Authors: Sharon M. Draper
NOVEMBER 8
âTyrone Mills? My name is Officer Casey, and I'd like to ask you a few questions. I understand you were in the car involved in the accident last night. I know you are upset, but it is necessary that we complete this report while the facts are still fresh in your mind. I'd like for you to tell me, in as much detail as possible, what happened last night.
âWell, the game was over âbout nine-thirty and we was all in a good mood âcause we won bigâby something like forty points, so we was gonna celebrate. Me and B.J. and Andy andâ¦andâ¦Robâwe left after we all got changed. Gerald was gonna come with usâ¦yeah, Gerald Nickelby, but he had to go home. His stepfather beatsâ¦uh, I mean, his old man is real strict. So it was just the four of usâ¦. Naw, B.J. don't play on the teamâhe's too short, but the four of us hang together. We been tight since seventh grade.
So, we get in the carâ¦yeah, Andy's car, and we start drivin' around, you know, just foolin' around, havin' a good time, yellin' out the window at old white ladiesâit always freaks âem outâ¦. Yeah, we was drinkin'âall âcept B.J.âhe don't drink. We had put about four six-packs in the trunk of Andy's car before the game. Since the weather's been so cold, puttin' âem in the trunk was as good as a cooler, so they was nice and frosty by the time we got to âemâ¦. Yeah, all of us was drinkin', âcept B.J., like I said, but Andy probably had the most. He was in a
real
good mood âcause this girl named Keisha had started goin' with him and he was goin' over to her house after he took us home.
After a while the car started to sway, but I wasn't sure if it was me gettin' dizzy or if the car really was weaving across the expressway. At the time it seemed really funny. We was laughin' so hardâespecially when people started honkin' at us. The more they tried to signal us, and I guess, warn us, the more we was crackin' up and laughin'. Rob had his feet up on the dashboard, partly actin' silly, and partly âcause his legs was so long that they got cramped in that little car of Andy's. Me and B.J. was in the backseat. I was sittin' right behind Andy, and B.J. was sittin' next to me, behind Rob, âcause he had the shortest legs, and Rob could push the seat all the way back.
Then, all of a sudden, like outta nowhere, this wall was in front of us, like it just jumped out in front of the car, and Andy was trying to find the brakes with his foot, and then there was glass everywhere and this crunchin', grindin' sound. My door flew open, and I rolled out. I remember I was cryin' and crawlin' around on my hands and kneesâthat's the only thing that got hurt on meâI got glass in my hands and in my knees.
I got to my feet, and I helped Andy outta the front seat. His head was bleedin' pretty bad, and he was holdin' his chest like he couldn't breathe so goodâI think he hit the steerin' wheel pretty hard. We could smell gas real strongâit made me dizzyâlike the gas station smells when some lady don't know when to stop and she spills gas all down the side of her car.
By that time, B.J. had gotten out, and we was lookin' for Rob. He musta passed out at first, âcause all of a sudden we hear this screamin'. We ran around to that side but the door was bent shut and we couldn't get it open. All of us was screamin' by that time, âcause we could see his feet stickin' through the windshield. His legs was cut and bleedin' really bad. All we could see was these brand-new Nikes stickin' out the window, with the rest of Rob screamin' and hollerin', stuck inside.
So then Andy and B.J. climb on top of the car and start to knock pieces of the windshield out of the way, so we can try to get Rob out that way. But thenâ¦thenâ¦we hear this heavy, thick sound, like an explosion in a closed room, and Andy and B.J. is knocked off the hood. Me and B.J. grab Andy then, and we have to hold him back, âcause the whole car is in flames, and Rob is still stuck inside, and we can hear him screamin', “Andy! Andy! Help meâHelp meâOh God, please don't let me die like this! Andy!⦔
He screamed what seemed like a long time. Then it was real quiet. All we could hear was the sound of the flames, and little pieces of the car sizzlin' and burnin', and then the sirens of the police cars. I think I passed out then. That's what I rememberâand that's what I'll never be able to forget.”
NOVEMBER 15
âDear Lord, this is me, B.J. Carson. You know, the one You made too short. But that's okay; I know You had Your reasons. I know I don't pray very often, and I know You haven't seen me in church lately, but I feel like I need to pray or something. There's some stuff I don't understand about this accidentâlike why it happened and why Robbie had to die and why I didn't die. Mama keeps huggin' me, sayin', “Praise the Lord” and stuff like that. But what about Robbie's mama? What is she saying?
Is it my fault that Robbie is dead? I wasn't drivin'. I wasn't even drinkin'. Andy and Rob and Tyrone all knew that I didn't drinkâthey never bothered me much about it. I think they even respected me a little because of it. I told them that drinking at an early age had stunted my growth, so I had given it up in favor of other vices. (Actually I think beer tastes like boiled sweat socks.) So they knew not to push me. Maybe that's all I have left over from those days when I used to go to church every Sunday with Mama. So why do I feel so guilty?
I don't sleep so good at night. I keep seein' the fire and hearin' his screams and feelin' so helpless. He was too young to die like that. It's not fair. He never had a chance. Was all this done to teach us kids a lesson? Will it stop us from drinkin' and drivin'? Maybeâa few. But the rest will keep on doing it, no matter what. So I still don't understand why.
Mama says the Lord knows all, and that He in His infinite wisdom knows the reason for all things. But Mama is gettin' old, and she's known a lot of people who've died, so she probably understands all this death stuff a whole lot better than I do.
