Two days after his grandmother, Mary Alexander, was knocked down and killed on the Saddle Road, Maraval, 11 year old Matthew Francis, a student of Sacred Heart School, wrote this in his journal.
04/10/2000
Dear Journal
Friday was a good day but Monday wasn't my day. Friday I sat happy in school. We did weekly test and spelling. Friday I sat and said I will do my home-work and my lessons. Saturday morning reached and Granny was getting ready to go in town. The day was very quiet and peaceful and I was happy.
Next day was Sunday and I viewed the Olympics with Granny. She told us clean up the yard and river. I said to myself school tomorrow would be good. I was happy on Sunday and I helped Granny clean up the place. Sometimes she told us (Justin and I) to carry out the mats to dry. Food was also tasty on Sunday. Night was now coming and we prayed and had a nice night.
Next morning reached, Granny got up and dressed to go to work. Most of us dressed to go to school. I was going back to ask Granny for some crix. I said, let's go Timothy and Anastasia. We reached down the road and got a car, but this wasn't feeling like my day. I felt so hungry and thirsty, I couldn't even sing the anthem or the school hymn. The day was slow starting off. We did vocabulary and mathematics. I was so hungry that I couldn't wait for lunchtime, I ate and felt better.
The lunch bell rang (ring, ring, ring, ring). My mother reached in my school, I wanted to know what happened. She talked to my teacher and principal. We walked to the hospital and waited a few minutes, suddenly I heard the news, my granny died and Justin broke his foot. I cried and cried so much before reaching home. Later I really heard what happened, Granny got bounced down and broke her neck.
Everybody was crying and every minute my uncle and grandfather was crying down the place. I could hardly believe it. Justin was in the hospital. There were more tears as they heard more.
Next day reached and many people arrived. The place was full and everybody was crying and laughing. Sometimes I felt to cry. When night reached, more and more people arrived and the entire place was full with people. The time came to light candles and the place was looking pretty with candles all over.
Next day everything was in a mess. That was the end of the sorrow for some people. Wednesday reached, it was Granny's funeral and that was the last time I will see her. Everybody sang and gave praise to the Lord and that was the end of Granny. I thought, but she still lives on in my heart.