"SIXTEEN CANDLES"

"ANOTHER DRIVE BY"

The detective informed me that my third child, my second son, my baby boy was no more. I was told that he was shot nine times as he sat on his bike waiting for the red light to turn green.
The detective also assured me that he was there with him when he was taking his last breath, that he was not alone.
I guess I should of felt some relief, but I found none I was numb. I can barely remember half of what he was telling me, he might as well of been talking in a foreign language. I do remember asking him why did it take so long for him, or anyone else for that matter to contact me. And he said that my son had no Identification on him, and so he was a john doe. Until they finally fingerprinted him to find out who he was. Because my son was in the juvenile system before, they had his fingerprints on file. My son was involved in a couple of misdemeanors but nothing serious. Eli was a free spirit and a old soul, very mature and wise beyond his years. And I can proudly say that he never joined a gang. I instilled in him as well as my older son the unimportance and stupidity of gang banging, I remember giving long speeches about why they shouldn't get involved in such a deadly nuisance.