As time went on, we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern until, eventually, they became...

The Writer: As time went on, we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern until, eventually, they became just two more faces in the halls. Happens sometimes, friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant. I heard that Vern got married out of high school, had four kids, and is now the forklift operator at the Arseno Lumberyard. Teddy tried several times to get into the Army, but his eyes and his ear kept him out. Last I heard, he had spent some time in jail and was now doing odd jobs around Castle Rock. Chris: I'm never gonna get out of this town, am I, Gordie? Gordie: You can do anything you want, man. Chris: Yeah. Sure. [Staring at each other for a moment] Chris: Give me some skin. [They share their handshake] Gordie: I'll see ya. Chris: Not if I see you first. The Writer: Chris did get out. He enrolled in the college courses with me and, although, it was hard, he gutted it out like he always did. He went on to college and, eventually, became a lawyer. Last week, he entered a fast food restaurant. Just ahead of him, two men got into an argument. One of them pulled a knife. Chris, who had always made the best peace, tried to break it up. He was stabbed in the throat. He died almost instantly. The Writer: [the Writer typing on his computer] Although I hadn't seen him in more than ten years, I know I'll miss him forever. Gordon's Son: Dad, can we go now? The Writer: You ready? Gordon's Son: Yeah, we've been ready for an hour. The Writer: [laughs] Okay, I'll be right there. His Friend: He said that a half hour ago. Gordon's Son: Yeah, my dad's weird. He gets like that when he's writing. The Writer: [Continues typing] I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?

As time went on we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern, until eventually they became just two more faces in the halls. It happens sometimes. Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant. I heard that Vern got married out of high school, had four kids and is now the forklift operator at the Arsenault Lumber Yard. Teddy tried several times to get into the army, but his eyes and his ear kept him out. Last I'd heard he'd spent some time in jail, and was now doing odd jobs around Castle Rock. I'm never gonna get out of this town, am I, Gordie? You can do anything you want, man. Yeah. Sure. Give me some skin. I'll see ya. Not if I see you first. Chris did get out. He enrolled in the college courses with me. And although it was hard, he gutted it out like he always did. He went on to college and eventually became a lawyer. Last week, he entered a fast-food restaurant. Just ahead of him, two men got into an argument. One of them pulled a knife. Chris, who'd always made the best peace, tried to break it up. He was stabbed in the throat. He died almost instantly. Dad, can we go now? You ready? Yeah, we've been ready for an hour. Okay, I'll be right there. He said that a half hour ago. Yeah, my dad's weird. He gets like that when he's writing. By LESAIGNEUR Sync & corrections August 2017