"Miracle"
"Did you know I've been dead before? Well, it's not something I normally tell people, but since you asked about my name I have to bring it up." he shifted uneasily in his chair. He leaned it back on two legs and rested his head against the wall.
"I was just a baby when it happened, so I only know what my parents told me." he paused.
"I had several respiratory infections and had problems breathing. I guess one night my lungs just grew tired of fighting and I stopped breathing. My parents were aware of the potential and checked in on me from time to time. Still it was several minutes before anyone noticed I had stopped breathing."
He crossed his arm over his chest slowly, but firmly. He was deciding just how much to tell and how to tell it. It didn't really bother him to talk about it -- after all it happened over two decades ago -- but for some strange reason he always felt as if he was revealing his innermost secret. It was as if this one fact, this one event, was the essence of his soul, the essence of who he was, and that by revealing it he became vulnerable.
"No one knows for sure exactly how long I was dead, but it was about 12 minutes before the ambulance arrived. They performed CPR and revived me after a few minutes."
He teetered back and forth on the two legs of the chair that touched the floor. "Did I see the white light? I don't know. I'm not one of those individuals who can remember things from day one in the womb. No, at a couple days old, I probably wouldn't have even known what light was." he shrugged.
"I can't help but wonder though, did I just get lucky? I mean, am I alive today just because help arrived in time or was it fate or some pre-planned destiny? Am I getting a second chance to fulfill some greater destiny?" again he shrugged heavily and sighed.
"I wish I knew! A guy could go crazy just trying to figure it out. Maybe there is no reason why. Maybe it just happened. Maybe everything in life just happens for no particular reason. You know, the old 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'."
"Anyway," he said running his hand along the length of his jeans," my parents decide that it was miracle, that God had reached down and saved me. They named me Miracle, Miracle David Grennell, as a constant reminder of how blessed they had been."
"Man, the strange part is that at times I'm almost proud that I died. Not that I want to die, mind you, but it's one thing that I have that most people don't. I don't think it makes me better or anything. It just makes me, me. You know what I mean? It gives me an identity and that's something that so many people spend their entire lives looking for."
He scratched his head and stared out the window for a few seconds. He watched the breeze sway the thinner branches of the trees outside.
"I know what you want to ask, but won't. Did I suffer any kind of brain damage? Do I have a learning disability or some emotional trauma? Ever notice how people have this fascination with other people's problems. No, no, its okay! Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
He dropped the chair to all fours and leaned forward to the edge of the seat. "What I meant was, people always concentrated on a person's flaws. It makes them feel better. 'I thought I was bad, but - whoa - that guy is really messed up.' We all do it from time to time. That's why the National Inquirer is still in business and the talk show with the weirdest, most bizarre guests are the most popular!" he added with a quick laugh.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Did I receive any brain damage I mean. Can't say that I know. I don't think I did, but crazy people don't think that they are crazy either. I did pretty good in school and I liked going. Wait! I must be brain damaged to like going to school." another self-satisfied chuckle.
"Well that's pretty much the story. That's why my name is Miracle. Pretty strange I know, but it could be worse! I mean, I could have been named Dwezel or Moon Unit!"
"Miracle" © 1996 by Mikel F. Rice, All Rights Reserved
------------------
I declare myself to be the self-annointed voice of reason for PuF! Opinions expressed by Taskmaster are not necessarily those of Planet Unreal!
"Did you know I've been dead before? Well, it's not something I normally tell people, but since you asked about my name I have to bring it up." he shifted uneasily in his chair. He leaned it back on two legs and rested his head against the wall.
"I was just a baby when it happened, so I only know what my parents told me." he paused.
"I had several respiratory infections and had problems breathing. I guess one night my lungs just grew tired of fighting and I stopped breathing. My parents were aware of the potential and checked in on me from time to time. Still it was several minutes before anyone noticed I had stopped breathing."
He crossed his arm over his chest slowly, but firmly. He was deciding just how much to tell and how to tell it. It didn't really bother him to talk about it -- after all it happened over two decades ago -- but for some strange reason he always felt as if he was revealing his innermost secret. It was as if this one fact, this one event, was the essence of his soul, the essence of who he was, and that by revealing it he became vulnerable.
"No one knows for sure exactly how long I was dead, but it was about 12 minutes before the ambulance arrived. They performed CPR and revived me after a few minutes."
He teetered back and forth on the two legs of the chair that touched the floor. "Did I see the white light? I don't know. I'm not one of those individuals who can remember things from day one in the womb. No, at a couple days old, I probably wouldn't have even known what light was." he shrugged.
"I can't help but wonder though, did I just get lucky? I mean, am I alive today just because help arrived in time or was it fate or some pre-planned destiny? Am I getting a second chance to fulfill some greater destiny?" again he shrugged heavily and sighed.
"I wish I knew! A guy could go crazy just trying to figure it out. Maybe there is no reason why. Maybe it just happened. Maybe everything in life just happens for no particular reason. You know, the old 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'."
"Anyway," he said running his hand along the length of his jeans," my parents decide that it was miracle, that God had reached down and saved me. They named me Miracle, Miracle David Grennell, as a constant reminder of how blessed they had been."
"Man, the strange part is that at times I'm almost proud that I died. Not that I want to die, mind you, but it's one thing that I have that most people don't. I don't think it makes me better or anything. It just makes me, me. You know what I mean? It gives me an identity and that's something that so many people spend their entire lives looking for."
He scratched his head and stared out the window for a few seconds. He watched the breeze sway the thinner branches of the trees outside.
"I know what you want to ask, but won't. Did I suffer any kind of brain damage? Do I have a learning disability or some emotional trauma? Ever notice how people have this fascination with other people's problems. No, no, its okay! Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
He dropped the chair to all fours and leaned forward to the edge of the seat. "What I meant was, people always concentrated on a person's flaws. It makes them feel better. 'I thought I was bad, but - whoa - that guy is really messed up.' We all do it from time to time. That's why the National Inquirer is still in business and the talk show with the weirdest, most bizarre guests are the most popular!" he added with a quick laugh.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Did I receive any brain damage I mean. Can't say that I know. I don't think I did, but crazy people don't think that they are crazy either. I did pretty good in school and I liked going. Wait! I must be brain damaged to like going to school." another self-satisfied chuckle.
"Well that's pretty much the story. That's why my name is Miracle. Pretty strange I know, but it could be worse! I mean, I could have been named Dwezel or Moon Unit!"
"Miracle" © 1996 by Mikel F. Rice, All Rights Reserved
------------------
I declare myself to be the self-annointed voice of reason for PuF! Opinions expressed by Taskmaster are not necessarily those of Planet Unreal!
