Bryan's Perfect Day

“Bryan's Perfect Day” 

Tiff likes to wake up to the radio. Bryan jolts awake to the song "Semi-Charmed Life" and looks at the clock. 

5:30 a.m.

He thinks to slam the radio off, but he likes this song. “Morning, babe. You excited for your big day?”

Tiff wipes the sleep from her eyes. “Ya-aay,” she says, half awake, sluggishly pumping her fists in the air.

“New job day! New job day!” Bryan chants. 

She laughs and rolls onto her side, mumbling into the pillow. “You're more excited than I am.” 

Bryan hops out of bed and heads toward the kitchen. “I'll make some breakfast. Sausage? I know my girl loves her sausage.”

“Shut up, you moron,” she chuckles. “You don't even work ‘til two today.”

“I got stuff to do today!” he yells back into the bedroom. Bryan lights the stove and pulls some sausage links from the freezer, all the while humming along to the radio. 

Tiff leans on the doorframe and asks, “What do you have to do today?”

“Stuff. Do-do-do. Visit my mom.” He throws the links in the pan, and the sizzle breaks through the music.

“Oh, good. Tell her I said hi if you can.” She yawns and staggers to the bathroom.

“Oh, I will!” Bryan shuffles the links in the pan and grabs some eggs from the fridge. “What time do you have to leave?” he asks.

Tiff turns on the shower. “Seven!” 

“All right, ten minutes till breakfast!”

-

Bryan heads down the steps of his apartment and right into downtown Champaign. To his left, the bar sits half a block away.

He loves this commute. 

He strolls down Neil Street and pops into the coffee shop. It's 8:30, and the place is already packed. Some of these people he's already seen from last night, trying to cure their hangovers. 

“What's up, Gus?” he says, waving to the middle-aged man behind the counter. 

“Hey, buddy! How's it going?” Gus smiles and slides a fresh batch of pastries behind the case. “The usual?” 

Bryan waves him off and gets in line. It's only three people. 

“I can wait,” he says. 

Bryan hums to himself as he makes it up to the counter. When he steps up, the cashier hands him his iced latte and a cherry Danish. He slaps a twenty on the counter. “Can I also get a chocolate croissant? Keep the change.”

He winks at the college-aged girl at the register. She rolls her eyes. He grins and waves to Gus on his way to the back patio.

Bryan has time to kill before he needs to start moving. It's cloudy, but still a nice cool spring day. He takes a seat in the far corner, watching the sidewalk through sips of coffee and bites of Danish. 

Some people recognize him as they pass. It's a small downtown.  

“What's up, Bryan?” a passerby says. 

“Hey, Jesse.” He waves as Jesse passes. 

Bryan loves this. He takes pride in knowing his town and remembering names, even if he's only met them once.

Bryan settles in and leans back, taking in the Champaign morning.

-

Bryan backs out of the store doors, bag in hand, and yells, “Thank you! Thank you!” to the jewelers. He swings around and looks up at the sky. The clouds have broken and the sun is starting to shine over the buildings. He checks his watch. 10:30 a.m. 

Off to his next destination. He cuts down Park Street toward West Side Park. It's alive with kids playing, families having picnics, and folks strolling through the park. A beautiful day for a walk. He turns down State Street and walks into the care center.

Inside, it's a sensory nightmare: sterile air that stings the nose and lights that are always too bright. Bryan walks to the front desk and waves at Janice. 

“Hi, Janice, how's it going today?”

“Oh, hi, sweetie. I'm great. Beautiful day outside!”

“Sure is,” Bryan says as he fills out the check-in sheet. “Hopefully it's keeping high spirits in here.”

Janice leans in and whispers, “Oh, you know you could give some of these folks a million dollars and they'd still be A-holes.” 

Bryan cups his mouth. “Like Susie in 814?”

Janice rolls her head in the air and puts her hands up. Bryan cackles. 

“All right, sweetie. I'll buzz you in and let Dana know you're coming.” Janice presses a button, and the gates to the elevators unlock. Bryan pushes through and listens to Janice call up.

