The Voice

The voice in Duke’s head spoke to him one day when he was five years old.

It wasn’t a high voice or a low voice. It was a pleasant voice that immediately reassured him after he got punished for kicking the family cat. “It’s not your fault,” the oily voice consoled him. That was the day the voice took up permanent residence in Duke’s head.

As the years passed Duke learned to listen to the voice’s advice. It made him feel secure and confident. He quickly learned not to speak out loud when he talked with the voice. People would look at him funny when he did. He didn’t like that look so he kept his conversations within the safe confines of his skull. But as he grew older the conversations became contentious in sudden unexplained outbursts that came and went like storm clouds. After the thunder, lightning and the rain, the sun came out and the voice would tell a funny story.

During Duke’s teenage years he realized the voice wasn’t always right. It was a shocking revelation. It also provided fuel for their quarrels. About that time the headache’s appeared like thieves in the night blinding him and robbing him of his senses. Sometimes they lasted for days. He could go weeks without an incident and then the headaches suddenly returned with a vengeance. His doctor treated him for migraine headaches by giving Duke Rizatriptan to take during episodes. At moments of weakness, he almost told his doctor about the voice but thought better of it. He’d send him to a shrink and that wasn’t acceptable.

There was only one person that Duke really trusted and could confine in. That was Joey. They met when they were freshman attending Washington High School. Joey was in Special Ed and when he wasn’t attending special classes, he passed out fresh towels in the boys Locker room during PE classes. He was also the victim of mockery by almost everyone in the school. Everyone but Duke that is. He befriended Joey and stuck up for him numerous times when other boys bullied him. It wasn’t long before Duke had a reputation of someone you don’t mess with. Joey, who was always smiling, would share his lunch with Duke when he didn’t have one. Which happened frequently because his mother was a mean drunk that resented having him and his sister.

Just before graduation day Duke decided to tell Joey about the voice. They were at Joey’s house trying on their graduation gowns and caps when he nonchalantly asked him, “Do you ever hear a voice in your head?”

Without hesitation Joey replied, “Sometimes...”

“Have you ever talked back to that voice?” Duke casually inquired.

Joey looked confused for a few moments like didn’t understand the question. Then a sly look appeared on his narrow face, and he looked around the bedroom to make sure no one else was there. He shut the door and turned to Duke with a look on his face he’d never seen before. In a low solemn voice that was the opposite of Joey’s tenor said, “I’m Joey’s celestial companion. Pleased to meet you.”

Before Duke could reply to the question the voice in his head answered… out loud! “Greetings fellow traveler!”

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