Have you ever had someone close to you,

Or a parent of someone you know die?

I have.

My classmate's dad was killed on Wednesday.

Up near Santa Fe.

In a gasoline truck explosion.

Maybe you heard about it on the news.

His funeral is tomorrow.

Joey* was pulled out of class so they could tell him.

He was devastated.

In Science, instead of doing work,

We made cards for Joey.*

I know Joey.

He's an awesome person.

He was funny,

Always cracking jokes.

But, when he comes back to school,

He won't be the same.

I won't be able to attend the funeral.

I don't have a way to get there.

But Joey*'s best friend, Steven*

Is having all of Joey*'s classmates over after the funeral.

I'm going to that.

No matter what.

Joey needs support.

And we're going to give it to him.

Whenever my teacher told us about it

I was a thread away from crying.

I'll be there to give support.

I'll be there to help him get through it.

Because, in reality,

That's all I can really do.


*--> Names have been changed for privacy. If by any chance you know the real names of who I'm talking about, I would be greatly surprised.