Summer 2020
“So my parents have decided to move to their house in Rhode Island for the time being, since Covid and Evelyn Maeve graduated from high school,” Levi Cranston said to his friend and old neighbor, Rhody Bacaluso-Leyman, on the phone. “Oh nice. So you guys still have that house as well?” Rhody asked. “Yeah, my parents have had that house for years. They own like 2-3 other houses as well. Two in Valpo, one in Chicago, the one in Rhode Island, and one in Connecticut.” “My parents only have the other house in Chicago that they go back and forth to. Now, since Jayne and I don’t live with them anymore, about 75 percent of their time is spent in Chicago. They stay not too far away from a couple of my friends who live in the Gold Coast, but technically they’re in Lincoln Park.” “Fair enough. I’ve actually been thinking about the house in Rhode Island recently,” Levi remarked. “Many fun times were had there,” Rhody replied. “Especially that one year when you brought me with you. Jack, Asad, and David had plans with their families, so it was just the two of us. And we were sick with the cold during the whole trip.” “Best and worst trip ever honestly. It sucked since we were both so sick, but we got out of some family stuff, which I appreciated. I remember one day when everyone else was out doing things, you and I watched cartoons for the whole day.” “And we had so much tea that day. We had a tea party.” “Yes, it was indeed a tea party. And everyone came home to see us passed out on in the common area.” “Did Mackenzie ever join you?” “Mom wouldn’t let me take her.”
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September 2008
“Hi Rhody, how are you doing?” Matthew Rhodes Bacaluso-Leyman’s (Rhody’s) best friend, Zach Niornski, asked over the phone. “Like complete shit. This started a couple days after my dad and I came back from our college visit in Evansville. Literally one of the worst colds I’ve ever had,” Rhody responded. “Sorry to hear that. But how was the weekend getaway?” “We were gone from Wednesday night to Sunday evening, and we had a blast. Didn’t realize how awesome the college is. As of now, that one is my top choice.” “And you’re planning to go into engineering, right?” Zach asked. “Mechanical engineering. And you’re planning to do something in computer science, right?” Rhody responded. “Yes, I think so. Just not sure where I’m going yet.” “Yeah. I just can’t think that far ahead right now.” “Did you go to school today?” “No.” October 2019
Matthew Rhodes Bacaluso-Leyman (Rhody) spent the morning out on a run with a couple of his friends. He had been feeling a little under the weather for a few days but started to feel worse today. He did not feel bad enough to stay home but did not feel well enough to stay out for too long. About halfway into their run, Rhody had to stop because he had a horrible cough and couldn’t catch his breath. “Rhody, you alright?” One of Rhody’s friends asked him. “I will be. Just need to catch my breath is all,” Rhody replied, breathless. “Rhody, you sound horrible. You need to go home.” “I’m going to be okay I think.” “You have no business being here. Your cough is horrible, and that will make things worse if you’re not too careful,” his friend told him. “Okay, fine. I’ll head home,” Rhody said. “I’m going to be honest, it sounds like pneumonia.” “Oh boy. Then fine, I’ll go get checked out.” “I definitely would.” “I’ll head out now, and I’ll see you guys later.” January 2020
Rhody Leyman just came home to his apartment in Brooklyn, New York after having minor surgery to put tubes in his ears after a few ear infections over the past eight months. He could have worked today, but he thought it would be best to rest up for the day. His friends, Graham Maggliardi and Allen Harris, stopped by to check on him. Rhody spent the day on the couch wrapped in his fleece throw blanket with his orange tabby cat, Topaz. He had a cotton ball stuffed in each ear. “Hey Rhody, how you feeling?” Graham asked. “Not as bad as I thought I would. I was pretty nervous about this one since I knew I’d be awake during it,” Rhody replied. “My ears are pretty sore, and I’m exhausted, but otherwise I’m doing alright.” “That’s good. How many times have you had tubes put in?” “This will be my fourth time. I’ve always had issues with my