Mr. Pumpkin Head (Entry Number 9)
Pumpkin Head
“Jack, wake up!” Alex screamed into my face.
“Ugh, mmhwhu?” I grumbled as Alex tickled my sides.
“Guess what today and tomorrow is!” He shouted.
“Okay, first, please stop shouting, you know I don’t feel good. Second, what is it?” I said with sleep still very obvious in my voice.
“Well, today is your last day of Chemotherapy, and tomorrow is Halloween!” He said jumping up and down in my lap but successfully banging his head on top of my bunk.
“Owie,” He whimpered.
“Serves you right. Now get out of my bunk ya freak,” I said, lightly shoving him out of my bunk sending him toppling to the ground with a soft thud.
“Hey Jack, we’re almost to the hospital. I’d get dressed if I were you,” Flyzik said and I stuck my hand out of my bunk and waved it around at him.
“Yeah, yeah.”
I guess I should give you a little explanation as to why I need Chemotherapy…
Well, four years ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia. We all thought it was a normal fever and sweats but when it persisted and I almost collapsed during a show, we figured it was something serious. I was with my band mates when I was diagnosed and my best friend Alex took it the hardest. He started crying, but I didn’t. I accepted the fact that I would probably die.
I gave Alex the honors of shaving my hair off after the second round of Chemotherapy. Rian always joked, “Hey, you could sell that to fans and get a lot of money!”
But we knew he was joking and this was a serious matter.
Our fans have always been so supportive over these last few years and always come bearing gifts for me. Like Austin Carlile and Star Wars gifts, it’s nice the first ten beanies but the rest of the thousand beanies gets pretty useless. So every time I go back to the hospital for treatments, I give a few beanies to these little kids there with cancer too. I always love brightening their day.
~
Walking into the hospital, I cringed at the all too familiar smell of disinfectant but smiled at all of the pumpkins scattered all over the floors and the fake bats hanging from the ceiling. I waved at the receptionist and turned around to see Alex still standing at the doorway. He’s always been nervous about coming in with me for my treatments cause he hates seeing me sick during them.
“C’mon, Alex. I won’t be that bad this time,” I said ‘cause yeah, it probably won’t be but then it hit me, since this is the last treatment it’s going to be the strongest so it’ll be harder on my body.
Let’s just hope I can play the Halloween show tomorrow.
I walked into the small room where there was a small recliner and a blanket already laid out for me. The process never really scared me, it was just that big machine sitting right next to me and the sounds it made.
“Sit with me, Lex.” I said and Alex nodded and sat on the small chair right next to me.
The doctor came in with a smile and started to unravel all of the cords that would soon be hooked up to me.
“How is tour going?” Dr. Koheler asked and I smiled and nodded.
“Pretty good. Really excited that this is my last treatment and tomorrow is our Halloween show here in Baltimore.”
“Well that’s great! Well you know what to do.” He said and gave me a glass of water to guzzle down and then I covered myself with the blanket, slightly cringing when he lifted my shirt to poke the needle through my chest.
“Not sure how you handle that, Jack.” Alex said with a worried look on his face.
“Pretty used to it.” I said laughing and I saw the doctor flip the switch and I smiled while he walked out after handing me a bucket just in case I needed to puke.
After about an hour or so, I started to feel slightly dizzy and just wanted the damned thing off of me and I wanted to get back on the bus so we could finish the hour long drive to our home and get some much needed rest before our last show of the tour.
“You okay?” Alex asked when he saw me retract my knees into my chest and I nodded slowly, taking deep breaths.
“Flyzik is bringing you some Starbucks. He bought you that new Pumpkin Spice Latte that you’ve been wanting to try. It may help your stomach.” Alex said with a smile and I nodded.
Soon enough, Flyzik, Rian, and Zack walked in all holding their Starbucks and Flyzik had extras in his hands. One for me and one for Alex.
“Thank you.” I said with a smile and took a sip of the warm liquid.
“You like it?” Flyzik asked and I nodded.
“Great, now let’s get this treatment over with.” He said with a smile and they all took a seat around me to help pass the time.
~
Soon enough Dr. Koheler unhooked the needle from my chest and gave me a prescription to take for the next few months to help keep my immune system in check and then said to come back soon for a checkup to see if the cancer is fully gone. He wished me a safe rest of the tour and we left with large smiles on our faces.
“I’m so proud of you, Jack.” Alex, Rian, and Zack all said pulling me into a hug.
“Thanks.” I said smiling, a small tear running down my cheek.
~
We were all backstage at the venue putting face paint on each other and listening to fun happy Halloween music cause, yeah, it was Halloween.
It was amazing how happy I was considering I was still kind of sick but decided that today was going to be a great day and I was going to have fun during this set.
I smiled at Alex when he finished his skeleton makeup and walked up to take some of his white face paint to do mine. Alex just smirked and stopped my hand.
“Nope.” He just said and we all jumped up when Flyzik said we were about to go on.
“But I want face paint!” I whined and he just chuckled and shook his head pulling me out into the hall so we could get our guitars.
~
The crowd cheered and roared when we had just finished preforming an old song that they were surprised we played, which was Circles.
I was about to start playing Weightless when Alex cut everyone off.
“Hey guys, I have something to say.” Alex said into his microphone, pushing his finger to his lip to quiet them down, which they obeyed.
“Well yesterday was a big day for our Jack. As you guys all know about his cancer, yesterday was his last treatment of Chemotherapy.” Alex said with a smile and Rian banged on his drums a few times, the crowed screaming the loudest they have in a long time.
“So we’re pretty sure he is cancer free but we aren’t going to be 100% sure until a while. So as a celebration…” Alex said, pausing for dramatic effect, turning around seeing Danny drag out a chair and hand Alex a few paint brushes and face paint.
“We’re going to paint Jack’s bald head like a pumpkin.” He said and the crowd roared in laughter causing me to roll my eyes and take off my bright orange beanie that Rian had bought me.
“Sit.” Alex said and I laughed and sat down on the wooden chair and felt Alex run his hands over my shiny bald head.
“I need someone from the audience to help me.” Alex said into the microphone and the crowd screamed and waved their hands in the air trying to get his attention.
“Zack, grab the girl in the green shirt.” Alex said and Zack nodded, walking to the barricade and pulling up a girl onto the stage.
“What is your name?” I ask into my microphone and shoved it into the girls face.
“Larissa.” She said surprisingly calm but had a huge smile on her face.
“Well Larissa, you do the honors of drawing the outline of the pumpkin orange of course.” Alex said and handed her the paintbrush after squirting some of the florescent orange paint on the brush.
I soon felt cold paint on my head and I giggled.
“Done!” She chirped and I laughed when Alex laughed and said ‘My turn.’
Zack shouted and ran over to me and took the paintbrush out of Alex’s hands and squirted some of the black paint onto another paintbrush.
“I may not talk but I must say I am an artist.” He said with a fake French accent.
I laughed and smiled. I have the best friends ever. “I love you guys.” I said and Alex smiled.
Zack carefully made triangle eyes and a zig-zag line for the mouth and he shouted, “Done!” when he was of course done.
“Ladies and gents, I now pronounce Jack Mr. Pumpkin Head Barakat!” Alex screamed into the microphone and the crowd cheered, filling my heart with joy.
~
It’s safe to say that I was cancer free since October 31, 2013.
Here is to another year of happiness with my three best friends.
Happy Halloween, everyone.
“Ugh, mmhwhu?” I grumbled as Alex tickled my sides.
“Guess what today and tomorrow is!” He shouted.
“Okay, first, please stop shouting, you know I don’t feel good. Second, what is it?” I said with sleep still very obvious in my voice.
“Well, today is your last day of Chemotherapy, and tomorrow is Halloween!” He said jumping up and down in my lap but successfully banging his head on top of my bunk.
“Owie,” He whimpered.
“Serves you right. Now get out of my bunk ya freak,” I said, lightly shoving him out of my bunk sending him toppling to the ground with a soft thud.
“Hey Jack, we’re almost to the hospital. I’d get dressed if I were you,” Flyzik said and I stuck my hand out of my bunk and waved it around at him.
“Yeah, yeah.”
I guess I should give you a little explanation as to why I need Chemotherapy…
Well, four years ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia. We all thought it was a normal fever and sweats but when it persisted and I almost collapsed during a show, we figured it was something serious. I was with my band mates when I was diagnosed and my best friend Alex took it the hardest. He started crying, but I didn’t. I accepted the fact that I would probably die.
I gave Alex the honors of shaving my hair off after the second round of Chemotherapy. Rian always joked, “Hey, you could sell that to fans and get a lot of money!”
But we knew he was joking and this was a serious matter.
Our fans have always been so supportive over these last few years and always come bearing gifts for me. Like Austin Carlile and Star Wars gifts, it’s nice the first ten beanies but the rest of the thousand beanies gets pretty useless. So every time I go back to the hospital for treatments, I give a few beanies to these little kids there with cancer too. I always love brightening their day.
~
Walking into the hospital, I cringed at the all too familiar smell of disinfectant but smiled at all of the pumpkins scattered all over the floors and the fake bats hanging from the ceiling. I waved at the receptionist and turned around to see Alex still standing at the doorway. He’s always been nervous about coming in with me for my treatments cause he hates seeing me sick during them.
“C’mon, Alex. I won’t be that bad this time,” I said ‘cause yeah, it probably won’t be but then it hit me, since this is the last treatment it’s going to be the strongest so it’ll be harder on my body.
Let’s just hope I can play the Halloween show tomorrow.
I walked into the small room where there was a small recliner and a blanket already laid out for me. The process never really scared me, it was just that big machine sitting right next to me and the sounds it made.
“Sit with me, Lex.” I said and Alex nodded and sat on the small chair right next to me.