“Bryan's here... Oh, good!”

Bryan turns to look and Janice waves at him to move. He hurries to the elevator and frantically pushes the up button. Inside, he hits the eighth floor and hopes for a straight shot.

When the door opens, Dana is already waiting. She rushes in to grab his arm and drags him out so hard, he almost drops his bags. 

“Good day?” Bryan asks. 

“It just started. She asked for you about five minutes ago.” Dana nearly runs him to Room 825.

“She's usually looking for my dad,” Bryan says as he's positioned right in front of the door. Dana huffs. 

“Merle? Merle? I have a special guest.”

Merle turns away from the TV to look at Bryan.

“My baby...” Merle reaches out from the hospital bed.

“Hi, Mom.” Bryan's vision starts to blur. “How are you?” 

“Oh. I can't complain. The Wheel is on. They won't let me have my slims—”

“Merle, we talked about that.” Dana turns to whisper into Bryan's ear. “She got one of the cleaners to sneak in a pack.” Bryan laughs as Merle waves her off. 

“Come here and let me see you. You're such a handsome man.” 

“I got it from you.” He grabs both her hands, and she squeezes them as tight as she can. “I missed you.” Bryan leans in and puts his head on her shoulder.

“Oh, baby. I'm always here. I'm always here for you.” She coos into his ear. “Do you have a girlfriend yet?” Bryan pulls away and wipes his tears. He nods as he looks into her clear eyes.

“Is it Lisa? I always liked her.” Merle keeps hold of one of his hands. He doesn't dare to let her go.

“Mom, I haven't seen her in years.”

“Well, I liked her anyway.”

Bryan chuckles. He reaches into one of the bags and pulls out a case. He flips it open to reveal a diamond on a gold ring.

“Her name is Tiff. She says hi...” His voice breaks. “I'm really fucking glad I get to tell you that.”

Merle holds both hands to her face, then reaches out for her son. A small frown creeps on her face. Bryan jams himself into her arms. 

She rubs his back in slow, long strokes.

“I love you, baby,” she whimpers. “I'm happy you found someone. Be kind to her, baby. Please.”

“I will... I love you, Mom,” Bryan whispers back. He doesn't let go. “I got you a chocolate croissant.” Bryan shakes the bag behind her back.

Slowly, Merle's hug loosens. 

She pushes Bryan away to get a look at his face.

Bryan can see the confusion build on her face. She looks to the door. “Nurse? Who is this man?” she asks kindly.

Dana steps into the room and points to Bryan. “That's your son, Merle.”

Merle looks back into Bryan's eyes and frowns. She shakes her head. “I'm sorry. My son is ten.” She gently pushes Bryan away from her. “I don't know you.” 

Bryan steps back and puts the croissant on the table next to her bed.

“That's okay. I'm just a visitor. I brought you a gift. I heard you liked them.” He sniffles.

“Well, that's very kind of you, young man. But unless you have a cigarette, I'd really like to get back to my show.” Merle turns back to the TV and lies down. 

“Nurse, where is my husband?”

Bryan grabs Dana's hand before she can answer. “I'll let him know you're looking for him, okay? Good to see you, Merle.” 

Merle doesn't look away from the TV to watch Bryan walk out the door. 

-

Bryan wipes his face as he walks out of the elevators and takes a deep breath. 

At the front desk, he points to Janice. “See you Friday?” He grins as he pushes through the gate.

“Those darts aren't going to throw themselves,” Janice hollers.

He gives a peace sign as he heads out the doors. It's almost noon and the sun is shining hard on West Side Park. He looks into the bag and smiles. 

He pulls the case out and puts it in his pocket, swapping it for his phone. 

He texts Tiff: 

How's the first day?

Bzz

Just paperwork. Everyone is real nice, though. How's your mom? 

Bryan smiles and types back:

She says hi. 

He puts the phone back in his pocket. He crosses State and walks into the park to find a bench.

He leans back, basks in the sun, and hums to no one.