ears and fluid buildup. And we all thought that was resolved when I had my tonsils removed.” “When did you get your tonsils removed?” Allen asked. “I was like sixteen, I think. And this is the first time since then. They checked my throat and my nose, and my tonsils and adenoids haven’t grown back. And everything else came back clear,” Rhody replied. “No other problems?” “No. And the ear infections I’ve had recently weren’t awful, like I could still work and live a normal life. My ears were just sore.” “In case you were wondering, we got you a smoothie while we were out. Wanna hang out here, and we could get pizza for dinner?” “I’m totally cool with that.” February 2024
“How are you feeling today?” David Ingram asked his friend, Levi Cranston, over the phone. “A lot better than yesterday. I was sick like a dog,” Levi replied. “Was it just a cold hopefully?” “Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s all it is. Yesterday, I didn’t leave my bed at all.” “That sucks, man. Brody was sick like that a week ago. Thankfully, I didn’t get it as bad as he did,” David said. “I have been watching TV the whole day. I was gonna go on a short run, but I decided against it.” “We’re getting ready to go on our weekend trip.” “Oh nice. Where are you off to?” “We are driving along the Pacific Coast. Going from San Francisco to San Diego. And then flying back.” “Sounds fun. I’d love to go back to California some time soon.” January 6, 2019
Jack Andrews, Levi Cranston (The Magic Video Game), Asad Prejesh, Jing Hao, Kevin Maggliardi, and Mike Wong all ventured out to downtown Boston to hang out for a few hours. Levi’s girlfriend, Mackenzie Burbanks, was having a girls’ day in with a couple of her friends to watch movies. The six boys were at their favorite coffee shop during the middle of the day. They all went out for pizza, and now they felt like getting themselves a cup of coffee. It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and all six boys were sitting inside the coffee shop talking about nothing other than tennis. Jack looked over at Kevin and realized that he wasn’t nearly as talkative as he normally is. Kevin had dark spots under his eyes, which Jack noticed earlier today, but now he didn’t look well at all. His nose was very red now. “You alright, Kevin?” Jack questioned. “Yeah, I’ve got a really bad cold. I thought I could do more than what I really could do,” Kevin replied. “Yeah, take it easy.” “I think I’m gonna head back to Cambridge soon.” “Yeah, you probably should,” Jack said. “I’m like really tired all of a sudden,” Kevin responded. “Alright. Let us know when you get back.” “I will. I just started getting a pounding headache. Didn’t hit me in the chest like it usually does.” “Well, that’s good.” “Yeah, I think I’m gonna head out now. I really don’t feel well at all.” Kevin picked up his backpack off the floor and said goodbye to everyone. He headed toward the door toward the common, where he was going to pick up the red line to take him back to his apartment in Cambridge. Once he got back home, he was very likely going to fall asleep as soon as he could. The other five boys were going to stay out until about 5 or 6 in the evening, and then they were all going to get ready for the week ahead of them. “Kevin’s been really sick for the past couple days,” Jing said. “He sounded really stuffed up when we all met,” Jack replied. “Yeah, he has a bad cold. He told me that he might take tomorrow off from work to recover.” “Yeah, hopefully he will consider that.” “The only other time I saw him really sick was when he had the flu in college. Then, he got me sick with it,” Jing remarked. “That’s nice of him to give you the flu!” Jack chuckled. “I mean, I’ve seen him when he’s had a cold, but it didn’t hit him as hard as this one has. Or I might be wrong.” “Colds suck.” “The flu sucks worse.” “Yes, it does.” Jack was at their table with Mike and Jing. Kevin had made it home, and by the time he took off his shoes and lay on his bed, he was passed out. Chances were pretty good that once Jing came home, Kevin would still be sleeping. Their two other roommates went to New York City for the weekend, and they were likely not coming back until at least 9 pm tonight. Levi and Asad were at the counter looking at what desserts to get. Asad wasn’t sure