The Other Me

“Are you hungry Freddie, “she asked,” how about a sandwich?” “Ok and they both went downstairs to the kitchen. Ellen made Freddie a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, his favorite. Freddie ate his sandwich and Ellen sat at the scratched, wooden, kitchen table with him without saying a word. The house was dark and quiet in the middle of the night with just the sounds of the kitchen clock interrupting their thoughts. “Why did you do it Mom?” asked Freddie “Do what Freddie?” “Give away his heart? A kid in my class said if you give away a heart you can’t go to heaven; and besides Scott was the best brother any one could ever have and now I will never see him again. I miss him.” So this is what it is all about thought Ellen. “Your friend has the wrong information. That is not true,” said Ellen in a strong and definite voice.” Scott will be sitting in the most important and most beautifully carved chair in all of heaven because he gave a stranger a new life, his heart. He will be the President of heaven. Scott is a super hero. In fact, you know how he liked to help dad with the wiring on Halloween, well he is probably in charge of lighting the twinkling stars at night and he is the brightest star in the sky. Scott is the brightest star and you can see him every night and talk to him. “Are you sure?” “Yes. I have never been so sure about anything in my whole life. I am 100 percent positive.” Freddie got up from his cushioned, kitchen chair, put the dishes in the sink and started to walk away with a little swagger in his step. “Where are you going, Freddie?” “To sleep, goodnight Mom. I have school tomorrow plus a test and I can’t wait to tell my friend that my brother Scott is the president of heaven.” “And….” she said with her voice waiting for a response. “And he is the brightest star in the sky. Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Ellen managed a rare smile. Although she made up this story to make Freddie happy, the idea that Scott was the brightest star in the sky and that she knew where to find him and could see him appealed to her. She also knew that Scott had the potential to be president of something someday, so why not heaven. For the first time in a long time, she felt good. “Wait Freddie,” she said,” don’t go to bed yet. Let’s go outside and find the brightest star and say goodnight to Scott.” “Now!” he said. “Yeah, now. Like they say there’s no time like the present.” Ellen and Freddie found a clear, starry sky when they went out on their deck to look for the brightest star. They both started to scan the sky and saw the brightest one almost immediately. “There he is, “ said Freddie pointing to a cluster of stars and frantically jumping up and down ,waving and shouting to Scott,” Hi Scott, hi, it’s me your brother Freddie. I can see you; I hope you can see me. I miss you.” “Look Mom, he’s right in the middle of all those other stars, lighting up the sky. They must be his friends, maybe he has a girlfriend.” “Maybe, I’m glad to see that he has made friends,” said Ellen” but I know you are still his best friend.” The brightest star was twinkling on this beautiful, star studded night. “Mom, Scott is winking at me.” “He’s saying good night to you,” said Ellen. “Go ahead and wink back, I think he will like that.”