Indeliable imprint
A part of my childhood is gone. Andy and I were in the same class every year. Chapman was an interesting school because everyone was friends with everyone except for one or two ostracized few. Andy and I were both left-handed and messy. We often got each other's papers back, our handwriting was indistinguishable. Andy also went to after school care with me everyday. In first grade, I remember Drew and Andy shooting hoops to win my hand as princess. In second grade, I had a crush on him. His father Ken was a regular at our school. He always wore shorts and he treated Andy like his best friend.
In third grade, it snowed enough to sled on while we were in class. That is a very rare occurance in Portland, especially down in the valley. The teachers said that we were to stay inside unless our parents picked us up. Ken, in shorts and knee-high socks, came and claimed Andy. Our classroom was facing the huge hill at the back of the school, and we watched Andy and his father dig into the clean snow with a sled the rest of the afternoon. We played on a baseball team together. He taught me swearwords.
In fourth grade we had the best teacher ever, Mr. O. Andy and I did crossing-guard together after school. We played socccer everyday, and I have a picture of Andy in front of goal post with his shirt over his head, doing a Cornholio (Beavis and Butthead reference) impression. Andy and Max Davidson were a comedic duo, and often made me almost pee my pants with laughter. Andy convinced Conrad Wolfrad to put the hamster and the gerbil on the overhead and let them fight, which resulted in Conrad being brutally attacked by the rodents when he tried to pull them apart out of fear. Andy, Aaron Lawler, Drew, Olivia Miller, Gregory, Marcus and I played tag every day after school until the sun went down. Ken usually watched us, one leg crossed over his knee, reading the paper. In fifth grade I went over to Andy's apartment, played video games and ate popcorn. He came to my birthday party every year, I have pictures of him holding my little brother.
In sixth grade, Greg, Andy, Marcus, Aliosha and I spent many days after school together just talking. They showed me their secret makeshift weapons and World of WarCraft. Andy took me to his boathouse and I dreamed of coming in the height of summer so I could swim. Andy's dad used to take the corners really fast so Andy and I would smash together in the back seat, he called them "getting to know you" turns. I had a crush on Andy that year again. I can remember his voice perfectly, and especially his laugh, it seemed he was laughing more than he spoke. His eyes crinkled up when he laughed and he had amazing dimples. He was always drawing hilarious characters.
Seventh and eighth grade came, Gregory fueded with Drew and the groups split up. I still saw Andy almost every time I went to the park, without fail, playing basketball with Greg and Marcus. I didn't really hang out with him until this year. I remember eating lunch about a month ago with him and his friends, when Jimmy Cranston came up and opened his locker. In front of everyone Andy said, "Of all the places for your locker to be, don't you think it's a little ironic that your here in this hall with us?"
I went to a party at his sisters house. I met up with him late at night at the park a few weeks ago, he and I talked for about a half an hour about old memories. I hugged him, he drove me home and we spoke of hanging out in the near future.
Ken does not deserve this in the least, I've never seen a father and son closer. What a kind hearted person. It makes me hateful and regret wasted time. If this seems unemotional to you, I must say now that I've been crying this entire time and there is no way for me to accurately express the sense of him. I love what Joey said, "how can you pronounce someone."
In third grade, it snowed enough to sled on while we were in class. That is a very rare occurance in Portland, especially down in the valley. The teachers said that we were to stay inside unless our parents picked us up. Ken, in shorts and knee-high socks, came and claimed Andy. Our classroom was facing the huge hill at the back of the school, and we watched Andy and his father dig into the clean snow with a sled the rest of the afternoon. We played on a baseball team together. He taught me swearwords.
In fourth grade we had the best teacher ever, Mr. O. Andy and I did crossing-guard together after school. We played socccer everyday, and I have a picture of Andy in front of goal post with his shirt over his head, doing a Cornholio (Beavis and Butthead reference) impression. Andy and Max Davidson were a comedic duo, and often made me almost pee my pants with laughter. Andy convinced Conrad Wolfrad to put the hamster and the gerbil on the overhead and let them fight, which resulted in Conrad being brutally attacked by the rodents when he tried to pull them apart out of fear. Andy, Aaron Lawler, Drew, Olivia Miller, Gregory, Marcus and I played tag every day after school until the sun went down. Ken usually watched us, one leg crossed over his knee, reading the paper. In fifth grade I went over to Andy's apartment, played video games and ate popcorn. He came to my birthday party every year, I have pictures of him holding my little brother.
In sixth grade, Greg, Andy, Marcus, Aliosha and I spent many days after school together just talking. They showed me their secret makeshift weapons and World of WarCraft. Andy took me to his boathouse and I dreamed of coming in the height of summer so I could swim. Andy's dad used to take the corners really fast so Andy and I would smash together in the back seat, he called them "getting to know you" turns. I had a crush on Andy that year again. I can remember his voice perfectly, and especially his laugh, it seemed he was laughing more than he spoke. His eyes crinkled up when he laughed and he had amazing dimples. He was always drawing hilarious characters.
Seventh and eighth grade came, Gregory fueded with Drew and the groups split up. I still saw Andy almost every time I went to the park, without fail, playing basketball with Greg and Marcus. I didn't really hang out with him until this year. I remember eating lunch about a month ago with him and his friends, when Jimmy Cranston came up and opened his locker. In front of everyone Andy said, "Of all the places for your locker to be, don't you think it's a little ironic that your here in this hall with us?"
I went to a party at his sisters house. I met up with him late at night at the park a few weeks ago, he and I talked for about a half an hour about old memories. I hugged him, he drove me home and we spoke of hanging out in the near future.
Ken does not deserve this in the least, I've never seen a father and son closer. What a kind hearted person. It makes me hateful and regret wasted time. If this seems unemotional to you, I must say now that I've been crying this entire time and there is no way for me to accurately express the sense of him. I love what Joey said, "how can you pronounce someone."