Post by thatdontmakeitjunk on Jul 11, 2021 18:32:36 GMT -6
An infant was killed in a crash Fourth of July near the Lake of the Ozarks shortly before 10 a.m.
According to reports, the child was in the roadway when 22-year-old [redacted] struck them with a vehicle.
The infant was pronounced dead at 11:09 a.m.
It was his grandfather's birthday;
they had gathered to celebrate.
His grandfather had finally made it to the end of treatment
for two forms of cancer and a heart surgery at 68.
His brother was three and half, beginning to understand.
[redacted] drove a 2009 Mazda 3
he was on his way to work
he did not notice, and did not stop.
[redacted] was reported as being sober and wearing a safety device
and I feel guilty now because my first reaction, when my sister told me,
was to ask if he was drunk.
He was drunk the last time I saw him at a Christmas party;
his mother showing off a new addition to the house, everyone speaking in hushed tones about the progress of my uncle,
in the midst of battling two forms of cancer and recovering from heart surgery.
Constant wine glass, [redacted] was anxious, on the brink of a worthless degree
comparing himself to my brothers,
fretting failure,
enduring derisive comments from a girlfriend that didn't last.
Our mothers have never been friends, he's always been news to me.
The biannual vacations where he was left behind,
his teenage parties,
his choice of college.
One headline:
17 year-old crashes SUV into tree, causing damage to powerlines,
intoxicated. They didn't print his name that time.
When no one is guilty, guilt is easy to find.
The celebration imploded,
parents drove back home with grief and their remaining son
[redacted] made it to work and was called back to the scene of the crime.
That night (I heard) he cried and paced
"I killed him"
I'm sure he drank
picturing the kid he'd practically raised.
And here I'm still asking for updates
I know the family's fractured, but in exactly what way?
Why did they choose to stay at the lake?
Do they talk, arguing culpability?
Why don't they force him into therapy?
Why is it the splinters are never smoothed?
Why do we allow the cracks to widen enough for someone to slip through?
According to reports, the child was in the roadway when 22-year-old [redacted] struck them with a vehicle.
The infant was pronounced dead at 11:09 a.m.
It was his grandfather's birthday;
they had gathered to celebrate.
His grandfather had finally made it to the end of treatment
for two forms of cancer and a heart surgery at 68.
His brother was three and half, beginning to understand.
[redacted] drove a 2009 Mazda 3
he was on his way to work
he did not notice, and did not stop.
[redacted] was reported as being sober and wearing a safety device
and I feel guilty now because my first reaction, when my sister told me,
was to ask if he was drunk.
He was drunk the last time I saw him at a Christmas party;
his mother showing off a new addition to the house, everyone speaking in hushed tones about the progress of my uncle,
in the midst of battling two forms of cancer and recovering from heart surgery.
Constant wine glass, [redacted] was anxious, on the brink of a worthless degree
comparing himself to my brothers,
fretting failure,
enduring derisive comments from a girlfriend that didn't last.
Our mothers have never been friends, he's always been news to me.
The biannual vacations where he was left behind,
his teenage parties,
his choice of college.
One headline:
17 year-old crashes SUV into tree, causing damage to powerlines,
intoxicated. They didn't print his name that time.
When no one is guilty, guilt is easy to find.
The celebration imploded,
parents drove back home with grief and their remaining son
[redacted] made it to work and was called back to the scene of the crime.
That night (I heard) he cried and paced
"I killed him"
I'm sure he drank
picturing the kid he'd practically raised.
And here I'm still asking for updates
I know the family's fractured, but in exactly what way?
Why did they choose to stay at the lake?
Do they talk, arguing culpability?
Why don't they force him into therapy?
Why is it the splinters are never smoothed?
Why do we allow the cracks to widen enough for someone to slip through?
