chance to be my friend, because for some reason I thought his reclusive and intelligent ways were not cool in any way. In fact they were personal flaws worthy of ridicule. And that is how it went growing up. He left for college at Stanford when he was fourteen and only came home for Christmas.

Eventually I decided that I could do better than C's when I tried and made into the local community college majoring in party hard and fast girls. Upon graduation I had a degree in liberal arts and not a job on the horizon. I loaded up my Chevy Nova and headed out on the road of life. Terry had been living life for a long time as an adult and by this time I had forgotten the genius of my childhood.

I found out that I made a pretty good social studies teacher and football coach and took a job in California. I met a sweet blonde girl and thought we'd make beautiful children together. And we did. Three of them. Much to my mother's delight the three boys were rambunctious like me.

Now here's the catch you see. The perfect life might not be as perfect as I thought it would be. Life doesn't just bombard Nerf balls at the nerdy kid next door. When God throws weapons it comes in harder like medieval weapons with spikes.

It comes like a rocket and hits as hard as a baseball thrown at 100 mph. It arrives in simple words, "It's cancer." But I'm not as brave as the genius next door, instead I am crushed and I want to crumple on the floor. I hear the words about a special doctor who is a genius they say. I take the card that's offered. Dr. Terry Wingrave M.D.

How do you face a mistreated genius who holds your fate in his hands? I wondered if I should begin with an apology or act like I didn't know who he was?

I see him in the hallway in his professional white coat. He is looking at my chart in silent thought and I fear he will turn me away. The nurse settles me in a room and says the doctor is running late, but will be rin soon. Nerves take over my mind and emotions while my heart beats in fear. Imagine my surprise when the door opens wide and the entire staff of nurses and the doctor too, pummel me with Nerf balls. Neon foam balls bounce off me and every wall.

He stands there with a grin as the others turn and walk away. With decisive steps, he embraces me and says, "I always knew we had a destiny. The two of us born on that day in July. Why did I have that drive to study while you were driven to play? I think it was our destiny to meet again this way. You know the way you attacked me with all of those Nerf balls? It's my inspiration to fight this disease. Let's pummel this together with something tougher than Nerf"

I grew up with the genius next door, never thinking of him as my friend. Now I know that my perception of what's cool is not the same as it was then. As I await my first treatment, I am proud to be the friend of the genius who stands outside that door.

Learn more about this author, MJ Suttor.
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