Young 1

A’Breya Young

Ms.Wilson

Period 3

27 Feb 2019

Dealing With the Tragedy of Death

Even a person with the heaviest heart of grief wouldn’t understand what I would do to hear his

voice when I first walk into a room, his jokes that would make me smile from ear to ear, and his

singing that would make the whole world stop and want to sing along in harmony. Why would

God take this unique, beautiful soul away from this Earth?; I’d think as I lay in my bed during a

sleepless night. I still ask this question today; however, I swallow the big pill of curiosity and

worship my Lord believing soon, only soon will I see my Uncle Kenny again in the Kingdom of

Paradise.

When I was 14 my Uncle Kenny passed away. I can still remember that night hearing the

phone ring and seeing the look on my father’s face. He wanted to hide the truth from my mom;

however, she could read him like a book. The next thing I knew, water swelled in her eyes and

all she could do was scream. Oh those screams just made my heart deflate like a balloon and all I

could do was cry. You may think that I was crying because of the death of my uncle. However, it

was more so seeing my mother in so much pain. I ran to my sister’s room to see her sitting

staring in space. “ Did you hear?” I asked. “Yes.” my sister responded in a quiet tone. I began to

say something else when we heard banging and my mother saying “why lord why !” “What is

my mother supposed to do? God WHY!”. Anger enveloped me. Why would God allow my

family to go through so much pain? We worshipped, obeyed and followed God’s word and what
 Young 2

did we get in return, losing someone so close to our hearts. As these thoughts circled my mind, I

began to hear a prayer coming from my parents room. It was my father. When hearing this my

sister and I went into the room seeing my mother laying on the bed as my dad continued to pray

which calmed her down. I went on one side of my mother with my sister on the other and we just

hugged her. The last thing I remember is whispering in my mother’s ear “ We got you Mama and

we're going to fight through this together. I love you”.

Days passed by and my mother fell into a great deal of depression. Phones were ringing

all the time as my family began to plan my uncle’s funeral. When a date was set for his

homegoing, my family and I drove to Georgia. When pulling up into my grandmother’s

driveway, my hand began to feel sweaty and my heart was racing at a 1000 mph. Just thinking

about seeing my Grandma made my heart just want to shrivel up. She just lost her son which I

can imagine was the hardest thing she had to go through. I knew I had to wear the mask of

happiness and paint on a smile for her sake. Soon after everyone arrived at my grandmother’s

house, we prayed together as the cars pulled up to take us to the church. While waiting to enter

the sanctuary, minutes felt like hours. The fact that my uncle passed away still didn’t settle in my

mind. Finally it was time for my family and I to view my uncle’s body one last time. As my

sister and I were walking hand in hand to the casket, it felt as my feet had chains with weights on

them. My body physically didn’t want to come to the realization that he was gone. “Just a few

more steps” I thought and the hard part is over. Just when I walked up to his casket my leg began

to shake and it felt like my body was shutting down. Just as my sister saw the look on my face,

she ushered me to my seat as we waited for the preacher to give his message to a broken family.

Toward the end of the service, my uncle’s close friend sang a song that will always be deep in
 Young 3

my soul. The words that were coming from his mouth was fuel to start up my faith in Christ

again. ​“Give me Jesus, you can have all this world, but give me Jesus”.

After my family and I parted ways after the funeral, gatherings and conversations became

very minimal. Noticing this my grandmother would try to set up different events for my family

however, they never took place. I began to think the devil was feeding my family with stupidity.

My Uncle, their cousin, brother and friend just died and they still hadn’t learned about the gift of

life? Did they believe that death had a clock? If so what would it take for them to discover the

truth? Another life being taken away? I have to admit as time has gone by, some of my family

have began to talk to each other again however there will always be a missing piece to our puzzle

and for that I don’t know if there will ever be a happy ending to this story.

Narrative Essay Rubric (Honors)

Score: 45/50
W.9-10.3​. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and
well-structured event sequences.
Standard
3.a​. ​Introduction​ -
Engage and orient the
reader by setting out a
problem, situation, or
observation, establishing
one or multiple point(s)
of view, and introducing
a narrator and/or
characters; create a
smooth progression of
experiences or events.
9
Exceptional (10-9) Proficient (8-7) Emerging (6-1) Not Evident (0)
❏ Effectively hook the ❏ Hook the reader with
reader with a creative, a compelling hook
original, and
compelling hook ❏ Effectively sets out a
problem, situation, or
❏ Effectively sets out a observation
problem, situation, or
observation in a ❏ Establish an insightful
compelling and/or point of view
creative manner
❏ Introduce a narrator,
❏ Establish an insightful, characters, setting,
original, or creative and main idea
point of view
❏ Introduce a ​complex
and/or creative
narrator, characters,
setting, and main idea

3.b. ​Narrative​ - ​Use ❏ Utilize ​two or more ❏ Utilize narrative

narrative techniques, (teacher discretion) techniques such as

such as dialogue, pacing,
description, reflection,
and multiple plot lines,
to develop experiences,
events, and/or
characters.
8.5
3.c​. ​Organization​ - ​Use a
variety of techniques to
sequence events so that
they build on one
another to create a
coherent whole.
9 create an original plot
3.d.​ ​Language​ - ​Use
precise words and
phrases, telling details,
and sensory language to
convey a vivid picture of
the experiences, events,
setting, and/or
characters.
10
3.e.​ ​Conclusion​ - ​Provide
a conclusion that follows
from and reflects on
what is experienced,
observed, or resolved
over the course of the
narrative.
8.5
narrative techniques
with purpose:
dialogue, pacing,
description, reflection,
multiple plot lines,
etc…
❏ Develop experiences,
events, and/or
characters and to
clearly develop a
purposeful theme
❏ Use ​purposefully
narrative techniques
such as
foreshadowing,
dramatic irony,
suspense, and/or
flashbacks in a ​highly
effective manner​ ​to
structure
❏ Create a smooth
progression of
experiences or events
that is logical, ​creative,
and sophisticated ​and
that uses ​highly
engaging devices
❏ Use precise, detailed
and ​sophisticated
words, phrases, and
sensory language​ to
engage the reader ​and
convey a​ ​vivid picture
❏ Provide a conclusion
that reflects on what is
experienced, observed,
or resolved
❏ Extends the meaning
and purpose to
connect to the
audience ​and​ ​convey a
complex and original
theme
Young 4
dialogue, pacing,
description,
reflection, and
multiple plot lines
❏ Develop experiences,
events, and/or
characters in attempt
to convey theme
❏ Use appropriately
techniques such as
foreshadowing,
dramatic irony,
suspense, and/or
flashbacks
❏ Create a smooth
progression of
experiences or events
that is logical and
engaging
❏ Use precise and
detailed words,
phrases, and sensory
language to convey a
vivid picture
❏ Provide a conclusion
that reflects on what
is experienced,
observed, or resolved
❏ Extends the meaning
to convey a theme
Young 5