In Memory of Jewel Johnson
**Note: I wrote this in 2005**
**NON-FICTION
*=Paragraph
*I remember it like it was yesterday. The day was July 18th, 2003, one of the worst days of my life. It was supposed to be a good day because my mom was having my sixteenth birthday party one day early. My best friend Alison and I were sitting on the floor of my bedroom, playing cards when the phone rang. As I answered the phone I said in a clear voice, "Hello?"
*"Tiffany?" I heard my dads voice in a low tone.
*"Yes, this is she." I replied.
*"I cant talk long but I have some bad news." My dad proclaimed.
*"What is it?" I demanded.
*"Jewel died this morning." He answered.
*"WHAT?" I remarked in shock. I could not believe what he had just told me. My heart started to flutter and my knees were shaking. I ALMOST forgot how to breathe as I tried to hold back my tears. Then I started to daydream about the time she had taken my side against my dad over a piercing. I smiled to myself because it was funny. Then I snapped back to reality and I didn't know what to say back to him.
*"I will let you go and pick you up tomorrow." He said.
*"Okay." I agreed.
*As I hung up the phone, I started to cry. Alison had asked what was wrong but I could not answer her right away. Then my mom entered the room asking who has just called.
*"Daddy." I answered. I could not help but to cry harder. Then she asked what was wrong with me. I told her the shocking but very painful news my dad had just given me. The only words I remember her saying back to me were, "I'm sorry."
*I turned to continue the card game with Alison.
*"Who is Jewel?" Alison asked.
*"My step-grandmother." I answered. Then I started to cry again. I felt like canceling my party because I had nothing to be happy about. I was so hurt about what had happened to Jewel.
*When my dad picked me up the following evening, we went straight to the church. Once inside, my dad had asked if I wanted to go to the casket, I had to answer him with a "no" because I knew I would cry more. I tried not to cry to be strong for my step-mom Dee Dee, but it didn't work. I probably made it ten feet in front of the casket and started to cry once again. I just kept staring at the casket wondering was this a dream. Was this really happening? It felt so surreal.
*Later that night, we all ended up staying overnight in the church. I didn't want to go to sleep because I was still sitting and staring at the casket. My step-aunt Pam had told me to go to sleep, but I told her that I was not going to sleep because every time I tried to sleep, I was dreaming of Jewel.
*The next day was her burial. My step-cousin Brandon was a pallbearer. He could not get the nerve to carry the casket to the vehicle that drove to the burial ground. After we all tried to talk him into doing it, he finally did it. I was very proud of him. I know Jewel would have been proud of him also for doing the one thing that a person always hopes that he will never have to do.
*To me Jewel was like another grandmother to me because she treated me like one of her own grandchildren. She never made a difference in any of us. No matter what was going on she always tried to help if she could. She got up every Sunday morning and cooked breakfast for everyone. She was the kind of person who loved everyone. I dedicate this piece in Loving Memory of: Jewel Johnson.