Antwon,
The first day of kindergarden, I made my first friend. It was a little light skinned boy who happened to be at my bus stop....which, I later found out lived right around the corner from me. You followed me around the playground & at the time I minded because boys had cooties. The next year, we both were in Mrs. Chickadances class & even though she randomly sat us somewhere in the room, you always were near me. I specifically remember when it came time to write our young authors book, you copied my book word for word, drawing for drawing. I got so mad but, you just tried to tell me great minds think a alike. Ha!
As the years went on, we built a friendship. You would come to my house on your bike with Antonio trailing along & we would ride all around for no reason. When 5th grade came, I remember the last day specifically. I remember I was kinda tearing up & you asked me what was I crying for. You told me there was no need to cry because we were leaving Harrison Hill & going to middle school. Ha, you were so excited about middle school.
When that summer came, you moved from that house. You guys moved across town & you went to a different school. We lost contact like some do. We would see each other every now & then & exchange a hello but, for the most part, we grew up.
I remember the day you died. We were in 8th grade. I remember that day because the car accident was on the news & when they released your name, I just kinda stood there in shock. You were 13, always a year younger then me, just 13, in the 8th grade & your life was taken away that quickly. I lost my first friend & it stunned me because I didn't know what to do. I remember my Mom not letting me watch or read the paper because there were pictures of the scene. It made me so sad because, I even remember the last time I saw you. It was at a game at South Side High School.....you looked all grown but, you still had that baby face. If I would have known that was the last time I would have ever seen you, I would of at least gave you a hug but, from you I learned that you just never know.
I still have everything from then. The newspaper stories, the newspaper obituary, the funeral program, the plastic card they passed out at the funeral with your picture on the front & Psalm 23 on the back. I remember I brought you a dozen white roses. Sat in the 7th row on the end. Your funeral was at the church at the corner of our houses. The houses we grew up just right around the corner from each other.
I still think about you from time to time. I wonder what you would be up to now, where you would be. It may sound funny but, I once had a dream about you. I had a dream that you pulled up to my house in a car. You beeped the horn & jumped out telling me to come get in, it wasn't the bike anymore. When I woke up, I couldn't shake it. For years I would pull out the yellow envelope that has all those things in it & just looks at the stuff so on this day I pulled it out to discover it was your 16th Birthday. Weird, right?
This day is fitting for you. You were my very first friend I ever made.....my first day of school, waiting on the bus. And the first friend I ever lost....
RIP to my childhood friend, Antwon Hollis.
Love Always,
Gerri
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