It was a sad time for the Cunningham family. It was the month of November. The last three days had been sad for the Cunningham family because the father, Howard Cunningham was on his last days on Earth. Marion found it hard because sooner or later she was going to be a widow. She and Howard had a good marriage and raised three children: Chuck, Richard and Joanie. Howard was in bed at the hospital because his ulcer was getting worse by the week. Marion stayed by his side daily. She couldn't leave him.

"Don't worry about me, Marion. I'll be able to come home. You'll see," Howard had told her.

She didn't believe him because it was getting worse by the day. The doctors told her he had to stay here at the hospital, so he had to be admitted. Howard asked Marion if he could see Richie, even if Richie was married with Lori Beth. Marion told him she would have to call Richie first.

"I'll call him at the house, Howard," Marion told her beloved husband.

Marion left the hospital at lunchtime. She drove their car to the house and called Richie and Lori Beth's house. Richie answered because he didn't have a job at the Milwaukee Journal anymore. He didn't have any luck finding a job at the newspapers anymore since he had gotten fired from the Milwaukee Journal when he had written his last column writing about his best friend Potsie Webber's son Henry Webber when he made a television comeback and gained forty pounds. Richie had called Henry fat in his column and his editor had fired him.

"Hi, Mom," Richie said when he heard Marion's sad voice.

Richie could tell his mother was near tears.

"What's wrong, Mom? You sound like you're going to cry," Richie said.

"Richard, your father wants you at the hospital. He requested you come," Marion said in her sad voice.

"I'll be there in a few minutes, Mom. Lori Beth and I have a PTA meeting at Richie's school tonight," Richie said.

"At a time like this? Your father might die any time soon. You should cancel," Marion told Richie.

"I can't cancel out on a PTA meeting like this. I know Dad is important on a time like this, Mom, but I just can't cancel out on a PTA meeting," Richie told Marion.

"Hi, Richard," she said.

"You know this is a matter of life and death, Richard. Go to the hospital now!" Marion said, tears coming down her cheeks.

Richie could hear his mother crying hard.

"All right, Mom. I'll go now, but I'm still going to that PTA meeting tonight, no matter what," Richie said and he hung up the telephone.

Richie remembered Lori Beth was out with Fonzie's wife, Tiffany that day, so he left Lori Beth a note if he was going to be gone for a long time at the hospital with Howard. He then took his car keys and locked up the house. He drove directly to the hospital. He went to Howard's private hospital room, which was room 381. He saw Howard lying in bed when he walked in.

"Good. Your mother gave you the message," Howard said when he saw his son walk in.

"Why do you want me, Dad?" Richie asked.

"I haven't seen you for the last few days, Richard. I thought we'd have a nice visit before I go," Howard said.

"You know your time is coming, don't you?" Richie asked.

"I do, Richard. You know your time will come one of these days and you will go. Same with Joanie. Remember Potsie's time came a couple of years ago. Now it's my turn," Howard said.

"I do remember what happened to Potsie, Dad. I know you didn't like him much, but he sure did admire you and he saw you as a father," Richie said.

"I know he did, Richard. He wasn't my son. You were," Howard said.

"I'll always be your son, Dad," Richie said, holding Howard's hand. A nurse walked in the room just then.

"Excuse me. Mr. Cunningham, your medicine," the nurse said.

Richie liked the nurse that came in. He knew she was young. He could tell she hadn't been in practice very long but was smart.

"How long have you been on the job, Nurse?" Richie asked.

"Not very long. Only a couple of months," the nurse replied.

"You're new then. I see," Richie said.

"That's right," she said.

"How long have you been Dad's nurse?" Richie asked.

"Since he got admitted here. A week now," the young nurse told Richie.

"I thought you were new," Richie said to her.

He saw her nametag read Cynthia.

"Cynthia, is that right? That's my niece's name," Howard told the nurse.

"You have a niece name Cynthia? Interesting, Mr. Cunningham. I'll see you later. I'm off to the next patient," she said and closed the door behind herself.

Richie stayed with Howard for a bit longer and then he remembered it was his turn to pick up Sarah that day.

"Dad, I can't stay longer. Today is my turn to pick up Sarah from school. I promised Lori Beth last night I'd pick up Sarah from school today," Richie said.

"All right, Richie. I won't keep you much longer if you have to pick up my granddaughter from school. She sure is smart for her age," Howard said, remembering she skipped a higher grade not too long ago.

"I know, Dad. I'll go now so I can get a head start and wait for her when the bell rings," Richie said.

"All right, Rich. See you later," Howard said as Richie gave his father a kiss on the cheek.

Howard watched his middle child leave the hospital room.

A few minutes passed and Howard was about to fall asleep when a visitor knocked on his door. Howard let the visitor knock on his door. He didn't even tell the visitor to come in when he should. He thought he'd be surprised to see who the visitor would be. He saw the visitor opened the door. He saw the visitor was his son's best friend, Arthur Fonzarelli.

"Hi, Mr. C," Fonzie said.

"Hi, Fonzie. Richard just left," Howard said in a tired voice.

"Mrs. C wanted me to visit you for a bit this evening for her. She wanted to help Joanie and Chachi with their children tonight with their homework," Fonzie explained.

"That's all right. Those are adorable children. Wish I could help them with their homework tonight. Reminds me when Richie and Joanie were little. I used to help Richard with his homework all the time," Howard told Fonzie.

"You can't help Red with his homework anymore, Mr. C. He's married now," Fonzie reminded Howard.

"I know, Fonz. Don't you have your own family to be with now?" Howard asked Fonzie to remind him.

"I do, Mr. C, but Tiffany was nice enough to let me visit my best friend's sick father," Fonzie said.

"That's nice of her," Howard said.

"See, Fonz, that's what marriage is all about. You help children with homework and give them advice," Howard told Fonzie.

"I know, Mr. C. My child ain't in school yet. My son Lester is still the toddler age. Whoa!" Fonzie said.

"Then you'll be thinking of putting him in preschool when he reaches the age of three, Fonzie. That's called head start, Fonzie," Howard told Fonzie, still in his tired voice.

Fonzie could tell Howard was tired.

"If you're tired, Mr. C, I could always leave now," Fonzie said. Fonzie thanked Howard for his advice on the toddlers.

"Marion and I put Richie and Joanie through head start when they were three years old. Joanie had to wait a year later because she wasn't ready for preschool like Richard was. She started when she was four instead of three," Howard said.

"You mean preschool works that way? Whoa," Fonzie said again.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"It can, Fonz. Now go so I can get some sleep," Howard said.

"All right, Mr. C. I'll chat with you some other time," Fonzie said and then he left the hospital room.