Summary

Ciro takes the 11-year-old Antonio to the doctor for a physical exam because his athletic son wants to play junior varsity basketball. Antonio gets a clean bill of health, but Doc Graham asks Ciro how severe his back pain is and examines his back. When he applies pressure to an area just above the kidneys, Ciro yelps in pain. He also notices some skin anomalies. Doc Graham gives Ciro a referral to an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic. The oncologist sees a black spot on Ciro's X-ray that is a tumor which was probably caused by his exposure to mustard gas during the war. The doctor tells Ciro he has about a year to live.

Ciro can't wait to get home to his family and wishes that the train would go faster. He stops to smell flowers and to take in...