recognizing a face on a Dateline special
Every now and again I remember -- mostly just because I can't forget -- this one time my parents were watching some special broadcast about youths who'd voluntarily run off to the streets to sleep in abandoned buildings and under bridges, do a lot of coke and heroin while having unprotected sex and otherwise drastically lower their life expectancy.
They interviewed a few. I recognized one -- to my absolute horror. I hadn't just known her. She'd been a friend.
Her name was China and I knew her for the brief three years I spent in Tigard, attending Templeton Elementary. She had thick, dishwater blonde hair she liked to wear in a braid, was a little bit strange and one of the few kids I was actually slightly more athletic than. We rode the same bus home and every day I watched it drop her off at her house, which had a large fenced field with animals in the back. The China interviewed on the program also talked about being from Tigard and having grown up with horses. That was what convinced me there was scarcely any chance I somehow was confusing her with a different China, from Tigard (which ain't all that huge a suburb) who had grown up with horses.
I wish I remember more details about the program... mostly I wish I remember more about her. We moved from Tigard to Hillsboro when I was in third grade. I know I talked to her on the phone at least once after the move, but after that, we kinda broke off communication. I have this horrible -- what if I'd been there? Would it have made a difference in her life?
If I'm moving back to Tigard... and I am, next month... is there any chance I'll see her? Or is she far away? Is she dead?
They interviewed a few. I recognized one -- to my absolute horror. I hadn't just known her. She'd been a friend.
Her name was China and I knew her for the brief three years I spent in Tigard, attending Templeton Elementary. She had thick, dishwater blonde hair she liked to wear in a braid, was a little bit strange and one of the few kids I was actually slightly more athletic than. We rode the same bus home and every day I watched it drop her off at her house, which had a large fenced field with animals in the back. The China interviewed on the program also talked about being from Tigard and having grown up with horses. That was what convinced me there was scarcely any chance I somehow was confusing her with a different China, from Tigard (which ain't all that huge a suburb) who had grown up with horses.
I wish I remember more details about the program... mostly I wish I remember more about her. We moved from Tigard to Hillsboro when I was in third grade. I know I talked to her on the phone at least once after the move, but after that, we kinda broke off communication. I have this horrible -- what if I'd been there? Would it have made a difference in her life?
If I'm moving back to Tigard... and I am, next month... is there any chance I'll see her? Or is she far away? Is she dead?