Suicide

{March 17, 2011}

During one of our many cross-town drives, we approached a roundabout and the car slowed.  I noticed a large crowd gathered on a corner.  Everyone was looking up and in the same direction.  Naturally, we craned our necks to see, too.  I could see the legs of a man climbing upwards behind a billboard and another man was right behind him.  Hmmm.  Our car slipped around the corner and I could see a string of men climbing to the top.  What were they doing?  Then I saw it.  Him.  A boy.  He was all the way at the top and had climbed out to the edge of the large sign.  He looked to be about 12 and he was completely naked, legs dangling.  He was being held by another boy, about the same age.  A third boy was holding on to the second boy to avoid any of them falling.  About five men were quickly climbing to help.  I don’t know if he was alive.  We surged forward in the traffic and the gripping scene disappeared behind us.