*Turning the Tide

Intro: My husband came up with this idea.

When the first moon rock was brought back, no one realized it would save humanity and yet destroy life. Howard found the cure by accident while visiting his brother in the astronomy lab.

“Put that down.” Gerald snapped.

The binoculars nearly slipped from Howard's fingers in surprise. He hastily them down and kept his hands behind him. A faint looked of concern flitted across Gerald's face.

“I'm sorry Howard.”

Worn tennis shoes shuffled on the floor as Howard tried to behave for his twenty-four-year-old brother.

Gerald waved towards a couch. “Wait over there. I'll be done soon.”

Weariness made Howard's footsteps uneven as he shuffled over to the couched and laid down. He rested his arm over his eyes. The nausea threatened to overwhelm him and he curled into a ball, hoping for it to pass quickly this time.

“Chemo was that bad today?”

Gerald leaned close and rested his hand on Howard's forehead. A cold rock was pressed into Howard's palm. He clutched it tightly and felt reassurance in the familiar oblong shape.

“Moon rock,” Howard smiled.Moving carefully, Gerald lifted Howard's head and rested it in his lap. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, wishing there was more he could do.

“Your currently half my age,” Gerald said, trying to cheer him up.

Howard only managed a weak laugh which turned into a coughing fit. Covering his mouth with his hand, the coughing fit continued for some time. When it finally stopped, Howard rubbed his forehead and then froze.

“The moon rock.”

Gerald, shook his head, confused.

With tears streaming down his face, Howard held up his empty hand and motioned to his throat. “I'm sorry.”
With no hesitation Gerald rushed Howard to the hospital.

“What is wrong with your son?”

Gerald tried to keep his temper as he explained to the fourth orderly.

“He's my younger brother. I'm taking care of him.”

“Where are his legal guardians."

“I'm his legal guardian. Our parents are dead.”

Silence. A nervous cough.

“How old is your brother?”

Gerald looked at the frail, bald figure lying in the bed.

“Howard is twelve.”

Further explanation included Howard's two year battle with cancer and the lack of any success. The more Gerald talked, the more he felt a headache building. He wiped his hands on his trousers and tried to stay positive.

“What is the reason you brought your brother in today?”

“He swallowed a moon rock.”

Disbelieving eyes stared back at him.

“Moon rock.”

Anger finally got the better of Gerald.

“Yes. A moon rock which has been handled by every elementary school tour that has come to my lab the past five years. As a medical personnel I would have thought you realized the risk my brother has against any bacteria.”

“Your sarcasm isn't going to help the situation.”

“Neither will your ineptitude.”

“Gerald, please. Don't get mad.”

Howard's voice was strained and it cut Gerald to the core. Years ago Howard had laughed and played with other children his age. He had been the fastest runner of the group. Now Howard was often mistaken for someone years younger. Gerald clenched his jaw and sat down on the bed.

“I'll make sure everything is okay.”

“You still owe me a star.” Howard murmured before the anesthesia the orderly plugged into the iv kicked in.

Gerald sat by the bed for the next hour while doctors discussed in bored tones the severity of the situation. Their voices blended together and Gerald was relived when they decided to keep Howard under observation. After two long days the orderly gently pulled Gerald aside.

They had been playing playing a card game and as Gerald set his cards down he said, “No cheating.”

Howard crossed his heart and waited patiently, adjusting the tubes.

“There has been some development on your brother's condition.” She rubbed her neck. “Inthe last test his morning there was no sign of the cancer.”

Gerald frowned. It wasn't sinking in the orderly repeated.

“There is no cancer.”

His voice shook. “Howard is dying. The cancer has spread through his body. It's only a matter of time.”

“No. There is no trace.”

There was a chair nearby and Gerald stumbled over to it, sinking gratefully onto the hard surface.

“He's going to live,” he wiped the tears from his cheeks, “He's going to live.”

The orderly left him alone for a few minutes as Gerald thought. “The only explanation is the moon rock.” Gerald stood up from the chair and looked at the quarter moon shining through the window. “We can finally turn the tide of cancer. Nothing else matters.”

As Gerald explained to Howard his enthusiasm mounted. “Howard, you discovered a cure for cancer.”

The enthusiasm was met by a serious gaze. “But if people eat the moon, what will happen to the tides?”