He Will Be Remembered

He Will Be Remembered

[a true story]

I awoke and realized it was the first day of March. My body was filling with excitement knowing that my sixteenth birthday was only ten days away. I couldn’t wait for my sweet sixteen. I thought I would seem much more important to my friends and family members. I would be a year older and a year wiser.

About ten minutes later, I awoke and found the bus parked at Jack’s Market to wait for the students who hadn’t got there yet. I sat up in my seat and looked around. Jake, whom everyone called Rippy, was chattering away with Rusty and Buddy. All the little kids were quiet and trying to fall asleep again. Over my music I heard some talk of an accident that had occurred that morning. I thought nothing of it, and rested my head on the window and fell asleep once again.

Somehow I was always able to awaken myself right as the bus pulled into the drive to go to the high school. As I was sitting up, I noticed my ex looking at me. I quickly turned around and wound the earphones back up and put my ipod into my purse. Clayton had stopped the bus, and all the high schoolers started to get off. I walked into the dead building and automatically made for the bathroom to put my makeup on as usual.

After I had finished, I walked out of the bathroom and started towards the main hallway to get books from my locker. I noticed a large group of students sitting on the cold, hard floor crying and trying to comfort each other. Since I really only knew one of them well, I decided it wasn’t my business to ask what was the matter. I had forgotten about the accident. I walked by them silently and stopped at my locker. Trying to be as quiet as possible, I opened my locker door, got my Algebra binder out, closed the locker door, and walked towards the cafeteria.

My friends and I had always sat at the first table going into the cafeteria. The cafeteria looked more empty as usual. It looked sad. The whole school looked more sad than usual. I sat down and waited for friends to arrive so we could chat. Eventually my friends began to arrive.

I learned very quickly what was the matter. Why the students were crying. Why the school seemed so sad.

It was Jesse Norrell.

Jesse and his friend Noah had been walking along Jones Cove Road when a car had stuck him. Noah wasn’t hurt, but he saw what happened to his friend. It was the same road his mother was killed on a couple years before. No one knew how either of the boys were doing. How long it would be until they told us if he was going to make it. No one knew anything.

In first period, everyone was talking about the accident. I was telling another student, “Someone said the guy that hit him just left him there to die.”

“He did not just leave him there to die! He waited until help came!” Garrett snapped back at me, his eyes almost in tears.

I said nothing back. I knew not to.

One of my good friends, Alysha, was sitting beside me. She was telling us of the memories she had with him. Of the times in Wellness they would laugh at each other’s silliness.

“He was like my brother. Whenever someone was upset or sad, he could always cheer them up. I don’t think I’m going to be able to stand it in Wellness today. I don’t think I can go.”

A tear dropped from her eye. She wiped it away and tried to laugh at the good times they had had together.

Then the intercom came on, and Mr. Best informed us of the accident, but didn’t mention Jesse’s name just yet. He finished by telling us to pray for the student and leading us into the daily Moment of Silence.

Afterwards we all sat back down and started talking about the tragedy again. I hardly knew Jesse, but I’d went all through school with him. And as a result, I was also torn up about it. I couldn’t stand to hear about this. I felt tears stinging my eyes. I blinked them back.

A few moments later, the intercom came back on. Mr. Best started again.

“As most of you know, one of our students has been in a car accident this morning. Jesse Norrell was…”

I couldn’t listen anymore. I had zoned out. Finally I had started to listen to it again.

“…This accident has resulted in a fatality…”

My heart sank to my stomach. I felt the tears stinging my eyes again. This time they were stinging faster and harder. I started breathing heavily in attempt not to cry. I never did like to cry in front of people.

Then I lost control. Tears started gushing from my eyes. I quickly wiped them away as I sat facing the blank whiteboard.

Mr. Oescher asked if I needed to leave. I said I didn’t. I didn’t want to go outside by myself. Then Jasmine walked up to him and asked if she could leave. He let her.

As she was walking past me, I asked, “Are you going to the bathroom?” I had managed to stop the tears for a little while.

“Yes.”

“I’m coming with you.”

I just got up and left with her. As soon as we got out of the classroom, I started crying uncontrollably. We walked towards the bathrooms, but never went in.

Soon Chelsea came toward me. I could tell she had been crying, too. As she walked up to me, she started crying again, hugging me and putting her chin on my shoulder. I could feel her warm tears being absorbed by my shirt. Normally the feel of tears against me would make me sick, but not today.

We walked outside to find dozens of students trying to comfort each other. But none of it seemed to help anyone. The rain was pounding against the roof, which made it all more gloomy.

The bell to go to break rang. I was glad. I wanted to be around all of my friends, not just a few of them. But being in break around all of my friends wasn’t any better. None of them were talking. And when a few managed to say something, it was about Jesse.

Kayla and I walked past Jesse’s locker after break. There was writing all over it.

-R.I.P. JESSE NORRELL. I LOVE YOU.

-RIP JESSE. I’LL NEVER FORGET YOU.

-JESSE. WE ALL MISS AND LOVE YOU. YOU’LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED.

His locker door was standing wide open. Inside there was more writing, a vase full of red roses, and notes everywhere.

Jesse always said he wanted to die with weed in his pocket. So at his funeral, a friend made his wish come true. You could barely see it poking out of his jacket pocket. He didn’t look like himself lying their in his casket. His face was swollen and much too pale. I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to go outside.

I always figured the school would have the locker repainted because of all the writing. They haven’t yet.

I also wonder if they will use his locker ever again. I doubt they will. I hope not. That is Jesse’s locker. It shouldn’t belong to anyone else.

Jesse did not deserve to die. He was only fifteen years old and still had much more to accomplish in life. Whenever I read something about him, I picture him being struck by the car, seeing him in his last moments on Earth. I almost start to cry again whenever I think about him very deeply. And to myself I always think, “God, why did you take him so early? He was too young.”

RIP JESSE SHANE NORRELL. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

August 26, 1991-March 1, 2007