~Chapter 4: Lewie~
I'm supposed to write about my friendship with Gerry Bertier. To be honest, Gerry and I weren't real close. We were friends and all, but I don't really know if I have a story to tell. I didn't know him like Julius or even Sunshine did. But I'll try.
I guess Bertier was sort of like the big brother of the team. He and Big Julius would stick up for any of us. We were all a big family in a way. I had just moved to Alexandria the year the schools were integrated. I tended to stick closer to the black kids than the white kids, and the black coach, Herman Boone, helped me get into college.
Alot of kids made fun of my weight, but they figured out quick that they better not let Gerry or Big Julius hear 'em. Once a kid was calling me "fatso" and singing "Fatty, Fatty, 2 by 4." I didn't do anything, 'cause I figured it wasn't worth fighting over, but Gerry walked up behind the kid and tapped him on the shoulder. The kid turned around, and Gerry stood tall to get the full affect of his height and puffed out his chest a little to show off his muscle. The guy was like, 6'4", for pete's sake. And then he said, "Hey, kid, Lewie's a Titan. And nobody, I mean NOBODY messes with a Titan. At least not when I'm around."
The kid, who was like a 10th grader, said, "Yeah. I'll remember that, Gerry. Sorry, Gerry." Then he ran off like the centipedes do when you pull up an age old rock. I think he must've felt like a centipede under a rock, 'cause a guy like Gerry could've squashed him. Not that Gerry would've beat up a little kid. It was just enough to know he could.
When Bertier got hurt, and was paralyzed, we spent alot of time. It was good being on that team. Especially when we won the state title. It was my proudest moment. Gerry's, too. Even though he wasn't there.
We all celebrated alot with that guy. Like when he married Emma Hoyt, who was absolutely, without doubt, the love of his life. And when he won the shotput. And when his kids were born. Well, I wasn't there when the kids were born, but I talked to him over the phone. I was so happy for him. We kept in touch, and everything. Even though we weren't real close, it was a rel shock when I got the call from Big Julius. I guess Gerry just didn't seem the type to die young. I thought that if he could survive his first wreck, nothing could kill him but old age.
But yet, we gathered together in Alexandria to say goodbye. Sorry that I couldn't say more, but that's about it, I guess.
Good luck, kids.
-Lew Lastik
"Lewie" #73
I'm supposed to write about my friendship with Gerry Bertier. To be honest, Gerry and I weren't real close. We were friends and all, but I don't really know if I have a story to tell. I didn't know him like Julius or even Sunshine did. But I'll try.
I guess Bertier was sort of like the big brother of the team. He and Big Julius would stick up for any of us. We were all a big family in a way. I had just moved to Alexandria the year the schools were integrated. I tended to stick closer to the black kids than the white kids, and the black coach, Herman Boone, helped me get into college.
Alot of kids made fun of my weight, but they figured out quick that they better not let Gerry or Big Julius hear 'em. Once a kid was calling me "fatso" and singing "Fatty, Fatty, 2 by 4." I didn't do anything, 'cause I figured it wasn't worth fighting over, but Gerry walked up behind the kid and tapped him on the shoulder. The kid turned around, and Gerry stood tall to get the full affect of his height and puffed out his chest a little to show off his muscle. The guy was like, 6'4", for pete's sake. And then he said, "Hey, kid, Lewie's a Titan. And nobody, I mean NOBODY messes with a Titan. At least not when I'm around."
The kid, who was like a 10th grader, said, "Yeah. I'll remember that, Gerry. Sorry, Gerry." Then he ran off like the centipedes do when you pull up an age old rock. I think he must've felt like a centipede under a rock, 'cause a guy like Gerry could've squashed him. Not that Gerry would've beat up a little kid. It was just enough to know he could.
When Bertier got hurt, and was paralyzed, we spent alot of time. It was good being on that team. Especially when we won the state title. It was my proudest moment. Gerry's, too. Even though he wasn't there.
We all celebrated alot with that guy. Like when he married Emma Hoyt, who was absolutely, without doubt, the love of his life. And when he won the shotput. And when his kids were born. Well, I wasn't there when the kids were born, but I talked to him over the phone. I was so happy for him. We kept in touch, and everything. Even though we weren't real close, it was a rel shock when I got the call from Big Julius. I guess Gerry just didn't seem the type to die young. I thought that if he could survive his first wreck, nothing could kill him but old age.
But yet, we gathered together in Alexandria to say goodbye. Sorry that I couldn't say more, but that's about it, I guess.
Good luck, kids.
-Lew Lastik
"Lewie" #73