A friend in Deed

People think so much about things that really are not that important in life, so many materialistic and secondary things.

A friend once said to me when I was a bit down: "tell me, what isn't there to live for? you are confident and intellegant. Think of the money you could make! You could strive to be a highly successful bussinessman. Imagine the achievements and awards waiting for you! He was a positive and optimistic person, ever smiling and his laughter would bring us all in and we could share it's bliss.

 

2 years prior

We were all there last night, him with his jet black hair and penetrating blue eyes, he was a

friend's friend. I did not like him, and he not me. But, we managed to keep it civil whenever

we found ourselves around eachother. I am not sure why I didn't like him, not actually sure

if I had a reason at all, it just was.

As I walked down the broken driveway, I looked to my left and found an old 80's lotus, white,

a nice car, almost pristine condition. I continued on noting a couple more refurbished older

make and model cars all looking impressive in their own rights. Finally I reached the run

down garage, it was the garage of a middleclass family, it wasn't bad, but it definitely

wasn't great. All the usual junk was pushed to the side and hid behind a curtain. A rusty and

beaten tabletennis table was situated in the middle of the floor with some lesser couches

spralled out around it.

Comfortable.

A good place for a nice quite birthday.

Being one of the first to arrive, I got the ice and filled the bathtub out the back, started

stacking the beers making sure to hide the good ones. This night should be a good one. As the

people started to arrive I helped to show them around, which didn't take long and after no time

at all everyone had turned up and the poker game got going. Me? I was the dealer, purely by

choice. It is against my stingey nature to risk money and anyway I am good with cards.

Towards the end of the game the birthday boy finally hit the front (with only a little help),

everyone was laughing having a great time.

As the game wound down the pizza was ordered and the ever irratating ping pong was sounding

throughout the garage. During this crazy and beer sodden night I had successfully managed to

limit my conversation to that guy to a: "Hey, Hows things?" and a:"Not too bad, going along

well". Just the general plesantries. But now the evening was wearing on and the energy levels

dying down. It was D&M time, the serious conversations were coming out. The "what are going

doing after school this year?" and the "How do you think you will go with this year?" the two

most talked about topics of the year. I managed to get caught up in a conversation with him

about such questions and it didn't take long to ask myself why I had an innate dislike for

this guy. He seemed good and genuine, but gut feelings are gut feelings and damn hard to

deny.

The pizza was wearing thin and a couple of people left, it was definite winding down time.

However, the music was still blaring and the screams and shouts of over exicted or frustrated

people still filled the air and I had moved on to more comfortable conversations with my

friends and the birthday boy. It was near to midnight when my phone rang. It was my mum, she

was outside waiting for me. I quickly got to my feet, mum wasn't the type to keep waiting,

said goodnight to those around me. When I said a general goodnight to everyone else, at that

stage it was probably only ten people or so, I got no response. No one had heard me. Not

surprising though, after all I am generally a quite person. When I said it again a little

louder to still no reaction, I was going to just ditch, I had said night to the birthday boy

that was all the mattered. So I turned to leave.

That is when I heard him. He yelled across the room: "Hey! Guys! Macca is going!". He managed

to get everyone's attention. I could see a hint of a smile creep across his face and he

nodded his head. He definitely wasn't as bad as I and thought him to be. He was indeed a nice

guy and kind hearted as I found out later. Saying my farewells I left. I was happy, quite a

feat during what is the most pressure filled year of schooling.

The next morning I woke at midday still a little hungover and groggy from the night before.

After going downstairs and grabbing a bite to eat, I switched on my computer, as soon as I

logged into msn, a message popped up from a friend. I nearly fainted. I am not normally very

emotional. Actually I am naturally quite distant and remote. This however

rattled my bones. My only response to the news was: "this is some kind of joke right". But,

of course it wasn't. People at my school might love jokes and mucking around, however, none

would go this far, this was a line that just wasn't crossed. The my first thought was to ring

the birthday boy and make sure he was ok, well as ok as he could be. One of his best mates

had just died the night of his birthday.

It was the middle of the mid-year break that his funeral was held. ninety percent of the

students in our year level turned up. He hadn't been that popular, but we had lost one of our

own. All in school uniform we made an honour guard as his best mates and family carried him

out of our glorious chapel. It was a sight etched into the hearts and minds of all that were

there.

A freak accident claimed the life of that boy, so young he was. A trip, a fall and a hit head

and such was life. A man I had seen but a few hours before brimming with happiness, radiating

joy. A friend, new maybe, but a friend nonetheless. Life can be short.

So I told that friend of mine: "The question is not about striving, achieveing or about what

to live for. The question is about what makes you happy. Because in this life of randomness

anything can happen, will happen. When it does, you want to be happy. Happy about your life

and with your life. Everything else is secondary." I turned my back and walked away, letting

him ponder those words.

Reviews

[deeps]

Died on the night of his birthday how sad,
This is amazing story here.
Wonderful details and imagery in this.