Chapter 4

This weekend I’m so overwhelmed of everything that is happening at school. The peaked happen at Big Toby’s funeral. We arrived at Jasmine Memorial Park. It was such a gloomy day. I told my condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford, which they are Big Toby’s parents. From where I am sitting, I was so close with the casket of Big Toby. Then, the ceremonial started. Some of the people gave speech, Like the principal of Monty High, Mr. Archibald. Ma’id also said a couple words. But, something unexpected happen.

“Our next speech comes from Big Toby’s best friend. Kevin Atkins, please come to the podium” I was in shocked. I did not what to do. I was like a statue. I can’t even move. My mind is telling me to stand up, be a gentlemen. I stood up and went to the podium in a sad statement.

I said ‘Good evening, we are here in this day. Mourning of the loss of a legend. Toby Sanders-Clifford. Me and Big Toby are not to close. Although, I was the last guy to meet him, before he took his own life by speeding off the freeway. I, and all of our friends are devastated about this news. He have nobody by himself that day. He died alone. Let’s all pray to Toby, so he could find peace and meet him in heaven. God Bless Him’

I did not know what was I’m saying. The word just flowed from my mouth. I guess that came from my deepest heart. The casket was rolled down to the grave, tears were broke. Flowers started to rain above his casket. Then it was time to close the grave. It was started to rain. Black umbrella’s started to show up. We all left the Clifford’s beside their son’s grave.

When I was walking to my car, someone pulled my hand. A young lady who has the same age with me. I never see her at the school. She was Big Toby’s young sister. Her name is Kim Sanders-Clifford. She came from out of town. Her parents sent her to boarding school because she has an attitude when she lived with her parents. I did not know her. She asked me ‘Are you Baba’s best friend’ in my head, I do not have a friend name Baba. I asked ‘Who is Baba?’ She said ‘My brother, Toby’ this was another surprise. Life is full of mystery. I asked her ‘What do you need?’ She just wanted a trip home. I said okay.

The trip was quite far. The road was very slippery since it was raining. From the memorial park, everyone split up. Ma’id went to Gogoplex Mall. He asked me to come but I said no. He was trying to get over this Big Toby’s tragedy. I didn’t want to take the freeway. Instead, I took the back roads down the Forsyth Hills down to the Clifford’s house in Cresmont. But instead she lied to me. She wanted to talk to me about what happen to Big Toby. I said ‘If you want answers, I’ll take you to the place that me and your brother last met’

I bring her to Ralph’s. I said ‘Dang It, we took the wrong road’ I took the U-Turn to get me back to the freeway. On the U-turn. Kim saw her parents’ car. She ducked to be invisible from her parent’s vision. But suddenly, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford did the U-Turn. I told Kim to hide back in the trunk. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford caught up to me and told me to pull over the road. I was suddenly shaking. Mr. Clifford came out from the car and asked me ‘Hi Kevin, thank you for the keynote that you gave for Toby. We very appreciate it. If u need anything or help, you can just come to our house. Just like you helped our son’ I Replied ‘Thank you Sir, It’s an honoured to give that speech. He said ‘Well I better get going before Mrs. Clifford get angry’ He went back and did not asked a single thing about Kim. I Told Kim is safe to go back to the front seat again.

We arrived to Ralph’s. And Dee called me. She gave me a note, She said it’s from Big Toby.

Yeh, Snoop You Manager.