.... still didn't realize what had happened, until I heard my Grandma on the phone saying Ross had passed away. As these words came out, I went into a horrifying shock. It was one of the worst feelings I have ever felt and probably will ever feel. I didn't know what to say to anyone, I didn't want to talk to anyone, especially my Mom. I imagined how my Mom was feeling and began to sob even more. "October 6, 1998 - - - a day of doom." I thought. Memories washed over me and I began to laugh when I thought of him. It still felt as if nothing wrong had happened, and my brother was still near. A picture of Sonya, Ross, and I popped into my head, then a .....

.... what would happen if we tomatoed the Dahlman's house?" Ryan asked as we sat on the curb, both of us sucking on a frozen Mr. Freezie juice strip. We sat there for awhile, imagining the old man, stomping out the screen door with his fist raised and yelling at us, threatening to call our mother. Eventually he'd go back inside after he realized he couldn't find us, even though we were crouching behind the nearby pines at the edge of his yard. Still waiting at least ten more minutes (to see if the old crab would emerge from his door) Ryan and I would plan our escape route. A quick sprint down the road would bring us to our destination: the backya .....