Robby J and Jesse

September 26, 1997 Dear Jesse, Today is a sad day. It has been a horrible, horrible day. It’s four o'clock in the afternoon. My aunt Lori picked me up from school, and then picked up Charlie and James. Then she pulled the car into a parking lot and told us that Mama and Daddy had to go to Yale. Very early this morning, around one o’clock, Daryn was out with her friends, met some guy who took her for a ride on his motorcycle. A semi-truck hit them and my sister was killed instantly. Oh Jesse, what am I going to do without Daryn? She is the one that taught me how to play cards, how to curl my hair. She would write poems and read them to me. I use to want to be just like her when I was little. I just can’t believe she is gone! I can’t believe I will never see her again. I will never hear her yelling at James for stealing her clothes or makeup. I will never hear her tell me that sugar, chocolate, and soda are bad for my skin. Jesse, she was the most beautiful girl in the world. The smartest one too. It is not fair! She never did anything wrong! Mama must be a wreck right now. Daryn was her best friend. Mama and Daryn have always been closer than close. Aunt Lori told me that the hardest thing for any one with children is to have to bury one. Parents always expect that they’ll die before their children. I know in my heart, Mama must be feeling like part of herself died. Like I said, Mama and Daryn were best friends. Daddy must be hurting something awful too. He always had a really good relationship with Daryn. They joked and teased each other. Daryn had Daddy’s sense of humor. I think that’s one of the reasons Mama loved her so much; she was so much like the man of Mama’s dreams. I can’t tell you what a punch in the stomach this feels like. There are some things in life you just expect will happen. You expect puberty. You expect to get married and have children. You expect to have a job when you grow up. You expect your grandparents, and eventually your parents, will die. You just never expect a sibling will die. I pray you never have to go through this, Jesse. I pray to God that Julie stays safe for at least eighty more years. I wouldn’t curse anyone in the world with the pain I feel right now. Damn, I must go. Aunt Lori needs me. She cannot find something in the kitchen. Write me back please. Love Always, Robby J