The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

When Murray wakes, he is not in heaven; he is still in the hospital room with Anna, Collins, Della, Tiegan, and the doctor. The doctor gently scolds Murray for what he did and reminds him that he is in a hospital full of doctors who are obligated to save his life. Anna is upset with Murray but knows that he was trying to help Jason. The doctor explains that Murray’s heart is too big to donate to a child. In the bed next to Murray, Jason wakes up and asks what is happening. Tiegan jokes with him. The mood lightens. Collins kisses Anna on the forehead, and Jason and Murray exchange meaningful glances: Jason’s fourth wish has come true. Murray wonders how Jason will be able to do real magic.

The doctor takes Murray, Anna, Della, and Collins into another room to talk. Benedict arrives and explains that he has been distant because he “didn’t want to give [Jason] hope if there wasn’t any” (329). He goes to talk to Jason. The doctor explains that Jason might have only a few hours left; without a heart transplant, he has no chance of surviving. The doctor advises them to say what they want to say to Jason because the next time he falls asleep, he might not wake up. Enraged, Murray yells at the doctor to do his job and save Jason. He faints.

Murray wakes up again in a hospital bed next to Jason’s. Everyone is asleep except Tiegan. Murray is in a lot of pain and calls the doctor. When he arrives, Murray apologizes for losing his temper. The doctor forgives him, but he has bad news. Murray has advanced bone cancer and doesn’t have long to live. Murray is not especially troubled by this news and asks whether he should pursue treatment. The doctor suggests that he has had a long and full life; now, he can “die comfortably and with dignity, surrounded by those who love [him]” (336). Tiegan is visibly upset. Murray resolves to stick around until Jason dies.

Chance visits Murray, and Murray says that Chance can have his baseball glove when he dies. Chance is moved and insists that the glove is not why he is here. He tells Murray that he always looked up to him; he always wanted to be like his grandfather. Murray believes that Chance should just try to be himself. By now, Murray is struggling to breathe. He whispers to Chance that he is proud of him but is not sure if he hears.

Murray and Jason both survive the night. Chance and Benedict have said their goodbyes and are gone; Anna, Della, Collins, and Tiegan remain. The next morning, Javier Gonzalez arrives with a gift basket for Jason from the Cubs, which includes an embroidered baseball jersey and two season tickets for the next season. No one has the heart to tell Javier that Jason and Murray are unlikely to survive until next spring.

Murray wakes, and Tiegan is sitting next to his bed. He thinks that she looks like an angel. She quizzes him on baseball statistics, and Murray apologizes that he was not able to help her fulfill her five wishes. Tiegan explains that she had already completed one of her wishes when she made the list—she has played every position in baseball—so she has fulfilled three out of five. She thinks she does not “even deserve to have a list of wishes” (346). Murray insists that everyone deserves wishes. He reflects that he also had five: Jenny, his two sons, a dream baseball career, and meeting Jason. Tiegan and her mom are going out to get Jason more Milk Duds, but she promises that she will be right back. Tiegan says, “SBK,” kisses Murray on the cheek, tells him that he is her beautiful man, and leaves.

Murray wakes with a start and has a brief conversation with Jason. Jason explains that although superheroes’ real names are secret, their families always know. Murray is his brother, so he can call him Jason instead of Fog Shadow. Anna overhears and starts crying. Murray tells Jason that before they met, he was “an old, washed-up man” with “nothing to live for” (349). Jason brought him back to life and gave him a purpose, like magic. He believes that Jason has fulfilled all five of his wishes. Jason tells him that he is glad to have met him and calls him Mr. McBride. Murray insists that Jason call him by his first name.

When Murray wakes again, Jason’s bed is empty. He is overwhelmed by grief. His body feels old, like it is shutting down. Father James arrives and gives him his last rites. He tells Murray that he can be proud of what he accomplished with Jason. He can rest now. Murray clicks a button that delivers him morphine and drifts off to sleep.

Someone shakes Murray awake. It is Anna. She weeps and tells him that Jason is alive; he received a successful heart transplant. She believes Murray kept Jason alive through his love and friendship. Murray wonders why Anna sounds sad, but he is glad to hear that Jason will live. He dies knowing that Jason will live a long life and is happy when he sees Jenny and his sons. 

Jason, now 30, finishes telling his biographer his story. He remembers waking up from his heart transplant surgery to learn that Murray had died. He also learned that Tiegan and her mom were in a car crash that killed Tiegan. Despite her grief, Della immediately called the hospital and offered Tiegan’s heart to save Jason. When Jason recovered, he became a magician and used his career to fulfill Tiegan’s last wish: raising a million dollars to donate to people who are unhoused. In the pursuit of his goal, he has let his family relationships fall apart, but tonight, he will reach his goal. Collins, Della, and Anna arrive to see the show. Della tells Jason “SBK” and says that Tiegan would be proud of him. They all embrace. Jason begins his show and sends a thank-you up to Murray and Tiegan.