The Fourth Day of November

by Mark Campbell

  “Alistair?” Peter slightly raised his voice. You’re running way too hot, right now. Calm down.” His voice was steady. “It makes no sense to get upset, now. We cannot add to an already subsistent dilemma. We have to find a game plan of our own. Now, who could be behind this Machiavellian scheme?”

  Peter grabbed the folder with a list of names. “Ronnie do you recall when Alistair and Lee were in South Africa, and two business men showed up wanting to invest a substantial amount of money into our company? We quickly dismissed the gesture.”

  “Yeah, I remember those guys. Neither one of us liked them, especially the tall one.” Ronnie confirmed.

  “Hold on a minute, why wasn't I told about this?”

  “Alistair, not yet. I'm thinking.” said Ronnie, recalling the men’s names. “That’s their names Lincoln and Kennedy! How did they become investors after we told security to notify us if these men showed up again inside the building? They were to be immediately escorted off the premises.”

  “As I was saying, I'm just hearing of this now.” I complained. It was then, while looking at the list of investors names and banking statements, that things began to come together. “There’s someone here. Those two men found themselves a back door in. It wasn't by our hands. They were in bed with Lake & Monroe. To be quite frank, it's that bloody accounting firm!”

  “Oh my god, Alistair!” Hyacinth screamed. “I knew it. Those two blokes struck me as rather odd. However, some would say I was being prudent, but I had to be sure.” She continued. “If you want to catch a rat, you have to leave some cheese. I had Lee's cousin, Sam who’s head of surveillance, install one of our own cameras inside their office.”

  “You’re a genius!” Ronnie exclaimed.

  ---

  We wasted no time handing over the footage we excavated to a very close friend of ours from the BAU in Quantico, Virginia. Let’s just say, Special Agent Aaron Hotchner and his team spearheaded the arrest and apprehension of fifteen businessmen acting as a front for a white supremacist group.

  January 2012

  The years passed like sand in an hourglass. Emma and Ellen had graduated from university in London; and now in their twenties, they worked for the BAU’s head office in Quantico, Virginia. For some reason, neither of our daughters wanted to be imparted with the family business. They felt there was a much greater need to dedicate themselves to apprehending serial killers. However, Lee and I, along with Anne Marie, still implanted ourselves further into the fight against breast cancer when not worrying ourselves to death over Emma and Ellen.

  February 2012

  One month after appearing on the show, Whitney Houston died in a Beverly Hills hotel on February 11, 2012 at the age of 48 from a drug overdose. The world was rocked by sadness. The woman whose golden voice won the hearts of scores of people was gone. To this day her death

  Whitney sung many songs in her career, but one comes to mind—One Wish. If we had one wish, it would be to see you again Whitney Elizabeth Houston. There are no words to comfort a family afflicted by their lost. However, I can say that she is with our Savior. I hope and pray that those who love her find the will to carry on.

  We will always love you.

  April 2013

  Once again we—Lee, our associates and I—were given an invitation to the White House for acknowledgment in support of breast cancer. However, we would only except the invitation if the women fighting breast cancer were also invitees. President Barack Obama never gave it a second thought before honoring the request.

  Nobody was more surprised then we were at how quickly word got around. The media blew up the occasion, which spawned mass crowds. People from around the United States did not want to be excluded. Barack Obama was the first ever black president in America. During his first term, he fought with exuberant passion to aid poor and middle class American families gain a quality of life with affordable healthcare. However, he would be subjected to disparagements, as critics dubbed his project Obamacare. Also, opposing parties publicly stated that his revamping of the healthcare system was a train wreck waiting to happen.

  Voters of Obamacare saw things in a much different light. More women became anxious to take breasts exams, fearing hefty bills. Furthermore, if their tests came back positive for breast cancer, the growing cost of medication was alarming.

  How many times did Jesus heal the sick, rich and poor? Far too many times for us to remember. Yet, he never wanted or accepted procurement for his gift of healing the sick. Jesus died for our sins, while begging God to forgive us. Instead of refraining from what is eschewed, we crave it more than God. The price of human life has become worthless compared to money, silver, bronze and gold.

  I hope one can see the irony here. There is no amount of money that can acquire a place in the kingdom of heaven alongside God. I can only pray that God has mercy on us for the wrongs we refuse to right because of our own selfness. Though this issue was addressed by myself and Lee in support of Obamacare, we sat with the men and women of congress, explaining problematic issues every American constantly faces daily. Our fight still continues.

  June 2013

  The summer months passed and Lee showed signs of becoming more ill. She knew that things were much more serious than before.

  ---

  Dr. Pang sat behind his desk, looking at the two of us in a sorrowful manner above the rim of his glasses. The recent tests results from Lee’s biopsy revealed that cancerous cells had formed inside her breasts. There was also an inoperable tumor growth on the base of her spine.

  I felt my whole world turning upside down, making it impossible to process what was being said. Seethe took over me, and I began to shout unanswered questions towards heaven. However, Lee remained serene and asked me to calm down.

