“Thanks, sir,” Jerry said. Nick gave him a look. Bongero turned and walked out as Nick and Jerry collected their paperwork and storyboards.
“I like this idea, Jerry. And to think, you’re supposed to be just the storyboard guy.”
“And to think you’re supposed to be just the idea guy,” Jerry
retorted, grabbing his boards from Nick.
“Quite a week,” Nick said. “I’m exhausted.”
“Oh, sure, you raise a few billion dollars and challenge the world to find a cure for cancer, and you’re tired? What a wimp.”
*****
A week later, the legal papers arrived at St. Theresa’s. Questions were pouring in, not just from the press, but from the medical community, families, and people on the street. Many questioned whether the challenge was genuine. But some had very real questions about coordination, and who the true leaders of this project were. The majority of the feedback was quite positive. Now the wait.
*****
In the backroom at Fazio’s, laughter and clinking glasses filled the air in celebration of both the initial success of the challenge and Shelly’s birthday. Bella and Jerry, Wall and his wife, Dottie, Doris, Nick, and Sal toasted the birthday girl in unison. Shelly blushed. She didn’t like to divulge her age, but in reality everyone at the table knew they just needed to count backward to 1972 when Shelly was eight years old. Tonight was a happy occasion. Every birthday was a milestone marking off a life that was almost cut short by cancer. She never let herself forget that.
Nick stood. “If I may offer a toast to this lovely lady on this, her birthday,” he said with a smile. “I’d just like to say that thanks to my best friend, Jerry, and the quiet behind-the-scenes work of Doris—”
“What’s he talking about?” Doris exclaimed with a wide grin.
“I stand here today believing in my heart that this lady is indeed
the miracle that Doc Wall says she is. Your kindness, healing touch,