The doctor came in with a smile and started to unravel all of the cords that would soon be hooked up to me.
“How is tour going?” Dr. Koheler asked and I smiled and nodded.
“Pretty good. Really excited that this is my last treatment and tomorrow is our Halloween show here in Baltimore.”
“Well that’s great! Well you know what to do.” He said and gave me a glass of water to guzzle down and then I covered myself with the blanket, slightly cringing when he lifted my shirt to poke the needle through my chest.
“Not sure how you handle that, Jack.” Alex said with a worried look on his face.
“Pretty used to it.” I said laughing and I saw the doctor flip the switch and I smiled while he walked out after handing me a bucket just in case I needed to puke.
After about an hour or so, I started to feel slightly dizzy and just wanted the damned thing off of me and I wanted to get back on the bus so we could finish the hour long drive to our home and get some much needed rest before our last show of the tour.
“You okay?” Alex asked when he saw me retract my knees into my chest and I nodded slowly, taking deep breaths.
“Flyzik is bringing you some Starbucks. He bought you that new Pumpkin Spice Latte that you’ve been wanting to try. It may help your stomach.” Alex said with a smile and I nodded.
Soon enough, Flyzik, Rian, and Zack walked in all holding their Starbucks and Flyzik had extras in his hands. One for me and one for Alex.
“Thank you.” I said with a smile and took a sip of the warm liquid.
“You like it?” Flyzik asked and I nodded.
“Great, now let’s get this treatment over with.” He said with a smile and they all took a seat around me to help pass the time.
~
Soon enough Dr. Koheler unhooked the needle from my chest and gave me a prescription to take for the next few months to help keep my immune system in check and then said to come back soon for a checkup to see if the cancer is fully gone. He wished me a safe rest of the tour and we left with large smiles on our faces.
“I’m so proud of you, Jack.” Alex, Rian, and Zack all said pulling me into a hug.
“Thanks.” I said smiling, a small tear running down my cheek.
~
We were all backstage at the venue putting face paint on each other and listening to fun happy Halloween music cause, yeah, it was Halloween.
It was amazing how happy I was considering I was still kind of sick but decided that today was going to be a great day and I was going to have fun during this set.
I smiled at Alex when he finished his skeleton makeup and walked up to take some of his white face paint to do mine. Alex just smirked and stopped my hand.
“Nope.” He just said and we all jumped up when Flyzik said we were about to go on.
“But I want face paint!” I whined and he just chuckled and shook his head pulling me out into the hall so we could get our guitars.
~
The crowd cheered and roared when we had just finished preforming an old song that they were surprised we played, which was Circles.
I was about to start playing Weightless when Alex cut everyone off.
“Hey guys, I have something to say.” Alex said into his microphone, pushing his finger to his lip to quiet them down, which they obeyed.
“Well yesterday was a big day for our Jack. As you guys all know about his cancer, yesterday was his last treatment of Chemotherapy.” Alex said with a smile and Rian banged on his drums a few times, the crowed screaming the loudest they have in a long time.
“So we’re pretty sure he is cancer free but we aren’t going to be 100% sure until a while. So as a celebration…” Alex said, pausing for dramatic effect, turning around seeing Danny drag out a chair and hand Alex a few paint brushes and face paint.
“We’re going to paint Jack’s bald head like a pumpkin.” He said and the crowd roared in laughter causing me to roll my eyes and take off my bright orange beanie that Rian had bought me.
“Sit.” Alex said and I laughed and sat down on the wooden chair and felt Alex run his hands over my shiny bald head.
“I need someone from the audience to help me.” Alex said into the microphone and the crowd screamed and waved their hands in the air trying to get his attention.
“Zack, grab the girl in the green shirt.” Alex said and Zack nodded, walking to the barricade and pulling up a girl onto the stage.
“What is your name?” I ask into my microphone and shoved it into the girls face.
“Larissa.” She said surprisingly calm but had a huge smile on her face.
“Well Larissa, you do the honors of drawing the outline of the pumpkin orange of course.” Alex said and handed her the paintbrush after squirting some of the florescent orange paint on the brush.
I soon felt cold paint on my head and I giggled.
“Done!” She chirped and I laughed when Alex laughed and said ‘My turn.’
Zack shouted and ran over to me and took the paintbrush out of Alex’s hands and squirted some of the black paint onto another paintbrush.
“I may not talk but I must say I am an artist.” He said with a fake French accent.
I laughed and smiled. I have the best friends ever. “I love you guys.” I said and Alex smiled.
Zack carefully made triangle eyes and a zig-zag line for the mouth and he shouted, “Done!” when he was of course done.
“Ladies and gents, I now pronounce Jack Mr. Pumpkin Head Barakat!” Alex screamed into the microphone and the crowd cheered, filling my heart with joy.
~
It’s safe to say that I was cancer free since October 31, 2013.
Here is to another year of happiness with my three best friends.
Happy Halloween, everyone.
10/5/13