PDA

View Full Version : *Hankie Alert* From My Brother via E-mail



Kathianne
11-16-2009, 05:18 PM
He knows how to make me cry:


One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?

He must really be a nerd.' I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a
football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him... He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.' They really should get lives.

He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!' There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again..

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship..

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

' Thanks,' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.'

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile..

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way Look for God in others.

jimnyc
11-16-2009, 05:40 PM
Good story, gave me goosebumps even though I read a similar version once before. Poor little bastard would have knocked himself off if I was walking down the road that day!

Kathianne
11-16-2009, 05:43 PM
Good story, gave me goosebumps even though I read a similar version once before. Poor little bastard would have knocked himself off if I was walking down the road that day!

Yeah, the email said, "Oldie, but worth sharing." As for 'befriending', I was the kind of person that would have helped if I was having a bad day. On my good days, I was a bitch. But I do remember being understandably unkind, but unkind nevertheless. It was in 8th grade and I certainly wasn't the only one, but the boy committed suicide that summer, just couldn't face high school and more lack of friends. It's been a few years, I still pray for him and ask forgiveness.

HogTrash
11-16-2009, 05:47 PM
We have created a tough world for young people to come of age in.

They are growing up in a time of perversion, immorality and PC filtered truths.

I grew up in poverty but would not exchange my childhood for that of todays young.

jimnyc
11-16-2009, 05:49 PM
Yeah, the email said, "Oldie, but worth sharing." As for 'befriending', I was the kind of person that would have helped if I was having a bad day. On my good days, I was a bitch. But I do remember being understandably unkind, but unkind nevertheless. It was in 8th grade and I certainly wasn't the only one, but the boy committed suicide that summer, just couldn't face high school and more lack of friends. It's been a few years, I still pray for him and ask forgiveness.

Funny thing is, I had a "similar" incident. While walking home from school when I was in like 10th grade, I did the same to one of the more "plump" kids who I barely know. Instead of it being a joke, we ended up going across the street behind the library to fist fight - and where these people came from is beyond me, but the next thing you know there were like 30-50 kids watching us. The fat kid basically kicked my ass. The cops broke it up and sent us on our separate ways. The fat kid followed me and wouldn't let it die.I was afraid at this point and picked up a big ass tree branch. He pushed me one too many times and I swung the branch like a baseball bat to hit him in the shoulder area. It went off his shoulder and I hit him with that Louisville Slugger dead in the nose! Blood everywhere profusely and he finally gave up. His parents called my house and wanted my Dad to pay medical bills. He was out of school for a week and then cam back with a bandaged nose and 2 black eyes. And for whatever reason, he acted like I won the fight and avoided me, and I looked like a badass.

In reality I got my ass whooped for picking on the wrong kid!

Kathianne
11-16-2009, 05:55 PM
Funny thing is, I had a "similar" incident. While walking home from school when I was in like 10th grade, I did the same to one of the more "plump" kids who I barely know. Instead of it being a joke, we ended up going across the street behind the library to fist fight - and where these people came from is beyond me, but the next thing you know there were like 30-50 kids watching us. The fat kid basically kicked my ass. The cops broke it up and sent us on our separate ways. The fat kid followed me and wouldn't let it die.I was afraid at this point and picked up a big ass tree branch. He pushed me one too many times and I swung the branch like a baseball bat to hit him in the shoulder area. It went off his shoulder and I hit him with that Louisville Slugger dead in the nose! Blood everywhere profusely and he finally gave up. His parents called my house and wanted my Dad to pay medical bills. He was out of school for a week and then cam back with a bandaged nose and 2 black eyes. And for whatever reason, he acted like I won the fight and avoided me, and I looked like a badass.

In reality I got my ass whooped for picking on the wrong kid!

I don't know if that's one of those stories to save until your son is in his 20's or share to avoid problems in next few years! :laugh2: