January 2018

Rhody Leyman just moved to Brooklyn, New York with a couple of his friends from undergrad, Marty Maxwell and David Hancock. He had spent a day or two unpacking and everything. Then, he went out partying with his roommates and a few of their friends.

A week after moving from Chicago, Rhody woke up with a sore throat and a headache. It was a Saturday, so he could at least spend this weekend to recover from the move and the partying. He slept the whole day, and he lay on his stomach. His ear was on his pillow, and with the congestion in his head, he could hear his heart beating softly through his ears.

June 2019

Levi Cranston and Kevin Maggliardi had just finished a run along the Charles River in Boston. They sat along the river to catch their breath and regain their composures.

“Did I tell you the story about when Jack, Rhody Leyman, and I came home from an impromptu trip to Milwaukee?” Levi asked Kevin.
“I love Milwaukee, and no. You may have told me this story, but I don’t remember,” said Kevin.
“You’ve met Rhody before when he was here. The light brunette loud mouth.”
“He’s such a cool guy, though. I introduced him to my brother, Graham. Since they both live a block from each other in Brooklyn. When they both first met, they hit it off so well, and they acted like they were best friends.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty great,” Levi remarked.
“So, about this trip. Remind me what happened,” Kevin said.
“It was during the summer when Jack and I were going to be seniors, and Rhody just graduated. So, ‘13, I think. We spent a weekend in Milwaukee and were supposed to come home Sunday night. There was so much going on our way home, including traffic, that we didn’t get home until about 4 am. So instead of us going out separate ways once we came home, Rhody let us spend the rest of the night at his place. And the three of us didn’t wake up until at least 4 o’clock in the afternoon.”
“Yup. I remember that story. Similar situation with me and my two brothers. My sister wasn’t with us since she had a prior commitment. It sucks not coming home when you want to.”
“Yeah, we were super super exhausted by the time we came back,” Levi said.
“Why didn’t Asad and Savino come with you?” Kevin asked.
“I honestly don’t remember.”​

Summer 2019

Rhody Leyman and his friend, Graham Maggliardi, Kevin’s older brother, spent an evening on the rooftop of Graham’s Brooklyn, New York apartment building. They brought their lawn chairs and a few beers out and decided to contemplate life for an hour or two. It was just the two of them for the time being, so that was nice.

“My heart has been beating very fast recently,” Rhody remarked after a few minutes of silence between the two of them.
“You alright?” Graham asked.
“I think it’s my anxiety and all. I’ve dealt with this most of my life, and of course my shrink knows about it. There’s one thing I’m not sure you all know about.”
“What is it?”
“I actually have two last names. I usually just go by Rhody Leyman, but my real name is Matthew Bacaluso-Leyman. Those are my dad’s last names as well,” Rhody remarked.
“I like it,” Graham replied. “How are you feeling right now?”
“I’m alright now. It happens every few hours. This afternoon, my heart was pounding so hard that I almost threw up because of it. I’m gonna tell my shrink about this when I speak with them again.”
“You gonna play rugby tomorrow with everyone? Boyfriend Ayaan wanted me to ask you.”
“I hope I’m up for it. Depending on how I feel, of course.”
“Yeah, just let me know. I’ll hang out with you if you don’t.”
“You got a deal.”

January 2022

Levi Cranston’s friend and former neighbor, Rhody Leyman, visited Levi and his friends in Boston for a long weekend. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York, so not too far away.

One morning that he was with them, he, Levi, and Kevin Maggliardi went on a run along the Esplanade. Kevin tripped on nothing and ended up in the hospital with a broken foot.

When the three boys came back that afternoon, everyone lay low for the rest of the day by watching TV and eating pizza. Kevin lay across one couch with his broken foot elevated on two pillows.

January 2022

It was around New Year’s Day, and Levi Cranston and his friends had spent the holidays in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they live. His good friend and old neighbor, Rhody Leyman, was going to visit them for New Year’s Eve, but his trip to Valparaiso, Indiana was extended to another week because he was hit very hard with the flu.

“Hello?” Rhody answered the phone on his end.
“Hi Rhody,” Levi responded.
“Hey. How are you doing?”
“Not bad, sad you’re not here. How are you feeling?”
“Well, I could be better. I’ve been throwing up pretty much the whole day for about two days. My flight to Boston has been pushed back to next Monday. Hopefully I feel better by then,” Rhody said.
“Better late than never,” Levi remarked. “You’d drive from Boston back to your place in Brooklyn, right?”
“Right now, that’s the plan.”
“How are your dad and your stepmom, Estrella?”
“They’re fine. Jayneley and her wife stopped by. You know they live in Grayslake, Illinois now. Right?”
“Yep. I guess they live right by my older half-sister, Louise. My other half-sister, Elizabeth, and younger sister, Evelyn Maeve, live in Boston as well. Olivia lives by you in Brooklyn. And Victoria and her little family live in Plymouth, Indiana.”