voice. She didn't want to wake up... this wonderful dream of Tommy was too good to lose. He seemed to be telling her something... I love you....please don't cry... Remember, our love will never die...
"LAURA!!" She wrenched her eyelids open and found herself staring at her mother, who was looking rather pale and falling over her sentences. She sat up instantly and gripped her mother's arms. "Mama, what is it?"
Her mother swallowed and whispered in a hoarse voice, "I 'm so, sosorry, love. I... T-Tommy-- He had an accident..." Laura was on her feet at once. "Then what are we waiting for? We--I must go to him at once!!"
"I 'm so sorry, love." Her mother repeated, wringing her hands and directing her gaze at the floor, the altar; anywhere but Laura's eyes. "Not... dead? Please, Mama, don't say he's...he's..." Laura muttered, her mind going blank. Her darling, dear, sweet Tommy. He couldn't-- He couldn't--
Her mother exhaled. "He twisted his neck, Laura. He wasn't expected to survive. Apparently, he was at a car race when it happened and his car just... flipped over and erupt in flames. The paramedics couldn't get near the--"Her mother swallowed, and rushed on. "--the... wreckage at all."
Laura sat down hard on the bench. She felt hollowed out; just as though she had just run ten miles. It was all so hard to believe. Yesterday, her Tommy was with her, making plans for today. Making plans for their future together. Whereas today, he was just...gone. Just like this; she was never going to see him again. She was never-- He was--
"No!" It was the cry of a girl who had given up all for the sake of love... and who had lost all because of love. No, no , no, no... Her sweet Tommy, he wouldn't leave her alone. He wouldn't be so... cruel He wouldn't
The tears finally came, and she wept long and hard for her beloved. The cries of grief echoed in the tiny chapel, as the girl who was about to be married became a widow in her heart instead.
"Mum!" A voice interrupted her reverie. A tall young man was smiling fondly down at her and she could not help smiling back, wobbly though the grin on her face may be. "Well, Tom," shecomposed herself and blinked away the blurriness in her eyes as sheasked almost teasinglyof her adopted child, "So nice of you to come and fetch me. Are you sure this wouldn't clash with all your dates with girls?" Tom rolled his eyes and turned to address the headstone. "Of course, Mum. Uncle Tommy, you'd better talk some sense into her. She reallyis getting naggy." He got a whack on the shoulder for that.
As they strolled down the pathway to the entrance of the cemetery, Laura could not resist asking of her son again; "So... when are you going to bring one of them girls home to meet me?"
Tom rolled his eyes at her in mock exasperation. "Oh God, how many times do you have to ask me I? You're such a persistent old bird!" He got another smack on the arm for that. "Ow! Alright, alright. Very soon, okay? Jeez, that hurts!" He complained, rubbing his poor arm. Laura felt her spirits lift; Tom, with his wacky humour and endearing teasing, was the only one who can always lift her from the veil of sadness that always settled on her whenever she visited Tommy.
She turned for one last look at his the smooth granite that marked his final resting place, and waved slightly to his grave.. to him.She would give anything, anything, just to see him again. Absence... really does make the heart fonder.
I miss you so much, Tommy. I wish I could see you again.
Love, sometimes, does prove to be the greatest power of all... Powerful enough to conquer life and death.