Maybe I shoulda tried to stop them that night. Maybe I shoulda been drivin'. But I'm always so glad that they include me in their group, I hardly ever try to change their plans. I'm just glad to go along. Actually, I never really understood why they like me. They're all tall, popular with the girls, and basically outrageous. Me, I'm shortânever once made the basketball teamâkinda quiet, and still unsure of myself when it comes to girls. But somehow, I was always “one of the boys”âand the four of us did everything together, ever since seventh grade. And I've just been glad that I had such good friends. Now one of them is gone and I feel responsible.
I think I'll go to church with Mama this Sunday. I know people will say that it's because of the accident that I came back to churchâwell, they're right. I'm not too proud to know when a problem is bigger than I am. Of course most things in life are bigger than I am, but I'm learnin' to live with it.
Please, Lord, help me to learn to live with this too. Thanks for listenin'. See you Sunday.
NOVEMBER 16
Rhonda Jeffries
English Homework
November 16
Personal Essay
TopicâMy Most Frightening Moment
Last week I learned that kids my age could die. That was the most frightening experience I ever had. A boy that I knew real well, that sat next to me in study hall, died in a car crash.
It all started at school on the day before the basketball game. We were all sitting around on the steps of the school, talking about nothing, really. I think Gerald was complaining how ugly everything lookedâthere were no leaves on the trees, and everything was all muddy from the last time it had snowed. Our school building must have been built about a million years ago, because it was brown and tall and raggedy-looking, but it fit right in with the rest of the day.
Then Robbie said he knew how to brighten up any day. He talked about “bottles of sunshine” that were sitting there on the shelves of the liquor store on 4th Street. Andy said he knew how to get some beer and he'd have it the next day after the game. The bell rang then and we went to class. I forgot all about the conversation until I heard on the news that Robbie had been killed.
The next day everybody at school was cryingâeven the people who didn't know Robbie, even the teachers. That's all everybody talked about all day long. They even had TV cameras here, getting close-ups of kids crying and stuff.
I didn't cry. I felt really sick insideâand mad at Andy and them for drinking in the first place. I thought we'd all come back for our reunions and then we'd get old, and then, when we're so old it doesn't matter anymore, we'd die. But he's dead already. I didn't think it was possible. And that's why it's so scary.
THE HAZELWOOD HERALD
NOVEMBER 16 *** SPECIAL EDITION
Robbie Washington, captain of our basketball team, was killed after the November 7 game in a terrible automobile accident.
A memorial service was held here at school last week where students, teammates, and staff expressed their grief.
Robbie always had a cheerful grin and a positive attitude. He was a talented athlete, and an honor student as well. Hazelwood will miss you, Robbie.
Canned Food
Drive Begins
The annual canned food drive, which is sponsored by the Unity Cultural Association, will continue through the Christmas holidays. The period from the Thanksgiving holidays through the Christmas season is traditionally a time when we become aware of those who are less fortunate. Each student is asked to bring at least 5 canned goods. The class that brings in the most will be given a pizza party sponsored by the U.C.A. This is a time when all cultural groups of our school work together for the betterment of man.
International
Guests
Last week, a group of students from French West Africa visited Hazelwood as part of the International Exchange Experience. They visited Madame Loisel's advanced French classes and amazed the students with their vast knowledge of not only French, but also English, Swahili, and several African dialects.
When asked what she thought about our school, Niafra Abundada, 16, replied, “Because your school is very large, very old, and very crowded, it frightened me at first. But even though I feel that the American students do not give enough honor to their teachers, I envy your freedom of expression, and I appreciate the friendship that you have shown me.”
The exchange students will return to their country after a visit to New York City.
BUS CHANGES
Students who ride the yellow buses are reminded that fighting and other undignified behavior will result in a suspension from the bus and a possible suspension from school. Vice Principal Leo Davis has said that all incidents of disorderly conduct and unruly behavior must be eliminated in order to insure the safety of all concerned.
Editorial
Comments
Last week, there were 400 people in the Senior Class. Today there are 399. One student became a statistic when he lost his life in an accident involving drinking and driving. Usually, statistics don't mean much, but this statistic had a name, a face, a basketball jersey, and friends. Every 18 minutes, every day of the year, someone is killed in a drunk-driving accident. Alcohol-related fatalities are the number one cause of death in teenagers. When will we learn?
On Giving
Thanks
As we approach the Thanksgiving season and start to collect canned goods for the poor (as if they are not hungry for the other eleven months of the year), we should all look around, and instead of complaining like we usually do, sit down, and truly give thanks for the blessings that we have been given. We are accustomed to whining about how small our allowances are, or how upset we are because we only have three pairs of athletic shoes, when there are so many around us who have
no
money, no homes, and no shoes at all. In addition, we have family and friends that care about us and we have the hope of a bright future. And, because we have learned that death is close by and can touch us, we must give thanks for the simplest and greatest blessing of allâlife.
SPORTS SCENE
Loss Stuns Tigers
The Hazelwood basketball team returned for its first practice yesterday since the death of captain Robbie Washington. Team members filed quietly into the locker room where Coach Ripley talked to them for over an hour. The team decided to forfeit the next two games and to dedicate the rest of the season to Rob and to try to win the title as a tribute to him. Andy Jackson was chosen as new team captain.
Ski Trip All Downhill
Let's face it. Most of us are city kids and we just don't ski much. Last week 51 students on an Ecology Club trip experienced the thrills of downhill skiing. Jean Gill, gr. 11, said, “I'll be back. It was live!”
TEACHER OF
THE WEEK
Coach Mark Ripley
This week we feature Mr. Ripley, head coach of the Hazelwood track and basketball teams. He began coaching 10 years ago and has led our basketball team to the city finals 6 times and to the state finals twice. He is married and has one son. Coach Ripley is very popular with the athletes, as well as the other students. He always has time to stop and listen if someone has a problem. He sponsors two S.A.D.D. groupsâStudents Against Driving Drunk and Student Athletes Detest Drugs.