| Jay, a gorgeous lanky teenager, a young man | | | | him that he would indeed be doing the exam, |
| of seventeen. Jay, with the green eyes and | | | | and another pupil would write the paper for |
| the special smile he reserved for his mom. | | | | him on Friday, the 11th of November.This was |
| Jay, the sportsman with the dream of playing | | | | an earthquake for the young man.He asked for |
| international cricket. Jay, who commited | | | | an extension, explaining that he had not done |
| suicide, hanging himself a week ago.The mind | | | | any preparation as he was told, he would not |
| reels when you are faced with a suicide, even | | | | be doing the exam paper. |
| our cynical minds stop dead when it happens | | | | |
| to someone close to you. Hundreds of | | | | Denied, the teacher said. Young spoilt brat, |
| questions burst to the surface, making | | | | the teacher said. Going to fail anyway, the |
| breathing hard because the pain becomes | | | | teacher said. An emotional tsunami hit Jay, |
| physical.Jay was a beautiful young man, his | | | | and friends said he just looked down and |
| spirit much more mature than what his body | | | | became very pale.Jay's sister picked him up |
| would allow. At seventeen, he had the world | | | | from school , took him to his mother's work |
| at his feet. Jay's mom adored him, calling | | | | and she made an appointment with the |
| him her pride and joy. Her Bozo, the | | | | principal for the next morning. Jay was |
| clown.Perhaps that very endearing phrase | | | | crying, saying that he did not understand why |
| become one of the responsibilities too heavy | | | | he would be called such names. His mom tried |
| for the Vincent of his soul.We are told to | | | | to calm him down, the shop got busy and his |
| look for signs of depression preceding | | | | sister dropped him off at home.His mother |
| suicide. We are told to look for dark moods, | | | | walked into a horror image when she got home |
| outbursts of anger. Jay did not have any of | | | | 3 hours later. Jay had commited suicide. |
| those.Jay loved life, loved sports, was | | | | Hanging in her doorway, like a grotesque |
| extremely popular. Why then, would he take | | | | puppet, eyes open, staring into nothingness. |
| the extreme decision to kill himself?Three | | | | No letter, no phonecall. She did not even |
| weeks ago, Jay hurt his hand during a match | | | | recognise her beloved Bozo.She hysterically |
| for his school. He asked to stop playing but | | | | called 911, tried to shake him, cut him down, |
| the trainer felt he could continue. | | | | convinced that she could bring him back. |
| | | | Screaming, begging, slapping him. Jay was |
| A visit to the doctor confirmed that he | | | | gone. His neck broken when he kicked the |
| damaged his arm and it was put into | | | | chair with his feet.Jay is dead. His mom is |
| plaster.Jay, being cheerful, took to walking | | | | in pieces. I am her therapist, that is how I |
| to school,whenever his sister could not give | | | | know about this. She wants to kill herself |
| him a ride. He joked that the fresh air made | | | | everyday since the terrible Wednesday. Her |
| him realise that it was good to be alive.The | | | | grief is drowning her, her soul aching for |
| exam period loomed up and Jay's doctor told | | | | her boy.People tell her it will be alright, |
| him that he would have to do a verbal exam as | | | | when the memory of her dead son hanging in |
| he could not use the hand to write. The | | | | her doorway is imprinted in her mind like a |
| school bolted, as Africa's archaic system did | | | | torture movie, playing over and over.Jay, the |
| not allow for such occurrances.Jay was told | | | | son who hated to see her cry, created tears |
| that his marks were not that great but, | | | | for a lifetime.Be careful with words and |
| should he complete the two outstanding | | | | cynical remarks around children. Do not try |
| projects to be handed in, it should be good | | | | and *shock* them into action as Jay's teacher |
| enough to gain him a pass for his final | | | | said he did. DO not humiliate them for no |
| year.Jay was a sportsman, excelling in every | | | | reason.Jay was not a weak young man, but the |
| sport, playing cricket for the city team, | | | | strongest can be cracked when unexpected |
| even at such a young age.Wednesday, the 9th | | | | venom hits them. Love the children, for they |
| arrived with no warning. Eleven am brought | | | | are our future of tomorrow.Jay.. you are |
| the first tremor. Jay send his mother an sms | | | | missed... |
| to call him. He was upset. His teacher told | | | | |