  Doctor Pang could see the affection of my rage and was able to brook the display of unpleasantness. Lee held my hand, quieting me. I should have been consoling her. After all, she was the one told she had little to no time left. The only thing doctors could suggest was for Lee to undergo chemotherapy immediately. Lee wanted to do it, regardless of how sickly she became.

  Lee decided she didn’t want to go public until she was ready to do so. But as far as the family was concerned, they needed to be given forthwith attention. Still motionless, Lee never said a word on the drive home. To this day, I'm not sure how my wife was able to stay reserved.

  Telling the family what Lee was facing didn’t come easy. They all were in a state of denial, not wanting to acknowledge what was being said. Who could blame them? Nobody wants to hear that someone close to them is dying. That’s a bitter pill for anybody to swallow. Nevertheless, we bonded, even stronger than before. Our friends supported us in any means possible.

  I'm sure only a handful of people can relate to what I'm saying. True friends are very hard to find. But, they shared our burden.

  Lee showed great resilience throughout her chemotherapy treatment. She had some good days and some bad. Meanwhile, I used work to pacify my wounded feelings.

  July 5, 2013

  Anne Marie found me one afternoon in the backyard alone. “Do you mind if I join you?” she handed me a glass of Pepsi.

  “I won’t be much of a companion today.”

  “That’s okay.” Ann Marie said. “I'll do the talking. Lee is sleeping at the moment.” She continued. “Do you want to know something, Alistair? Before you and Lee came into my life, I was very precarious. How would I prevail in a city like New York after coming from a small southern town in Georgia? The day I set foot into your office, all that changed. You said to me ‘just relax; don’t be afraid. Life comes at you fast. If it knocks you down, get back up and fight. There are no easy roads.’ Now, I'm going to say the same thing to you. Stand up and fight every piece of emotion inside. But don’t let your wife, my best friend, see her husband fall apart too.”

  Ann Marie affectionately embraced me, before returning inside the house.

  August 18, 2013

  The three of
us—Emma, Ellen, and I—sorted through hordes of fan mail collected from the post office earlier that morning. No one knew of my wife’s ailing health. Emma retrieved a pink envelope that had fallen on the floor. When she opened and read its contents, it was from the producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show. They wanted Lee and I to appear on the show during breast cancer month. I felt the urge to decline the offer as the kitchen door abruptly swung open.

  “Mum, what are you doing out of bed?” Both daughters sang unanimously, distressed over their mother’s decision to get out of bed and walk around.

  “I'm feeling much better.” Lee smiled. “Besides, if I stay in bed any longer I'll go out of my mind with boredom.”

  “We still have work to do.”

  “Furthermore, all of us will accept Ellen's invite.” Lee sternly confirmed her need to continue working.

  “Alright, mum.” Emma and Ellen agreed.

  “Are you sure this won’t be too much for you, sweetheart?” I voiced my concerns.

  “Honey, I'm down, but not out. There's still plenty of fight left in me!”

  Lee lived for the cause even if it took her last breath. She told me and our daughters that nothing could prevent God’s will.

  September 9, 2013

  “Welcome to another great show.” Ellen DeGeneres walked on set wearing a fitted white shirt black vest, jeans and white trainers. “Today is national breast cancer awareness.”

  The crowd cheered loudly.

  “We have a wonderful show ahead. To kick things off, please welcome Sir Alistair and Dame Lee Scott. Let’s give them a big hand.”

  The audience rose to there feet applauding and whistling as Lee and I stepped on stage.

  “Nice to see you both.” Ellen said while greeting us with a friendly hug. “I must say Alistair, you and Lee look like twins in those pink polo shirts.” Oh, I hope I didn't offend you now that you’re Sir Alistair Scott and this is Dame Lee Scott.”

  Ellen’s comicalness spouted fits of laughter from the audience. She pulled out a sword and asked if she could knight us on the daytime show.

  Ellen brought Lee to tears when expressing the many hearts she touched over the years, while wrestling the harsh reality of under going treatment. Lee surprised Ellen with a pink 5K polo shirt, and consequently announced that each member of the audience would take home a brand new laptop, 5k polo shirts and trainers, after having a free breast exam.

  Lee's weight loss became subject for rumors of anorexia and bulimia. But, no matter how scandalmongers interpreted her situation, Lee ignored it. She felt that addressing such defamatory matters would take focus off affairs that were essential.

  October 3, 2013

  With reggae music and Red Strip and Heineken beer, Lee and I— along with our friends and family—found ourselves in another country, once again. We were in Jamaica. This trip was never in the plans, but my stubborn wife, who was still quite sickly, insisted on traveling and working the cause. Lee was in no mood to acknowledge what little time she had left. Unselfishly, she struggled every day.

  It started to wear me and everyone else down, however. But, we all had to put on a brave faces and let Lee live as she pleased.

