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January 25, 2006

liquor store shoot out

At seven, the phone rings. I hesitate. Should I answer it or let the answering machine pick it up. I came in early to get some work done and I am not in the mood to hear some lame excuse for not coming to school from one of my students.

"Good Morning"

"I won't be in today." It's Jamie and I don't hear the usual fake cough. Instead there is a slightly uneasy tremble in her voice.

"What's up Jamie?"

"I just can't.... It's my boyfriend - he...", her voice begins to crack. She begins to break up emotionally and I can not make out what she is saying.

"Wait a minute Jamie. Let me turn the volume up. Ok, now tell me again."

She continues to cry for a few seconds more. Finally she blurts out that her boyfriend was shot at the liquor store only a few blocks from her house.

He was dead.

She was not with him when it happened - some friends had to tell her. Why? How? But I don't ask. I don't want to upset her even more. She well tell me later.

"I'm so sorry Jamie", I tell her but it comes out sounding mechanical like a recording. I have said the same words too many times before.

"Where are you Jamie? Are you at your mom's?"

"Yes"

"Ok, just stay there and don't come in. When is the funeral?"

"I called his sister and I think it will be this Saturday."

"Ok, just stay out till next week and we will talk then." I make a mental note to let the school pschycologist know.

I sit stunned and drained. I stare at the pile of algebra class work on my desk waiting for me to grade and record. Slowly I compose myself and begin preparing for the day.

Students will be arriving soon and I have give each of them a cherry "Good morning". Many of them will have their own trajedies to tell me.

Posted by roadapples at January 25, 2006 05:07 AM

Posted by: Fred at January 25, 2006 08:21 PM

Posted by: poopie at January 26, 2006 03:42 PM

Posted by: colleen at January 30, 2006 02:45 PM