Thoughts—I'm Only 17	
QUICK CHECK:	
Dad suddenly looked like an old 
man.  He told the man in charge, 
"Yes, he is my son." 
The funeral was a weird 
experience.  I saw all my relatives 
and friends walk toward the 
casket.  They passed by, one by 
one, and looked at me with the 	
saddest eyes I’ve ever seen.  Some of my buddies 
were crying.  A few of the girls touched my hand 
and sobbed as they walked away.
Please — somebody — wake me up.  Get me out of 
here.  I can’t bear to see my mom and dad so broken 
up.  My grandparents are so racked with grief they 
can hardly walk.  My brothers and sisters are like 
zombies.  They move like robots.  In a daze, 
everybody.  No one can believe this.  And I can’t 
believe it, either.
Please don’t bury me.  I’m not dead.  I have a lot 
of living to do.  I want to laugh and run again.  I 
want to sing and dance.  Please don’t put me in the 
ground.  I promise if you give me one more chance, 
God, I’ll be the most careful driver in the whole 
world.  All I want is one more chance.  
Please, God, I’m only 17!
(Author Unknown)	
The day I died was an ordinary school day.  How I 
wish I had taken the bus. But I was too cool for the 
bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out.  Mom,  
"Special favor," I pleaded.   "All the kids drive."
When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the 
locker.  I was free until 8:40 tomorrow morning.  I 
ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of 
driving a car and being my own boss.  Free!
It doesn’t matter how the accident happened.  I was 
goofing off — going too fast.  Taking crazy chances.  
But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun.  
The last thing I remember was passing an old lady 
who seemed to be going awfully slow.  I heard the 
deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt.  Glass and 
steel flew everywhere.  My whole body seemed to 
be turning inside out.  I heard myself scream.
Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet.  A police 
officer was standing over me.  Then I saw a doctor.  
My body was mangled.  I was saturated with blood.  
Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over.  
Strange that I couldn’t feel anything.
Hey, don’t pull that sheet over my head.  I can’t be 
dead.  I’m only 17.  I’ve got a date tonight.  I’m 
supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life.  I 
haven’t lived yet.  I can’t be dead.  
Later I was placed in a drawer.  My folks had to 
identify me.  Why did they have to see me like this?  
Why did I have to look at Mom’s eyes when she 
faced the most terrible ordeal of her life?  	
1. a) In your opinion, did the mom do the right 	
thing by letting her teenage son borrow the 	
 family car?  b) Give a reason for your opinion.
2. If you accept a ride from a friends, then 
 discover that he or she is driving too fast and 	
reckless, what are 3 things actions you could 
take to prevent an accident?	
3. In an essay of 25 words or more, discuss what 	
arrangements you need to establish with your 
parents in case you need a late-night safe ride 
home from a friend's house or a party. 
Thoughts & Quotes