I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, So I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, The way you said I would. I didn't drink and drive, Mom, Even though the others said I should. I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom, As everyone is driving out of sight. As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, So responsible and sweet. I started to drive away, Mom, But as I pulled out into the road, The other car didn't see me, Mom,And hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say, The other guy is drunk, Mom, And now I'm the one who will pay. I'm lying here dying, Mom. I wish you'd get here soon. How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me, Mom, And most of it is mine, I hear the medic say.
Mom, I'll die in a short time. I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink. It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think. He was probably at the same party as I. The only difference is, He drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life. I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife. The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, And I don't think it's fair. I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave. And when I go to Heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl"; on my grave. Someone should have told him, Mom, Not to drink and drive. If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared. Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there. I have one last question, Mom, Before I say good bye. I didn't drink and drive, So why am I the one to die?
Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she walked toward home. The thought of being followed made her heart beat faster. "You're being silly," she told herself, "no one is following you."
To be safe she began to walk faster, but the footsteps kept up with her pace. She was afraid to look back and she was glad she was almost home.
Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me home safe." She saw the porch light burning and ran the rest of the way to her house. Once inside she leaned against the door for a moment, relieved to be in the safety of her home. She glanced out the window to see if anyone was there. The sidewalk was empty.
After tossing her books on the sofa she decided to grab a snack and get on line. There she could talk to strangers without being afraid. After all, no one knew who she really was and couldn't hurt her. She logged on under her screen name "ByAngel213". Checking her Buddy List she saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:
ByAngel213: Hi I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!
GoTo123: LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?
ByAngel213: Of course I do... LOL... I guess it was my imagination... cause I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
GoTo123: Unless you gave your name out on line... You haven't done that have you?
ByAngel213: Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.
GoTo123: Did you have a softball game after school today?
ByAngel213: Yes and we won!!
GoTo123: That's great! Who did you play?
ByAngel213: We played the Hornets... LOL..their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees... LOL
GoTo123: What is your team called?
ByAngel213: We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really kewl.
GoTo123: Do you pitch or what?
ByAngel213: No... I play second base. I got to go.. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me...Bye.
GoTo123: Catch you later.. Bye.
GoTo123 decided it was time to teach Angel a lesson. One she would never forget. He went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far. ...
Her name:
Shannon ...
Birthday: Jan.3, 1985
age:13 ...
State where she lived: North Carolina ...
Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall.
Besides this information he knew she lived in Canton. She had just told him, He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the seventh grade at the Canton Junior High School. She had told him all this in the conversations they had on line. He had enough information to find her now. "She'll be so surprised," he thought, "she doesn't even know what she has done."
Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ball park that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.
By Thursday Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her. Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely. He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the fear she had felt.
After the game he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on back of the shirt. He knew he had found her.
Quietly he walked a safe distance behind her. He didn't want to frighten her and have to explain what he was doing to anyone. It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car. Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.
Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room. "Shannon, come here," her father called. He sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why. She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.
"Sit down," her father began, "this man is a policeman and he has just told us a most interesting story about you." Shannon moved cautiously to a chair across from the man. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!
"Do you know who I am Shannon?", the man asked.
"No..." Shannon answered.
"I am your on line friend, GoTo123."
Shannon was stunned.
"That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14 and he lives in Michigan!"
The man smiled. "I know I told you all that... but it wasn't true. You see, Shannon, there are people on line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But while others do it to find kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to give out too much information to people online.
You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. Your name, the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze."
Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan?"
He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
She nodded. "I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone.
Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there online. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it.
I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again."
"I won't," Shannon promised solemnly.
"Will you tell others about this so they will be safe too?"
"It's a promise!"
That night Shannon and her dad and Mom all knelt down together and prayed. They thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragic situation.
The day I died, was a common one. It was better to go back to my house on the bus after classes, but it was a very slow and long way.
I still remember the lie I told mom so she would lend me her car...I told her that many of my friends where driving already, and that I would consider it as a special favour from her to do it.
When classes ended at 2:30, I just dropped my books in the locker, because I didn't have to come back until tomorrow at 8:40 in the morning, so I went running to the parking lot anxiously to pick up the car, thinking that I could drive it the way I wanted to.
How did the accident happen? That doesn't matter. I was driving at a high speed, feeling free and enjoying it to the maximum.
The last thing I remember was that I passed another car because it was going so slow.
I heard the noise of the crash, and I felt the violent impact.
Pieces of glass and metal were flying everywhere, and I heard my own scream.
Suddenly, I woke up...everything was quiet and a policeman was standing by me. I also saw a doctor. My body was covered in blood, and in pieces. Strangely, I wasn't feeling any pain at all.
Hey! don't cover my face with that sheet!!! I'm not dead, I'm only 17, and I have a date tonight!!! I still have to grow and enjoy life. I can't be dead!!!.
After that, they took me to some place, and my parents had to identify me. I was very sorry they had to see me like that.
I was impressed with my mother's face when she had to confront the reality of the situation.
My father grew older in an instant when he said: "Yes, this is my son."
The funeral was very upsetting. All my friends and relatives came to see me. Some of them touched my hands and had tears in their eyes.
Please, somebody wake me up!!! Take me out of here!!! I can't bear the idea to see my parents so sad!!! My grandparents were hardly able to walk...my brothers and sisters were very sad...Nobody wanted to believe that I was actually dead, including me.
Please, don't cover me with dirt!!!
God, I promise you, if you give me another opportunity I'll be the most careful driver in the world!!!
I only want one opportunity...
Have you ever watched kids on the merry-go-round,
Or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly.
When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tommorrow,
And in your haste not seen his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast
Time is short, the music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before the song is over.
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