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The driver did not hit the brakes
till after he had struck him. The driver said he never saw
anyone in front of him. This
happened at a park where my two younger brothers and I went
to preschool, and played. A park where I now play ball and
a place that makes me sad when I go there. I know the exact
spot on the ground where my grandpa's life ended. The skid
marks and chalk drawings where my grandpa laid are gone now.
I can remember where they were. I can also remember the pain
and how scared I felt when my dad told me that grandpa was
hit and killed. It scares me because I don't want this to
happen again to someone else that I love.
I never got the chance to say goodbye to
my grandpa because he never regained consciousness after being
hit. He died shortly after he arrived at the hospital. Some
times I wonder what his last thoughts were, did he think about
grandma, did he want to see me? I will always miss him. I
will always have moments when I am playing a ball game at
the park when I think of that awful night when a drunk driver
killed my grandpa.
My dad began speaking at these panels shortly
after grandpa died. He told me he was speaking to people who
had gotten caught drinking and driving and hoped that if they
heard how terrible it is to kill someone they wouldn't do
it again. I asked if I could speak too, because I want to
let all of you know this doesn't just affect adults. My younger
brothers will never get to know their grandpa. This didn't
have to happen.
I am not old enough to drive yet. But I
am old enough to know how it feels to lose someone I love.
That pain will always be a part of me. Most of you will not
remember me once you leave here tonight. I'll just be a kid
who lost his grandpa and took up your time telling you about
it. However, I hope that I can just make one of you remember
the next time you are out having a drink, to not drink and
drive.
Please don't drink and drive, because
drinking and driving can kill someone.
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