With all of the buzz about the death of two boys at a local high school, I have had some time to reflect upon when my community lost someone as well. I know that nothing I write can bring our loved ones back nor will it make the hurt of their loss any less than it already is, however, I hope that these words can offer up some hope to someone hurting over the loss of a loved one. This is my Shak story.
He’s gone. Shak Pershey is missing. My friend is dead.
The moment I first met Shak, I could tell there was something different and special about him. It was a year earlier before a football game. Shak and some of the other boys were rough housing, like most of the football players will do, and he accidently bumped into me. I was so mad at first, and the only thing that rushed through my mind was, what is wrong with this kid? Shak, without missing a beat, flashed one of his world famous smiles and said, “Oh, my bad White Girl”. I was unaware that at that moment my token name to that superstar would be “White Girl”. I once asked him if he actually knew my name to which he replied, “Yeah Devyn, you’re 'White Girl'”.
Be strong Devyn, do not break down again. I feel the tears run down my face and hear myself crying. “Devyn, do you want me to stay here with you?” a classmate asks me. I tell him through crying to go to the gym with his teammates and I snuggle up next to my teammate for comfort. I can’t do this. This can't be happening. Shak can’t be dead. This isn’t how it’s supposed to end.
It's true then. The good really do die young. Shak was dressed in a black and white tux that made him look nice and his white casket was as beautiful as one would imagine for themselves. People cried through the entire service. The cries I will never forget hearing were those of his mother. It was a sound worse than any other I've ever heard. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone to have to ever hear a cry like that. "An old man and a young boy were fishing along the banks of the Mississippi River. The boy could not swim but headed into the water deeper and deeper. The old man told the boy to come back because if not the boy would surely drown. The boy got further and as he got up to his neck a ship came by and picked him up. The old man yelled to the boy 'How’d you know that the ship would pick you up?' The young boy replied simply 'My father is the captain of the ship.' Shak Pershey is with the captain of this ship in heaven smiling down at all of us here today. I can look around this room and honestly say that I know he wouldn’t want us to be here with sadness in our hearts but with joy because he made it onto the ship with his Father.” Mr. Foster delivered that speech beautifully as he did all his speeches. Shak’s mother gave a speech as well that brought everyone to tears. The preacher told us that Shak’s mother and family would be outside saying goodbye to everyone before traveling to the cemetery. What do I say to her? What does anyone say to a woman that has just lost her child? When it was my turn, Shak’s mother hugged me and thanked for me coming.
I can do nothing now but push forward as my dear friend would want. Even though he’s in a better place than I am now, I know that “White Girl” must stay strong for him. Shak would never give up on anything he wanted so why should I? I don’t know much of why this happened but I do know this. God gained an angel on May 23, 2013. Shak Pershey is gone but he will live on through the times and memories shared with those who knew him. He will be remembered by the lives he touched and changed. Shak Pershey is gone but he will never be forgotten.
