Tears of a Tiger

By: Sharon M. Draper

          After winning a high school basketball game, the first thing to do is celebrate and have a good time. But, for Andy, B.J, Tyron and Robbie, their celebration wasn’t a good one. Andy, who was driving the car, had some drinks before he went on a celebratory drive with his friends, and that can’t be good. They were all having a good time when all of the sudden the car swerved off the road and smashed into a wall, head-on. Andy, B.J and Tryon made it out of the car safely but Robbie was left trapped in the car screaming for help as the flames engulfed him. The boys tried to help him get out but there was nothing they could do. All they could do was watch helplessly as their good friend and captain of their high school team, the Tiger’s, die right in front of their eyes.

          Days after the accident were the hardest for all the friends of Robbie. But after months and months go by, Andy was still deeply depressed about the loss and still harshly blamed himself for killing his best friend. He then got so depressed he pushed everyone out of his life who tried to help him get over this tough time. He went to a therapist, which helped for a while, but after his sessions with the therapist were over he started acting up again. Andy’s pain was too unbearable to handle anymore. He couldn’t imagine what the future would be like if life right now is so hard. Can he endure this pain any longer, or will he just end it now?