In my “tween” years, as they are called, I had a very hard time. So hard in fact, that in a desperate measure, I brought a BB gun to school in an attempt to put an end to lots of frustration.
I was forced out of the only home I knew, only to be thrown into a one bedroom apartment with my mother (who just got back from Texas) on the other side of town. It was 1992, so cell phones and the internet were not as dominant as they are now.
My mother didn’t live in a “good” area, but it could have been worse. The key problem for me was leaving everyone and thing I knew. Even though I was in the same town, I felt as if I was in a whole other state.
I was also alone most of this time as my mother just started working for General Electric, 2nd shift. She still works for them today.
So what does an 11 year old boy do in a strange neighboorhood, knowing nobody around? I went out and tried to make friends with other people around my age. This quest as it seemed to be, was one of the hardest things I ever tried to do. At the time I thought I only made enemies.
By the time school started (6th grade) all of the boys in my class literally hated me. They would plan events with the main focus being “how to hurt Lee.” They only backed off after I shot one of them with the previously mentioned BB gun, and pushed another into the path of an oncoming truck.
During this dark and trying time of my life, I only had one friend I could count on, Justice. He was very small for his age, a trait that I could relate with, as I was big for my age. We shared many interests and had great times.
Justice didn’t have a good “home life.” His mother was unable to work and had to support him and his older brother (Scott). At the time, I didn’t understand why they didn’t have a car or other things I just took for granted.
Around 1994 Justice was taken away from his mom for reasons unknown to me. He called me in 1995 and let me know that he had been placed in a foster home, and was in southern Indiana.
That was the last time I spoke with him, until Wednesday night.
I couldn’t believe the assortment of feelings that were rushing through me. It blew me away. He told me that he has been looking for me off and on for about 4 years.
From what he said, his life has been a non stop rollercoaster since I last spoke with him 12 years ago. I hope to see him up in Muncie next weekend.
Who said Myspace is bad, is wrong. I have done nothing but find friends I haven’t spoken to in years via it.
Heres to you Justice!