Death over the Phone

You see the movies. Hear the news. You know there is that one phone call you never want to get. You know they will tell you to sit down. You know you will not, not ever thinking that this is THAT phone call. But it is. It is that call. And you do everything that has been scripted a million times before. You scream. You scream No No No. Not my boy. Then you remember you are in public. And your daughter is right next to you and she cannot find out yet. You know that you need to collect yourself and calmly listen to the officer on the other end of that goddamn phone. You know you need to sit down. You now know you should’ve sat down. You listen as quiet as possible to listen to the details while your heart is screaming so loud. You try to quiet all of your emotions and be sensible. There is a family to tell. And a little boy who has a 10th birthday to celebrate today. And you quietly hope it really is the movies. And at the end, the credits will roll and you will see him again.