As a teacher you don't expect your students to die. Even in an urban environment where so many kids are needlessly killed, you still don't expect it. Well, it happened to me this week.
But first, let me tell you about Darnell or "Deuce" his nickname.
Darnell has the same birthday as me, September 7th. I know this because my students figured out when my birthday was a few days ahead of time and kept asking me what I was doing for my birthday. That's when Darnell told me that his birthday was the same day. When it came to our birthday many students were wishing me a happy birthday and I said, "Don't forget about Darnell! It's his birthday too!" Darnell got embarassed and really didn't like the attention. So I let him be. Come to think of it, he never wanted a lot of attention. He liked to blend in, but yet he didn't. He was very popular, despite his wanting to blend in. Darnell and I used to argue about typical teacher-student things. For example: him not being in dresscode, me telling him to get quiet, or me bugging him to finish an assignment, and he would get an attitude with me in front of his classmates, and I would laugh. Darnell always listened to me though. He just had to put on his show so everyone could see that he was rebelling. I'd always tell him "You're gonna drive me crazy!" and he would smile. I remember when he completed his Beowolf Children's Book. It was incredible. He took his time and was meticulous with that book. The illustrations were so impressive and he worked so hard. I hung it up on the wall and a month before his death he asked if he could take it with him. His mom was in the hospital and he wanted to show it to her. I said of course.
Darnell also loved to hoop. Most of his speeches were about basketball. He was a great basketball player. He was on John Adam's team and many of the younger players looked up to him.
Darnell was 17 when he died - a senior - so ready to graduate in June. About two weeks ago he was diagnosed with leukemia after being shuffled from one doctor to another. No one could figure out what was wrong with him. Then he got the leukemia diagnosis. I was told to gather work for him and that he would be in the hospital for a month to go through chemo. Within two days his lungs were failing. His lungs stabilized Friday (1/14). My students and I got him a Get Well card and one of my students delivered it to him over the weekend. On Tuesday (1/18) at 7am Darnell passed away. Ta'Shira one of his best friends and one of my students came running into my room Tuesday around 9am. I was already having a rough morning with my 9th grade repeaters. Ta'Shira had her shirt up around her face and I knew what she was there to tell me. I took her out into the hallway and she told me that Darnell lost a lot of blood over the weekend and he passed away that morning. For the rest of the day I saw members of the senior class just walking around like zombies. Even my pain in the ass 9th grade repeaters stopped their attitudes and got quiet for the rest of the day. I had Darnell for two of my classes. Ta'Shira and a few other members of the class won't let anyone sit at Darnell's computer. They sit there and guard it. As we were doing our mock job interviews in speech class this week, Ta'Shira did an interview as "Deuce". It really felt like he was there and she really nailed it. He would be so proud. I still have so many of his papers. I knew he was sick the last time I saw him, but I didn't know what was really going on. Darnell never wanted that many people in his business. He asked for an extension on some work and I said sure.
Darnell, you always made me laugh. The smirk you would get when we were arguing always made me laugh. R.I.P. Darnell. Gone, but never forgotten.
