Alan's Story
I remember the fact that Anthony had the loudest laugh of any baby. One day, I fell down the stairs, and he laughed out loud. I knew that he was a baby and didn't know any better. I said, "I'm glad you think that's so funny!" He continued to laugh. Back then, he went by John. Adam walked in and asked, "What's John laughing at?" I said, "I fell down the stairs." Adam said, "The kid's right. It IS funny." I said, "No, it is not!" He said, "You're smiling." I said, "Okay, so it's a little funny." Just then, Mom walked in. She asked, "What's so funny?" Adam and I both said, "Nothing." She said, "I heard you all laughing. Something's funny." I said, "I fell down the stairs, and John laughed out loud." She asked, "Are you okay?" I said, "Yeah." I honestly didn't think that would make me laugh. My favorite memory of Anthony is his friendship with Shadow. Shadow was my pet dog. He was a German Shepherd Dog, and he took well to Anthony. Shadow was such a good babysitter. Shadow wasn't part of Anthony's life for long, though. He passed away at the age of eleven. Anthony was four years old. Alan finished telling his story. Simon asked, "Do you remember Shadow, Anthony?" Anthony smiled. "Yes," He said, "but it's a vague memory."
I remember the fact that Anthony had the loudest laugh of any baby. One day, I fell down the stairs, and he laughed out loud. I knew that he was a baby and didn't know any better. I said, "I'm glad you think that's so funny!" He continued to laugh. Back then, he went by John. Adam walked in and asked, "What's John laughing at?" I said, "I fell down the stairs." Adam said, "The kid's right. It IS funny." I said, "No, it is not!" He said, "You're smiling." I said, "Okay, so it's a little funny." Just then, Mom walked in. She asked, "What's so funny?" Adam and I both said, "Nothing." She said, "I heard you all laughing. Something's funny." I said, "I fell down the stairs, and John laughed out loud." She asked, "Are you okay?" I said, "Yeah." I honestly didn't think that would make me laugh. My favorite memory of Anthony is his friendship with Shadow. Shadow was my pet dog. He was a German Shepherd Dog, and he took well to Anthony. Shadow was such a good babysitter. Shadow wasn't part of Anthony's life for long, though. He passed away at the age of eleven. Anthony was four years old. Alan finished telling his story. Simon asked, "Do you remember Shadow, Anthony?" Anthony smiled. "Yes," He said, "but it's a vague memory."
It was June 25, 2007. It was Anthony's eighteenth birthday. He had invited his friends, Charles, Simon, Ron, and Sherry to celebrate with him. After the party, Simon stayed behind. Since Simon and Anthony were best friends, Anthony's mother allowed the two to have a sleepover. The two talked for a really long time. Then, Simon finally said, "Anthony, I've heard many stories about you, but I never heard the story of your years in Montana." Anthony said, "That's right. You haven't." Grace said, "You've known him for almost four years now, Anthony. I think it's time you tell him." Anthony paused for a moment. He never opened up about his past to, well anyone. He didn't really like talking about the past, but Simon had been such a good friend. "All right," said Anthony. He asked his mother to tell Simon the first part of the story, the story that began eighteen years before.