|
Please,
God, I'm
Only 17...
It
was just an ordinary school day.
How
I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too cool for the bus. I
remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. "Special favor,"
I pleaded, "All the kids drive."
When
the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker. I was free
until 8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the
thought of driving a car and being my own boss. Free!
It
doesn’t matter how the accident happened. I was goofing
off...going too fast. Taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my
freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember, I was passing an
old lady who seemed to be going awfully slowly. I heard the deafening
crash and felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My
whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.
Suddenly
it was quiet. A police officer was standing over me. There was a
doctor and my body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of
jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn’t
feel anything.
Hey,
don’t pull that sheet over my head! I can’t be dead.
I’m only 17. I’ve got a date tonight. I’m supposed to
grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven’t even lived yet. I
can’t be dead.
Later
I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they
have to see me like this? Why did my mother have to face the most
terrible ordeal of her life? Why did Dad suddenly look like an old
man? He told the man in charge, "Yes, that is my child."
The
funeral was a weird experience. All my relatives and friends walked
toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with
the saddest eyes. Some of the boys were crying. A few of the girls
touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.
I
wish someone could wake me up and get me out of this casket! My mom
and dad are so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief
that they can barely walk. My brothers and sisters stare ahead like
zombies and move like robots. No one can believe that this happened
to me.
Please
don’t bury me! I have lots of living to do! I want to run and
jump again. I want to laugh and sing. Please don’t put me in the
ground. I promise if you give me one more chance, I’ll be the
most careful driver in the whole world!
Please,
God, I’m only 17!
~~~~
~By
John Berrio~ |