Ryan Ruiz - The Black Cadillac

Cody’s eyes opened.

“Mom? I’m sorry,” whispered Cody; it was painful to talk.

“Oh, Cody, I don’t think you will ever know how extremely upset I am with you. What were you two thinking? You and Zach were stupid for what you did.” She paused for a second then continued, “However, you saved a little girl’s life today, and I am proud of you.”

“Mandy is Olive’s age, Mama,” replied Cody as he looked at his sister who was hunched over, giving him a hug.

“I know, Cody. I know,” she said with some understanding.

“I will tell you the whole story when we get home. Have you talked to Zach?” said Cody.

“Mrs. Madden called me. Zach called 911 from a pay phone and then called his mom. She called me after, and I had to find a ride. Mr. Durkbridge brought us to the hospital. I thought you were…” Her words drifted, and she started sniffling.

“Mom, I’m okay. My chest hurts, but I’m okay. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but this is a little bit of a happy ending,” explained Cody.

His mother didn’t say anything else; she just sat next to her son. Cody looked at his sister and mustered a smile. Olive just smiled back and held her brother’s hand. Dr. Panella and the nurse walked back into the room.

“It’s time to get some X-rays on those ribs, Cody. We will get you right back with your family after we are done,” a nurse explained, acknowledging Cody’s mother.

Cody was taken out of the room by the nurse and doctor. Georgiana and Olive stayed in the room.

“Mommy, why did Cody do this?” the little girl asked.

Georgiana sighed and tried to explain to her eight-year-old girl.

“Your brother is a very smart person and thinks about things differently than other people. He and Zach found out about a bad man. Instead of going to adults or the police about the problem, they decided to not tell anyone. Your brother and Zach are very brave for what they did. They saved the girl that was missing. As much as we are upset with him, your brother is a hero,” explained Georgiana to her daughter, trying to be careful with her words.

“Like a Superman? That kind of hero?” Olive asked, raising her tone.

Her mother let out a small laugh and replied, “Yes, Olive, like Superman.”

“Mommy, will Cody be able to come home with us?” asked Olive.

“I don’t know, sweetie. He is a little hurt right now,” her mother told her and continued to tear up.

“But I want him to come home,” the little girl whined.

“I do too, Olive. Try to get some rest, babe, it’s very late. There are two chairs over there. Go put them together, and I will find a blanket for you,” Georgiana said.

“Okay, Mommy,” replied Olive, letting out a big yawn.

Olive put the chairs together and curled up in them the best she could. Before long, she was asleep. Georgiana found a hospital blanket in a closet in the room. She covered her daughter with the blanket and kissed her on the head.

Two nurses came back in with Cody. Cody was in a hospital gown, and his ribs were wrapped in gauze. The boy was wide awake.

The nurses placed Cody’s bed back to where it was and left the room. One of the nurses put a syringe filled with a drug into his IV. Cody heard someone running right outside his room. It was his best friend. The officers outside the door let his friend through. Zach was slightly out of breath when he arrived. Mrs. Madden was still walking down the hall thirty feet behind.

Zach could barely look at Georgiana.

“Mom, could I talk to Zach for a minute alone?” asked Cody.

She nodded, walked out of the room, and met Mrs. Madden in the hallway with a huge hug.

Zach just stared at his friend with concern. Zach’s face was bright red as he continued to stare and not say anything.

“I’m okay, man. We did it. I couldn’t have done it without you. You saved my life and Mandy’s. I’m glad you didn’t come into the house with me,” explained Cody in a soft voice.

His friend finally spoke.

“Dude, I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I just ran and went with my instincts. Something seemed off when I spoke to him. I yelled as loud as I could so you would hear. You were not responding on the walkie-talkie. I have never been more scared in my life than I was tonight,” responded Zach.

“You acted perfectly and did the right thing,” said Cody.

“It killed me to leave you in that house, but I knew you would fight with everything you had. I almost came in. I really did,” said Zach.

“Believe me, I did. I actually cut his arm with my pocketknife. He punched me in the chest, and my ribs are bruised. The things I saw in that house were…” Cody’s voice faded away.

“I hear you, buddy. You don’t have to explain. You found Mandy, and you knew all along that the man was bad,” said Zach.

“I really don’t know what I would have done without you, Zach. You believed me from the start and never once backed out. You are my best friend, and now we saved Mandy,” replied Cody.

Zach grinned and replied, “You’re telling me! There are news reporters everywhere outside the hospital. There are cameras and crowds of people outside. The police will not let them in the hospital. The television in the waiting room is on, and that’s all the news is talking about. Our names are not mentioned, though, but people know. We are heroes! They have identified Melvin Wermer as the kidnapper of Mandy Coefield. They also may have linked him to abductions in Ohio and other states. This is bigger than we imagined, Code. And it was all because of you.”

Cody smiled and started feeling more relaxed.

“Wow. I don’t really remember being taken here. It all happened so fast. The man put a rag to my face with a weird smell to it, and I was out within seconds,” said Cody.

“Oh man!” Zach exclaimed, trying to keep his voice down, not wanting to wake up Olive.

“Yeah, right,” replied Cody. His voice was low, and he was getting groggy.

“Well, dude, you need rest. I will be in the waiting room for as long as you’re here, buddy.”

“Thank you,” Cody said as he faded off to sleep.

“You’re welcome, pal. Thank you,” said Zach, leaving the room.

A distinct and vivid dream occurred that night. It was Cody and his Papa sitting on a bench in an unfamiliar park. His grandfather spoke.

“Cody, you are the man that I always thought you would grow into. What you did took courage and guts to do. I am proud of you, grandson!” his Papa said in the dream as if he were still alive today.

Cody hugged his grandfather and didn’t let go.

“Papa, you were with me the entire time, weren’t you?” asked Cody.

His grandfather squeezed him tighter.

“All the signs in my dreams—you knew, didn’t you?” the boy continued.

His Papa didn’t say anything. He just hugged his grandson with the greatest amount of love he could.

The following morning, Cody woke up in his hospital bed to a quiet room full of balloons and flowers. It was just him in his room. The badly bruised ribs he had sustained were even more painful than the previous day. His body ached and was sore all over. A nurse entered the room.

“Good morning, Cody! Well, I have some good news for you. If all goes well with the doctor today, you’re going home this afternoon. Also, you have a packed waiting room full of people waiting to see you. There are also some special visitors waiting to see you.”

The nurse left, and two adults walked into the room. The man was taller, had a mustache and thick glasses. The woman had curly brown hair past her shoulders and was holding a bouquet of flowers. They were Mandy Coefield’s parents. The woman set the flowers on the table next to him, and the woman immediately hugged the boy gently.