Posted By: Sheri (http://www.sherisweb.com) on 'English'
Title:     Teen drivers cautioned
Date:      Fri Aug 20 09:17:32 1999

PLEASE GOD, I'M ONLY 17

The day I died was an ordinary school day.  How I wish I had taken the bus.  
But I was too cool for the bus.  I remember how I wheedled the car out of 
Mom, "Special favor," I pleaded.  "All the kids drive."

when the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker.  I was free 
until 8:40 tomorrow morning!  I ran to the parking lot, excited at the 
thought of driving a car and being my own boss.  Free!

IT DOESN'T matter how the accident happened, I was goofing off - going too 
fast.  Taking crazy chances.  But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun.  
The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going 
awfully slow.  I heard the deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt.  Glass 
and steel flew everywhere.  My whole body seemed to be turning inside out.  I 
heard myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet.  A police officer was standing over 
me.  Then I saw a doctor.  My body was mangled.  I was saturated with blood.  
Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over.  Strange that I couldn't 
feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head!  I can't be dead.  I'm only 17.  
I've got a date tonight.  I'm supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life.  
I haven't lived yet.  I can't be dead!

LATER I WAS placed in a drawer.  My folks had to identify me.  Why did they 
have to see me like this?  Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she 
faced the most terrible ordeal of her life?  Dad suddenly looked like and old 
man.  He told the man in charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience.  I saw all my relatives and friends walk 
toward the casket.  They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the 
saddest eyes I've ever seen.  Some of my buddies were crying.  A few of the 
girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up!  Get me out of here!  I can't bear to see 
my mom and dad so broken up.  My grandparents are so racked with grief they 
can hardly walk.  My brothers and sisters are like zombies.  They move like 
robots.  In a daze, everybody.  No one can believe this.  And I can't believe 
it, either.

Please don't bury me!  I'm not dead!  I have a lot of living to do!  I want 
to laugh and run again.  I want to sing and dance.  Please don't put me in 
the ground.  I promise if you give me one more chance, God, I'll be the most 
careful driver in the whole world.  All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17!
 



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