Chapter 1

As promised, Wendy showed up at Dan and Karen’s home at 10 a.m. to help with the Living Liver Donor Day program. She, Dan, Karen, Vicky, Britney, and Abby helped to load up the Hummer and the Maxima. Brad was bringing his keyboard, acoustic guitar, and amplifier to play and sing songs, plus provide background music. He brought along several songbooks and downloaded Christmas songs for his keyboard to play.

One of Brad’s conditions for the day was that Abby had to sing several songs. Dan made sure to bring the tripod and digital video camera to record the day’s events. Amber and her friend, Steve Jackson, were going to help out too, but she was more interested in spending the time in bed trying to convert Steve.

Britney did a fantastic job putting together a slide show concerning liver donations. Everything was now in place for the big day at the Quinte Mall. Abby and her friends set up several display posters that highlighted the results of organ transplants, in particular liver transplants. The hours allowed by the mall owners were from noon to four. The large mall area was set up for a fashion show, so Brad was able to use the raised platform as his stage.

The group gathered as a team, setting up tables and chairs for an anticipated crowd. Mrs. Chandler said that Eric could be at the mall from 1 to 3 p.m. Karen had arranged for six of her nursing students to volunteer their time to help out by taking blood samples and filling out applications.

Everyone wore a white T-shirt stamped with the words ‘Eric’s Endeavour, Living Liver Donor Campaign,’ along with his smiling picture. The shirts matched the large banner the girls had made that hung predominantly behind Brad. The more help, the easier it would be, and Brad easily accepted the offer from Jake and Tiffany. Brad couldn’t take his eyes off Abby, yet fully clothed in her T-shirt and form-fitting jeans, she looked perfect to him.

While Brad set up his musical equipment, several others handed out flyers for the planned event. Posters had been set up displaying the event, plus it was announced at school and on the local radio stations. Several businesses donated coffee, drinks, doughnuts, pizzas, and several prizes as a fundraiser raffle.

Brad tested the sound system he borrowed from his friends in the group, ‘Dissension,’ and then started playing Christmas music from his keyboard. A few people, curious about the scene, sat on a chair or asked questions. Brad exhaled nervously, and looking at his watch, he had thirty minutes to spare.

Dan had set up the tripod and camera to record the event for posterity. He had Brad play a few chords on his keyboard, which he recorded for several seconds. He played back the video, making sure the music and scene were recorded well. Brad smiled at his dad’s thumbs up.

“Everyone is invited back home for pizza and KFC after the day is over!” Karen announced it to everyone.

On a previous visit to the mall to plan Eric’s big day, Brad looked in several jewelry stores. Though he and Abby will have only known each other for just over a month, they are boyfriend and girlfriend. He wanted to buy her something nice for Christmas. He noticed a distinctive necklace in a jewelry display case. It was a gold-shaped heart constructed of lightning bolts, with a larger bolt of lightning, representing an arrow, piercing the heart.

Brad mentioned to his mom that he wanted to buy a necklace as a gift for Abby and snuck her away from the others to the store without her noticing. “You think Abby would wear it for me?” He wondered, pointing at it.

“Brad, Abby loves you so much, she’d wear fossilized shit around her neck for you,” she kidded, and they laughed. “However, sixty-five dollars and ninety-nine cents is quite steep as a gift for a new friendship, even if it is for Abby.”

“Abby is worth every penny; she’s my girlfriend and, as she’s already said numerous times, my future wife,” he beamed proudly as the saleswoman joined them.

“This necklace is an odd design for a gift. If I don’t sell them soon, I’ll have to really lower the price,” the clerk mentioned, trying to make a sale.

“Can you put it on sale now, and I’ll buy one?” He asked.

“I’ll ask the Duty Manager,” Brad watched her walk over to the other woman and chat. She returned, smiling. “It’s on sale for twenty-five percent off. The price is now forty-nine dollars and fifty cents.”

“Sold!” He spoke quickly. Brad had Karen hide Abby’s gift in the glove box of her car.

Brad returned to the mall area as Abby and the others arrived from distributing Eric’s fliers. “I can’t believe that this really is going to happen,” he commented to her, looking at more people gathering around.

“Hi, Dan, what’s going on here?” Coach Frank Stanton asked, approaching Dan. He explained Brad and his friend’s purpose of bringing the subject of organ donorship to the public, but more importantly, to find a suitable liver donor for his young friend, Eric Chandler.

Brad noticed Coach Stanton talking to his dad and joined them. “We’re hoping a lot of shoppers will stop by for a coffee and doughnut and consider going on the donor list for organ transplants. Far too many people die while waiting for a life-saving transplant. I’m already on the Living Organ Donor list should the need ever arise.”

“That’s very gracious of you, Brad. I’ll call Dale Corbett; he’s the Falcons captain. I’ll ask him to gather a few players to come over wearing their sweaters to help out.”

“Thanks a lot, Coach; that’s really appreciated,” Brad offered his hand.

Frank waited for Brad to join the others. “Dan, I’ll let you in on a little secret. We’re scouting Brad as a possible draft pick in June, but I imagine a number of other teams are also. Have him concentrate on his skating and body strength, including the offseason. Speed and endurance are the keys to making the OHL.”

“Thanks for the info, Frank. I’ll put it to good use,” and they shook hands.

Karen came over to join them, offering Frank a coffee. “I’d sooner have something else hot from you,” he thought with a polite smile. The white T-shirt and tight jeans couldn’t hide her fabulous figure.

“Congratulations on your engagement! When’s the big day?” He asked.

“This month, the 31st,” she beamed, holding Dan’s hand.

“So have you thought about my offer to join our coaching staff?” Frank asked, sipping his coffee.

“Yes, we have, and I gladly accept your offer. I had fun giving instruction to Brad, and I’m excited to do what I can to help the other players too,” Dan smiled at his love.

“Excellent, Dan! You have a lot of hockey knowledge to bring to our team. You’ll instruct all the players on improving their skills. The kids are a lot bigger and faster than when we played junior. You won’t have to actually coach during a game, but I’m tempted to see how you’d coach during one. Can you come by for our next practice? We’ll get you a Falcons track suit, new gloves, skates, and sticks.”

“How much will Dan be paid?” Karen asked.

“This is new for us too, employing a skills coach. A full season will be 30,000 dollars, so you’ll receive 15,000 for the last half of this season.”

“Wow, that much! Getting paid to do what I love doing, thanks, Frank!” They shook hands again, and Karen pressed at tit to Frank’s arm as she gave him a thank-you kiss on the cheek.

“Okay, Brad, it’s time to start our day for Eric,” Karen mentioned, finding him talking with his friends.

“I sure hope we can find Eric a donor.”

“I hope so too. Let me know when Britney’s parents arrive so I can talk to them.”

“I will Mom.” He kissed her, then Abby, and made sure that she would sing several songs.

Brad counted twenty people seated and about a dozen more standing, waiting to hear live music. He sat comfortably at his keyboard. When the next recorded song ended, he made several adjustments. He had a song list prepared to help keep the people entertained and, hopefully, apply to become an organ donors.

He played several chords, and then the magic of his keyboard came alive. The sound of an organ, piano, bass, guitar, and drums filled the air. The sudden outburst of music drew everyone’s attention, especially Abby’s, and he continued to play.

He soon had to tone down the volume a little so people could talk. If you closed your eyes, you’d think a live four- or five-piece band was performing. He was hoping the sound of live Christmas music would draw curious shoppers to their part of the mall.