what he was going to get, but Levi wanted to get something for Mackenzie. “I’m thinking about getting Mackenzie the fruit tart. What do you think?” Levi asked Asad. “She like strawberries, doesn’t she?” Asad responded. “Yes, that’s her favorite fruit.” “Are you getting sick, too? You sound really stuffed up.” “I think so. I hope Kevin didn’t give me his cooties,” Levi said. “He probably did,” Asad remarked. “I took a sick day on Friday because I was really not feeling well. I feel better now, but I hate my nose right now.” “Understandable.” “Get Mackenzie the fruit tart!” Mike greeted Asad and Levi. “That’s what I’m thinking about getting her!” Levi exclaimed. “What do you guys want to do after this?” “Cambridge?” “Okay!” February 18, 2024
“Best weekend of this year so far,” Levi Cranston said to his friend, Matthew Rhodes (Rhody) Bacaluso-Leyman, over the phone. “What did you do?” Rhody asked. “While everyone else was out on the town, Kevin and I had the whole day together.” “Tennis and Indian food again?” “This time, yes. We played tennis for a few hours. Then we went to my place, we spent over $100 on Indian food, and ate our weight in it. Jack and Asad walked in on us asleep on the couch,” Levi said. “Yup, story of my life. I could eat my weight in Indian food too,” Rhody replied. “The time before this, the two of us played soccer for a few hours. And then we ate our weight in Indian food and then fell asleep on the couch.” “I could eat my weight in chicken and waffles.” “Yes, you and your chicken and waffles.” December 2019
Matthew Rhodes (Rhody) Bacaluso-Leyman happened to be back home in Valparaiso, Indiana for the holidays. He was staying at his parents’ house, and his sister and her girlfriend stayed with them as well. His friends from high school, Levi Cranston, Jack Andrews, David Savino, Asad Prejesh, and Benny Wickford happened to be in the area as well. The second day that they were all at home, they decided to go out for dinner and drinks. They initially were going to stay out until about 10 pm. They ended staying out until almost 4 am. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” his sister, Jayne, said to him when she walked into his bedroom. “Shut up. It’s too early,” Rhody replied sleepily in his pillow. “It’s 11:30 in the morning.” “Too early.” “Sounds like you all had a great time last night,” Jayne said. “Yes,” Rhody replied. “You want us to save you some pizza bake?” “Yes.” “You’re not getting out of bed yet, are you?” “Absolutely f*cking not.” December 2019
Matthew Rhodes (Rhody) Bacaluso-Leyman happened to be back home in Valparaiso, Indiana for the holidays. He was staying at his parents’ house, and his sister and her girlfriend stayed with them as well. His friends from high school, Levi Cranston, Jack Andrews, David Savino, Asad Prejesh, and Benny Wickford happened to be in the area as well. The second day that they were all at home, they decided to go out for dinner and drinks. They initially were going to stay out until about 10 pm. They ended staying out until almost 4 am. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” his sister, Jayne, said to him when she walked into his bedroom. “Shut up. It’s too early,” Rhody replied sleepily in his pillow. “It’s 11:30 in the morning.” “Too early.” “Sounds like you all had a great time last night,” Jayne said. “Yes,” Rhody replied. “You want us to save you some pizza bake?” “Yes.” “You’re not getting out of bed yet, are you?” “Absolutely f*cking not.” February 2024
“How are you feeling today?” David Ingram asked his friend, Levi Cranston, over the phone. “A lot better than yesterday. I was sick like a dog,” Levi replied. “Was it just a cold hopefully?” “Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s all it is. Yesterday, I didn’t leave my bed at all.” “That sucks, man. Brody was sick like that a week ago. Thankfully, I didn’t get it as bad as he did,” David said. “I have been watching TV the whole day. I was gonna go on a short run, but I decided against it.” “We’re getting ready to go on our weekend trip.” “Oh nice. Where are you off to?” “We are driving along the Pacific Coast. Going from San Francisco to San Diego. And then flying back.” “Sounds fun. I’d love to go back to California some time soon.” |
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