Christopher: The Devil and the Details.

They say the sun was just beginning to cut over the hill when the three cars collided. Witnesses say it was the worst accident they had ever seen. The local paper ran stories about it for a week but never mention the five people involved. I never saw the scene but like many I had a vivid picture of it running in my head like someone was holding a fisher price slide viewers up to my eyes. Speculation began to spread like wild fire thru school and town. Everyone was talking about the "crash" and about the rumor that someone survived the crash. I overheard a woman in the Sunny Mart say," I drove by that accident and I tell you no one could have survived... if someone did they had to make somekind of deal with..well with someone." Only a handful of people saw Christopher that morning, a few cops, myself and Mae's crew. Of all the people in the world why did it have to be Mae.

I study the flashing slides and hover over every detail until I feel a little ill. I see the twisted metal shine in the golden morning light. Everything is quiet and I think if I stay still enough I will be able to imagine where Christopher climbed from the wreckage. The wheels from the car are still slightly moving, there is the faintest trail of white smoke and a trickle of black oil running down the pavement...where is he... what car...I hear a faint sound in the distance that starts quietly and then erupts into the period bell. Math class in five minutes with Mr.Evans. I guess you'll have to wait Christopher like I have to ...

Christopher: I wanted to tell you how this would be...

Christopher and I didn't get to speak a word before two cops drove up, handcuffed him and carted him away around the path to county rd d. I rubbed something between my thumb and finger as two detectives escorted me into the school. I noticed Mae with her small group was watching the show. Their eyes fixed on me just until I entered the side door when I know all their heads would be on pivots saying things, like oh my god, did you see Christopher.. Oh my did you see...honestly if I never saw Mae again honestly I would ...Anyway,

the cops set me down in the art room that had a large window overlooking the pond in the front of the school. One detective lowered the blinds as the other started in, "Ok look here, we are going to make this simple, I am sure your a little confu,.I cut in confused! Yes confused. What are you doing with Christopher? The cop is unamused.. Look! I ask the questions..you'll sit and answer or you'll follow him. FINE! I held my wrists together and pointed my palms toward his head. He seemed to look in my direction but his expression changed as he seemed to be interested in something other than my gesture. I turned my hands inward and saw what looked like a pink piece of bubble gum but was more..let's say spongy. He pulls out a walkie and called out,"Jim we're going to need you in here...Now!" He then sits back down and in a very even tone like he was trying to talk me off a ledge,"Look, let me tell you how this will be, Jim will come in here take what your holding in your hand and then I will ask the questions. He takes a small breath."Understand?" Inside I wanted to jump up and smack his condescending face but I just nodded stared down at my feet and wished Christopher would cast another shadow.

A Spot of Blood.

Since, the announcement several stories have been buzzing around the school and for just a moment I decided to shut off and think about something else. I just wanted to be quiet so I cut gym to hide out and take a seat in our favorite spot. It was around 10 and the sun was beginning to warm my shoulders. I looked down and saw my black Carolina's had a thin coating of dust coverings them. The sun warmed patch of dried dirt and bleached grass was neglected by everyone except the burners, stencils, Christopher and I. Their wasn't enough space for the field hockey girls to run around smacking each others shins or the football boys to rattle their heads together so without the attention of the popular ones the grass went thirsty. For all it's apparent short comings the spot was perfectly hidden but had a great view of the track. Christopher and I called the spot the patch. I liked the patch. During Earth Science Christopher and I would hang out at the patch. He would smoke an American Spirit and I would solve all the worlds problems, or maybe just point them out. It always seemed easier and more entertaining to ridicule the other suckers that had to actually run around the track like groups of cattle while coach Shea would yell up into the air 5:55, 6, 6:05..Today I enjoyed Shea's cadence and began to drift away until a shadow crawled over my boots. I looked up to see Christopher. I jumped up and gave him a hug. Christopher seemed a little dazed and looked like he almost didn't know me. He seemed confused like a person sleepwalking or someone just waking up from a deep sleep. Then I saw the blood. Smears and blotches of blood were on his jacket cuffs and collar. He must have seen my reaction since his daze seemed to be replaced with a growing uneasiness. Christopher was just beginning to see the blood.

Not Here and Not There.

Mae didn't know what she was saying but everyone tended to listen to her. I watched from my locker as a small group gathered around her as she made up what she felt must have really happened. Drama. I guess some will use any situation to call attention to themselves. She must be speculating on who was in the car because the voice over the pa said "authorities still haven't notified parents" as for the reason we couldn't hear who was involved in the crash. Let her talk. I still haven't heard from Christopher. It's 9:20 am and I am suppose to be in gym. I am suppose to always be somewhere always every minute I am suppose to be occupied. Right now I just want go find him and sit down to a warm breakfast sandwich at the bagel nosh, with no time, class or Mae to irritate me.

Where was Christopher?

The hallways were silent except for the sound of fumbling paper as someone prepared to address the school over the pa. I remember it was a Tuesday. Tuesday was the day that Christopher and I would get breakfast sandwiches in the cafeteria before our first period. I liked Tuesdays until this Tuesday. Where was I? Yes, the hallways were silent first period had started, well actually it was time for first period but everyone was just siting waiting to hear what had happened. Christopher hadn't showed up that morning, no text, no call. He must have been in the accident. The fumbling paper stopped and then a long pause. A long exhale seemed to freeze everything. I remember being in the hall but was looking in on my earth science class. Everyone was waiting. Where was Christopher?

Something will have to make sense one of these days.

"Something will have to make sense one of these days," Christopher said as he turned to walk down the hallway to second period calculus with Dr. Fleming. The sun and overhead fluorescent mixed to create an uneasy overall over lite environment. I remember being frustrated by not knowing what Christopher exactly meant. He could be referring to how the recent departure of our friend was not now but soon would "make sense" or he could be bitching about how ridiculous it is to be herded around hallways like Pavlov cattle reacting to a bell that says when your conversation was over and when you should be in another room down the hall that looks exactly like the last hall you had earth science in or typing with Ms. Wingate. I needed to be in gym, but honestly couldn't remember if today was to be dodgeball or run around the track until I got a side stitch. Something needs to change and something will make sense one of these days, but for now true to form Christopher made a blanket statement so most likely with the intention that later I couldn't call him out on said speculation. I just had to wait and play along until I could see all the cards on the table.