| The Heart Of Christmas By Tanith |
| Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There is no connection between Oded Fehr or Arnold Vosloo and the other characters of this story. Rated G ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ |
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| Arnold Vosloo and Oded Fehr, two actors from the Mummy films, had met up with Tanith, one of the fans who had suggested that they go to visit some kids in hospital for xmas. “I’ve found out that there are two, one is a hospice, where the kids don’t come out, it is run by nuns and the other is an ordinary hospital. I rang and they would be delighted if we could go on xmas eve. Right, tomorrow we’ll work out what to do. I’m off to bed” said Oded. The next day. “I’ve got a signing session this morning” said Oded “But this afternoon is free till about 5, when we have to be at the show. What say we go and buy some presents for the kids. Their ages are between 6 months and 13 years old. I have to pick up a list from the hospitals on the way back, with their names.” At the hospice there were 12 children, from 6 months to 9 years old and at the hospital, 15 aged 5 to 13 years old. “That means 27 presents” said Oded “Nice ones, not cheap rubbish. I’ve also decided to get some food for the nurses to give out as and when they can” They got into the limo, that Oded had come back in and went to the big shopping mall. There was a massive toy shop there and that was where they headed first. “Arnold will you behave, we’ll get thrown out of here” said Oded. Tanith just put her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. Oded glared at her. “You’re no help, encouraging him” “Sorry” she said not able to contain the laugh any longer. Arnold had an Indian headdress on and was pretending to sit on this big rocking horse. “I give up” said Oded “Big mistake bringing him to a toy shop” They spent 3 hours there and between them spent quite a bit of money. The next morning, they got to the hospital about 10am, the head nurse met them at the door. “Thank you for coming” she said. “It is very kind of you, the children are all mad about the Mummy Films” “That’s ok, we just wanted to do something different this year” said Oded. She led them into the first ward. There was 3 altogether, no-one had told them who was coming, just someone famous. When they saw who it was, they were over the moon. Oded and Arnold spent quite a while with each child, asking them about why they were in hospital etc. The children wanted to know all about them as well. The nurses took photos of each child with Arnold and Oded. At the end, they passed out the presents. The children were delighted. They all waved goodbye when they left. “So, have you enjoyed yourselves?” asked Tanith. “It was great, to be able to give some pleasure at xmas is lovely” said Arnold Oded agreed. “Right, let’s get something to eat, we have an hour before we have to be at the hospice” said Oded. After lunch they arrived at the hospice. The Rev. Mother met them, neither had ever met a Rev Mother before and weren’t sure how to greet her. “Don’t stand on formalities” she said “I have watched the films and love Ardeth Bay and Imhotep. You two are the sexiest in the films. We do have some pleasures you know” That broke the ice and she put her arms into theirs and walked in with them. Tanith smiled as she walked behind them. There were these 2 men nearly 6ft 2” tall with a nun, who was only about 5’ 5” walking arm in arm down the corridor. “Before we go in, you must remember that these children are aged between 6 months and 9 years old. They each have their own room and some have their parents staying with them. But most importantly is the fact that they only have a few days, weeks or months to live. Never mention it unless they do or their parents” “That’s no problem” said Arnold. “This could be hard for you, so be prepared for sights you might not have ever seen before. I’ll leave you too it, there is a nun in each room and they know who you are. I’ll be in my room if you need anything” “Thank you” said Oded. The first 5 children were sitting there and quite happy to see Oded and Arnold. They didn’t really look that ill and if their parents hadn’t said, you wouldn’t have known that by next xmas, they would not be there. The next two rooms were a bit different. In one was a little boy of about 18 months and a little girl of 6 months. Both had liver cancer and unless a donar was found for the little boy, within a month, he would not live. The little girl, it was just a matter of days. Oded always thought of himself as a strong person, but sitting there in the little girls room, he felt a lump in his throat. The mother picked her up and placed her in Odeds arms. She was a yellow colour because of the jaundice but had big green eyes like his and black hair. She curled her hand round his finger and smiled at him. As he talked to her, she started chuckling. “She hasn’t laughed like that for a while” said her mother “She’s really taken to you” “What a lovely little girl, I can’t believe what’s happening to her” he said. “She is one of twins, the other one, a little