Sam was now 80 years old, or still 8 years old depending on how you look at it. He sat once again in quiet comfortable corner of room 816. This would be his last day on earth.
As he sat remembering his parents, he heard once again the ding of the elevator and as always, waiting eagerly for his brother, Garrett, to come home for the evening. But the footsteps he heard are not those of his brother. The voices he heard were not Garrett's. It was the sound of laughter. The sound of a man and a woman talking together of things that make people happy. He recognized the voices, and his heart began to beat wildly in anticipation! He was a bit scared, but happy at the same time! He was a bit nervous, but very eager. He waited earnestly as the voices drew close. In a hushed silence, Sam waited as he had never waited before.
"Sam?" whispered the voice of a woman he new. It was the voice of his mother. Could it be?
"Sam, are you here?" Says the voice of his father. Could it be?
His eight year old heart lept for joy within him as he looked to the doorway to watch his own mother and father come into the room. They appeared to him now just as he remembered them. His heart almost jumped out of his chest in front if him as he sprang from the floor and flew into their open arms. It was, indeed, a joyful and tearful reunion!
"Oh, Sam! We missed you so much!" said his Mom.
And, "Oh, how we missed you," his Dad said as they all embraced for the first time in 72 years!
Sam's Mom and Dad did just what he knew they would do when they finally came for him - they hugged and kissed away his loneliness and brought answers to all his questions.
"What am I supposed to do?" Sam asked.
"You are supposed to come with us, Sam." his Dad explained.
"That's right, Sam." his Mom continued, "We're going to go and be in heaven for all ever and all together!"
"Why did it take so long for you to come? It did take a long time, didn't it? Or did it?" Sam asked.
"Well, Sam, "said Lee. "You see, your spirit was so strong - you had the power to leave your body before your body died. And somehow, you got stuck here. But God knew your heart, Sam. He knew that you would hate to be alone, so he made it so that your brother Garret would be able to hear you and keep you company until we could come for you. You see, Sam, you died 72 years ago. And Mom and I, well, we eventually became weak, and tired. Our bodies finally gave up, just today!"
"And Sam," his Mom continued, "we're here to take you to heaven with us!"
"But what about Garrett?" asked Sam. "What is he supposed to do? Where will he go? Who will be here with him?"
"Sam," mom said, "I just know that some day when Garrett's body is all old and tired, he'll have to give it up just like we did. And when that happens, he'll come and join us in heaven too. Until then, he'll be happy to know that you are with us, and we'll all live on in his memories! So will Emma and Savannah!"
"Savannah!?" explained Sam. "Whose Savannah?"
"She's your little Sister, Sam." his Dad said, "She was born after you died. And you'll get a chance to meet her some day. She's a lot like you, you know."
"Wow," said Sam. "That's sure a lot to think about. Do you think I'll get to see Garrett one more time before we go?"
"Actually Sam," his Mom said. "He's coming in the room, just now."
