Constitutional Law

KingCast says Goodnight, Junior: Josh Tate died yesterday and now life seems to have a bit less purpose or meaning.

By Christopher King

They called him Junior because his Pops used to work there.

All I can say is that boy was one of the High Spirits at Best Cycle Center and in life. At 18, he was getting ready for school and about to start his Journey. I can't imagine him hurting a flea. He lent his catsup and his pickup in a pinch for you if you needed it, and really enjoyed his work as a service rep. We ate off the same plate; broke bread together often. I always had a good vibe with that brother and we talked about a lot of things, often.

Honestly, I can't even read the paper about it or post a picture.

I bought one on the way home from a skate session after someone who saw it stopped and told me about it. I glanced at today's Telegraph and in the span of about .7 seconds I saw the back end of his trusty Mazda Pickup. It could have been a Ford, same car. It drives nicely and had a nice stereo, yah and I truly appreciated him letting me use it from time to time. Anyway, I folded the paper up inverted style and put it in the bottom of my gym bag, as if that would fix things. I know the whole accident from a guy who saw it all from 2 cars back, and another guy who was diverted just moments later. I could describe it but I can't or won't. You just had to know the guy.

I just haven't cried like that in public, ever, it's just so sad. He was either going home or grabbing some propane for the forklift, whatever he was doing he just shouldn't have died at least I wish. Anyway, this is a small town, Nashua and Merrimack. News travels quickly even without broadband.

So I can't even get around on it right now -- like I'm going to take my racket back and ball is past me, well past me and so is josh. Gotta keep some of his spirit in my hip pocket for life, though. No need to paste the link from the Telegraph front page or from whatever mainstream media has it all covered, anyway.

The World lost a Great Kid.

Full post as published by Chris King's 1st Amendment Page on April 02, 2008 (boomark / email).