boy, is quite well. It is hard for us, for any parent but we have to except it, I’m afraid. It sounds callous but it’s the only way we can cope” “I can’t imagine what you must be going through” he said “I had no idea there were children as young as this with cancer. Can’t anything be done for her?” “No, it was discovered too late. Not many people do realise, cancer is for the old but nowadays so many babies have it” She left him alone with the baby, whose name was Laura, while she got coffee. As he sat there, tears rolled down his face. He had gone there to cheer up the kids and it had ended up breaking his heart. When the mother came back, she saw the tears and took Laura from him. The went back to Oded who had gone to the window. “I know why you came today but this place is not easy, even on the hardest of people, it takes some guts to come to a place like this” “I had no idea what to expect, certainly not this” he replied wiping a tear. “That makes me sound very naïve” “No, not many people know what a hospice is unless they have someone in one or others choose not to know. Death still isn’t talked about much, people avoid it, even though it comes to us all” “I know that but what has a baby like Laura done to deserve to die so young. She has had no life” “There are no answers Oded, I haven’t got them and boy, have I asked all the questions. Go on, go and get some fresh air then come back, if you want to, please” Oded never said a word, he just hugged the woman and went down to the lounge where Tanith was sitting reading a magazine. He sat on the chair opposite with his head in his hands. “Oded, what’s wrong, are you alright?” asked Tanith going over to him. He nodded but she saw the tears. “This place has hit you hard hasn’t it?” said the Rev. Mother coming into the lounge. “It does everyone who comes here for the first time. And yes, even I wondered about a God who let’s this happen. But who are we to question it. All we can do is help and be there at the end” “I know but it is hard when you see babies like Laura” “I know Oded” she said putting a hand on his shoulder. “Go and see the rest of the children if you can and try not let it upset you too much” An hour later, Oded still wasn’t back, Tanith said she would see if she could find him. Walking along the corridor, she met a lady putting on her coat. It was Laura’s mum. “Are you looking for Oded?” she asked. “Yes, have you seen him?” “He’s with laura, he wanted to stay with her for a while and it gives me a chance to get some things from the store before it closes for tomorrow.” “How did you get on with the kids?” she asked Arnold as he came back in. “great but I have to make a phone call. Won’t be long” When he came back he told Tanith what he was going to do. “Me and Oded are not filming for a fortnight but there is a show tonight. I’m going to be there, I need to make an announcement. Will you tell Oded, I’ll see him later, watch the tv about 8pm” “Ok but what are you going to do?” “You’ll see” he replied leaving the hospice “ and tell the Rev. Mother to watch” Tanith and Oded left about an hour later. He said he’d be back to see Laura the next day if that was alright. The Rev Mother said it was. At 8 pm, they watched the tv, they wanted to know what Arnold was up to. He shouldn’t have even been at the show. Steven Sommers came on stage, originally to had out an award to someone. The theatre cheered when he came on but when he started talking they stopped. “I’m not here to talk about the films etc. I am here to ask you just to listen to a request from one of your favourite actors, Arnold Vosloo” Arnolds walked on stage, he took the mike off Steven and thanked him and the theatre for allowing him to interrupt the awards. “I wasn’t supposed to be here tonight but after talking to Steven earlier, he agreed that I could come down to ask you all something. Today, we, Oded Fehr and I, met a little boy called James, at the Angels hospice, here in Washington. He is 18 months old and dying of liver cancer. He desperately needs a transplant. If anyone out there, anywhere in the world is unfortunately in a position where something happens to their child, please spare a thought for this little boy and donate an organ to help him live. It is not only James, that needs help but many people are waiting for transplants. Please, give this family some hope this xmas and others. This could be the best gift you could give anyone. Thank you” He left the stage to a thunderous applause. “Thank you Arnold for that very special message” “Did you know about this?” asked Oded “No, I knew he was going to the show but not what he was going to do” “I knew it had effected me but not Arnold” An hour later Arnold came back and Tanith hugged him. “That was a lovely thing you did Arnold” “I wanted to do something for James if I could” The next day they would go back, and hopefully someone would help James, Oded would spend as much time with Laura as he could. In the meantime, they went outside in the snow, with a drink, just as the bells rang to signify Xmas. “Happy Xmas” They all said together and hugged each other, knowing this year it would be slightly different. |