"Hey. Can you give me a ride home?" I asked Danny. He nodded, "I was about to leave anyways." We walked over to his car and got in the passenger's seat. He put the car in drive and then left the drive in parking lot.

As soon as he dropped me off at my place a few minutes later, neither of us spoke.

I got out of the car and was about to go to the porch, but Danny called out, "Hey! Are you coming to Thunder Road next week?"

I turned to him. "I don't know." I said. "Maybe..."

"We could always use a cheerleader!" Danny smiles.

"I'll try." And then in a moment I broke silence, "I'll try to tell Sandy to apologize."

"And I'll do the same for Putzie," Danny finished. "Night Jan."

"Night." I was about to go to the steps of the porch but then called out, "Danny?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

I sighed and asked, "Can we keep this whole thing in secret? Our conversation?"

He nodded and then put the car in drive and drove away. I smiled as he left. Though I'm ashamed for what I did, but since Danny I have a conversation, I feel happy. I'm going to apologize to Putzie at Thunder Road.

As soon as I entered the house I called out for my parents, "Mom! Dad! I'm home!" But then as soon as I entered the kitchen, I saw Dad sitting at the table with a depressed face, and Mom's head in her hands and she looked at me in tears. Judging by the picture, something is not right.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Mom sniffles and took a tissue to blow her nose in it.

"Honey-" she began.

"No Jamie." Dad stopped her at the moment. "I'll do the talking."

She retorted back, "I'm brave honey! She listens to me more!"

I stood for a moment. The sadness is starting to get to me.

Mom stood up and put her hand on my shoulder. "A telegram came..."

A telegram from John? He's not coming home?

She continues, "There was an accident by the minefield... He's... He..." She bursts into tears, and I immediately hug her and tears form in my eyes. She lets me go. "He didn't make it..." She finished.

What did she just say? She's saying my brother is killed?

My heart ripped in two when I heard this. Tears immediately come down. "No. No! NO! He's not dead! HE CAN'T BE DEAD!" I screamed and then ran to my bedroom. My mom called after me but I slammed the door to my room, locked it, and in a second I lay on my bed face down, crying in my pillow.

I can't believe this haapened. I knew something like this is going to happen. My heart sank when someone who was close to me had to die. John is my brother. My best brother in the world. He's such a sweet guy! The one who puts me to sleep every night. Always the one who takes care of me when I'm down. Now there's no one to take care when I'm upset. First I lost a boyfriend, and then now a very close brother. I suddenly feel really alone.

After I calmed down which took a long time, I went over the edge of the bed and looked underneath to find an old dusty box. John gave it to me and I put it in there before he graduated. He told me not to open it just yet until my graduation. I think now is the time to see. I pulled it out and put it on my bed.

I took a deep breath and opened the lid. What I found are the old things from my childhood. A photo of John and me riding scooters made of box carts. Another photo of me, him, and Jill in front of a Christmas tree watching it glow with presents around it. A friendship bracelet we made together. A Valentine's Day card as a present. His candy wrapper collection we worked on. And a stuffed pink bunny he gave me when I was so young.

I gasped softly, took it out and hugged it recalling one of the first memories through more tears as it ran down my cheeks.