The
First Victim: 10:54 AM
I was the first to get shot. That’s all I’ll ever be to most people – the first
victim. I wasn’t a victim, though. That’s where everyone has it wrong. Rick was the real victim.
Abby Benson, 10th
I was at my locker with Abby after 3rd period when I saw him. Rick was standing behind
Abby, holding a gun, still covered in paint. Abby turned around to see what I was staring at and gasped at the sight of him.
For what seemed like forever, we just stared at him. I think I stopped breathing.
JT Yorke, 10th
I actually heard something during fourth period – a little pop, a distant bang. I didn’t know
what it was at the time; I thought I had just imagined it. It wasn’t until later I realized – it was the gun going
off when Abby was shot.
Emma Nelson, 10th
He was out to get me – that’s why he had the gun. Avenge me for what I did to
Toby, or something. That made me angry. So what if I was mean to Toby? I knew it was mean and all, but I hardly ever spoke
to Rick. Why was I going to pay for it with my life? The only reason I didn’t have to was Abby.
JT Yorke, 10th
Rick tried to get me to flee after he revealed he was after JT. He told me it wasn’t about me, that
he was saving me, that I’d be better off somewhere else. That was a stupid move on his part. JT is one of my best friends.
Did he seriously think I was that kind of person? That I was going to abandon him with a gun aimed at his chest?
Abby Benson, 10th
When Rick pointed that pistol at me – as cheesy as it sounds – my heart stopped beating; my
life flashed before my eyes. I seriously thought I was going to die. When the gun went off, I just shut my eyes and prayed
it wouldn’t be too painful. I fleeting hoped there was a heaven.
JT Yorke, 10th
It was more of an instict than anything else. When the gun went off, I jumped.
I flung my arms out and leapt in front of JT. I wasn’t doing anything special, not really. Just reacting. JT would do
the same for me.
Abby Benson, 10th
Abigail Sarah Benson saved
my life. I will never be able to repay her for that. Ever.
JT Yorke, 10th
The bullet hit me right above the elbow and broke my arm. I got a concussion when I hit the ground, too.
Blood was gushing out; it got all over both me and JT.
I didn’t really feel much till later, though. I was still in shock.
Abby Benson, 10th
When Abby hit the ground,
Rick jumped back. He hadn’t meant to hit her – she’d been one of the few who was actually nice to him. He
just didn’t expected her to jump in front of me like that. After so many months of being constantly beat up and mocked,
I don’t think he thought people were capable of good like that anymore. All he knew was cruelty.
JT Yorke, 10th
After Rick fled, the halls were eerily quiet. I thought that was weird. Hadn’t anyone heard?
Why didn’t they come? Why didn’t anyone try to stop him?
Abby Benson, 10th
Abby’s arm was all crooked and her head was bleeding like crazy.I helped her up and she leaned on
me as we made our way to Mr. Simpson’s room. The entire time, I was so scared we’d see Rick again. But
I was even more scared of the reality – Rick was off in another part of the school, shooting someone else. And that
person might not be so lucky.
JT Yorke, 10th
Abby and JT stumbled into my period four Media Immersion class at exactly 11:37 PM. I remember because I was staring intently at the clock when they burst in. At first, I thought
they were a hallucination brought on by extreme boredom. But after JT spat out the words “Rick” and “gun”
I knew that it was real. Too real.
Manny Santos, 10th
When Abby and JT ran in, I did what any competant teacher would have done – called 911; alerted
the main office; did my best to control my class and help Abby. But I wouldn’t have had to do any of that if all of
us had just listened to Rick. There were plenty of signs, and even more oppurtunities to get the poor boy help. It didn’t
have to come to this. This could have been stopped. But that’s what they always say when something like this happens,
isn’t it? That doesn’t even matter anymore. It’s too late. Rick brought a gun to school. Dozens of lives
were changed forever.
Archie
Simpson, teacher
