Please God, I'm Only 17

PLEASE GOD, I'M ONLY 17

The day I died was an ordinary school day.

How I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too

Cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled

The car out of Mom. "Special favor," I pleaded.

"All the kids drive."

When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books

In the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow

Morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the

Thought of driving a car and being my own boss.

Free!

It doesn't matter how the accident happened.

I was goofing off -- going too fast -- taking

Crazy chances. But I was enjoying my

Freedom and having fun. The last thing I

Remember was passing an old lady who

Seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard the

Deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt.

Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole

Body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard

Myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police

Officer was standing over me. Then I saw a

Doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated

With blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking

Out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head! I can't

Be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm

Supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life.

I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead!

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to

Identify me. Why did they have to see me like this?

Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she

Faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad

Suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man

In charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my

Relatives and friends walk toward the casket.

They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with

The saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies

Were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand

And sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up! Get me out

Of here! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so

Broken up. My grandparents are so racked with

Grief they can hardly walk. My brothers and

Sisters are like zombies. They move like robots.

In a daze, everybody. No one can believe this.

And I can't believe it, either.

Please don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of

Living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want

To sing and dance. Please don't put me in the

Ground. I promise if you give me one more chance,

God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole

World. All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17