The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

The next day, the weather has improved. Before they leave for the stadium, Murray overhears Jason and Tiegan talking. Jason was given six months to live, and today marks exactly six months since he received that prognosis. Tiegan tries to comfort him. Murray realizes that today is the 22nd—the day he had joked he would stop taking his pills. The three of them head to Wrigley Field, but Murray finds that he is in a lot of pain on the walk there. A young Cubs player, Javier Gonzalez, pulls up in a convertible and offers them a ride. At the stadium, Murray learns that the Cubs have done everything they can to help Jason succeed: They have given him a lightweight bat and set up the field to make a home run easier. After several tries, Jason hits a home run. He runs around the bases, and Murray notes how healthy and happy he looks. When he reaches third base, however, Jason collapses.

Everything seems to happen in slow motion. Jason is on the ground and his nose is bleeding, but Murray finds himself unable to move. Tiegan and the Cubs leap into action to help Jason; someone calls an ambulance. When it arrives, Tiegan rides with Jason to the hospital. Murray remains in a state of shock.

Murray takes a cab to the hospital. Tiegan meets him there; Jason is in surgery. Tiegan has called her mother and told her everything, and Murray assures her calling was the right thing to do. Benedict Cashman was the one who reported that the children had been kidnapped, but Anna and Della understand that Murray had good intentions. Two police officers arrive and arrest Murray for kidnapping. They handcuff him and take him away.

The police officers put Murray in a holding cell where he briefly falls asleep. When he wakes up, he learns that Chance has bailed him out; he is free to go. He leaves the cell and meets Chance, who advises him to stop trying to help Jason. It is clearly too much for him now that he is so old. Angry, Murray accuses Chance of trying to take his baseball paraphernalia. Chance actually wants Murray’s baseball glove because it reminds him of playing catch with his grandfather when he was young. Murray has no memory of playing catch, but he is moved. He and Chance hug and reconcile. Before Murray leaves the jail, he learns that Benedict has requested a restraining order; Murray cannot visit Jason in the hospital. He calls Anna, who says she knows he meant no harm. She will try to get the restraining order lifted.

Murray returns home, feeling empty. He falls back into his old routine, which he hates. He sends Jason an email saying that he loves him and congratulating him on the home run. He goes to the community college for an art class, where he runs into Collins Jackson. When Collins gives him a ride home, he explains that his name is really Jackson Collins, but he “spent a few years in Columbia [sic] and it seemed like everyone switched it around for some reason” (291), so he got used to it. Murray asks Collins for a favor: He gives Collins his favorite baseball card to take to Jason in the hospital.

Anna calls Murray. Jason is still doing poorly, and without a heart transplant, he will soon die. Murray goes to church and asks Father James for guidance. He loves Jason and does not want him to die. Father James is pleased that Murray has found a reason to live even though love can be painful. He tells Murray a story about a family that lost a young son. Though the mother grieved, she was eventually able to find her way back to a meaningful life; the father could not. He advises Murray to find himself so that he can make it through his grief. Murray visits Benedict Cashman and asks him to lift the restraining order. He also criticizes Benedict for not being there for his son. Benedict is furious. He pushes Murray to the ground but then regrets doing so. He apologizes and agrees to let Murray see Jason again.

Murray immediately goes home to pack so that he can visit Jason in the hospital. There is a voice message from Anna: Jason’s condition is deteriorating fast. If Murray does not come to the hospital soon, he may not get to say goodbye. Murray is overwhelmed when he hears this news. He leaves, wondering if he will ever come home again.

At the hospital, Murray hesitates before entering Jason’s room. The last time he was in a hospital room was when he had to make the decision to switch off Jenny’s life support. He lay with her body for hours after she died, not wanting to leave her behind. When he goes into Jason’s room, he sees Jason asleep, holding his baseball card. Anna, Della, Tiegan, and Collins are there. Jason finally wakes up, and everyone leaves the room to give him a moment alone with Murray.

Jason and Murray play video games, and Jason asks Murray why God made it necessary for everyone to die. Murray struggles to give him solid answers. He suggests that evil exists in the world, as does free will, but Jason finds those arguments unpersuasive. Furious at his circumstances, Jason throws his video game controller against the wall, breaking it. He wishes that Murray had died at 10 and allowed him to live to 100 instead. He sobs in Murray’s arms.