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