Alexander Payne was thirteen when we first met

Feisty, Fun, and Fearful all in one.

A sense of humor was something Alexander brought with him.

Pain was the other thing he carried.

Throbbing, stabbing, constant pain was always his visitor.

Alexander doesn’t allow this visitor to take over the room.

He continues his stories of love, life, dreams and defeat.  All the while pain is in the corner

Knocking, rapping, screaming shouting.

A button pushed, the door slammed in pains face

Only briefly, but long enough for Alexander

to share his life and sometimes his fears.

That if the transplant doesn’t come along, his dreams of the Alaskan wilderness will vanish, along

With the hopes of finishing school and the shows he plans to see.

PAIN crashes the door.  Alexander in pain again.