  We spent the day in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. It was truly beautiful, however, just like the United States, they had their share of poverty. in the midst of our awareness campaign, we met a young woman by the name of Sherry Davis. She’d been homeless for two years. Her parents had died and her other family abandoned her.

  One could see that the streets of Kingston had taken their toll on the young woman. Her hair looked and ponged like a wild animal. Having no means of washing herself, she smelled dreadful. Holes in her clothes exposed her underwear and she walked around barefoot.

  Lee and Hyacinth took a liking to the 27-year-old, whose birthday happened to be on the day of us meeting her. Many locals knew and passed Sherry daily. They considered her crazy; when in fact, talking to her one would quickly know differently. She was well-rounded and educated. Sherry spoke English and not patois, which was commonly used by the natives.

  Several years prior, Sherry had been complaining of a large lump in her chest. She even went to doctors that where unable to find anything wrong. Sherry's face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot. I had seen the signs before and had deduced that she was suffering from some kind of infection, judging by the lesions on her skin that could clearly be identified as cancerous.

  To be sure, Lee and Hyacinth took Sherry to the hospital where we set up shop. There they got her cleaned up and even had her hair washed and styled. A male doctor appeared, wanting to take Sherry for a scan and instantly freaked out. We later learned, she was a victim of rape.

  During that same day, Lee felt sick and had to be accompanied to a hospital bed. Fearing the worst, I confided in my daughters. “I'm worried, Emma. Your mother stopped taking her meds and started eating more fruits and veg. Despite what the doctors told her, she also stopped chemotherapy.”

  “Dad, why didn’t you say no?”

  “Emma, you know your mother. When she wants to do something, there's nothing getting in the way.”

  Ellen sat down on a chair, holding her head. “ Why now, why mum?”

  “Ellen, my dear, you’re mother is going to be fine. Have faith. Dry those tears.” I took a white handkerchief from my front pocket. I sat down in an empty chair next to both Emma and Ellen, comforting them while wondering if I really believed what I just said to them.

  The door opened to the room. A young Caucasian doctor with a heavy Jamaica accent entered. “Mr. Scott?”

  “Hi, doc. Please call me Alistair. These two young ladies are my daughters.”

  “Well, what I have to say bears the interest and concern of the three of you. Your wife refuses to take her medication. Maybe she will take them for you.”

  “Doc, I'm sorry for cutting you off. My wife stopped taking chemo too. She made her mind up long ago not to continue on that path. She claimed this would only make her sick and hinder what valuable time she has left.” I fought back tears, paraphrasing Lee’s words told to me months ago.

  Emma saw the pain sweep across my face. She suggested I dry my tears, offering me my own handkerchief.

  ---

  “Hey, you.” said a wearisome Lee. “You’re not going to ask me to take those awful drugs?”

  “I would sweetheart, but we both know the answer to that one.”

  Lee cracked a smile. “You should know me by now after all this time.”

  “And likewise, sweetheart.” I perched myself on the side of her bed. “How do you feel?”

  “I’ve had better days. My throat’s dry. Could you pour me some water?” Lee tried reaching forward. “I want to get back to work.”

  My wife was irrepressible and wanted nothing more than to push on. It took me thirty minutes to persuade her to stay in bed awhile longer. Lee managed to sleep for the rest of the day, only after the doctor gave her a shot of Benadryl against her will. Soon after the family appeared in the room in a state of trepidation. They wondered why Lee was hospitalized. I told them there was nothing to fret over. She only required rest. We gathered around my Lee’s bed and prayed for her restoration.

  Unable to stay in one place for too long, Lee was released from the hospital. She was told to report daily at one of Kingston’s larger hospitals. Oddly enough, Lee seemed to work through her pain day after day. There was nothing to ease her pain. There was nothing to ease mine either. For having such a small stature, Lee fought with all her might, and was displeased when we took our focus off the project to aid her.

  “We do what’s right and help others first.” Lee demanded, making us promise to honor her request. Although neither one of us wanted to, the requisition was followed through.

  ---

  Hyacinth waited for the results of Sherry’s test. “How is Lee?”

  “My wife is fine. It just troubles me that she won’t rest for a second.”

  Hyacinth turned
and faced me, uncovering aside of her I had never seen before. “Lee is a strong woman. That’s why both of you make such a good team. She puts the whole world first without thinking twice. Most people don’t care. Lee is different. It's as if she excepts her fate. Only a special friend and wife can remain so humble. Ask yourself this Alistair, if we were in her shoes could we be so forgiving to fate? Lee is. And whether you chose to believe this Alistair, she has done remarkable things.”

  The conversation was cut short by the doctor’s entrance. Sherry had stage two breast cancer. However, there were several tumors found in the breast. Hyacinth and I agreed treatment should begin as early as possible. To our surprise, we were informed that a double mastectomy had already been set up for the following day by Lee. She knew the urgency and wanted nothing than to help the homeless woman whom she and Hyacinth took a liking to. She made sure all expenses were fully covered.