I remember the first time I was Dewayne. I had ALWAYS been told about the two brothers I hadn't met, but was assured by my mother....on a VERY regular basis that " ...They love you very much and.......one day, they will come home!". I had began to think they were mere figments of her imagination, until that Sunday morning.

My mom and dad drove the church bus and we would pass out candy to the kids. Being that I was only 8 years old, naturally, my job was to crawl under the seats and collect the scattered pieces of candy wrappers. I was on my belly, under a seat in the middle of the bus and I heard a voice say "Do you remember me?" I stuck my head out in the aisle to get a peak, but could only see my mom. She smiled gently and snodded her head. "Well, of course I do! How are you?" , she said. Even at 8 yrs old, I could see that she didn't have a clue! "Mama....", he said. Mom threw her hands over her mouth and gasped so loudly that I was scared for a moment. It didn't sink in to me what was going on yet.

I sprang to my feet as if to defend my mom, and then she burst into tears. Suddenly I realized that this was a good cry. She lunged for the boy, I still hadn't seen, and nearly fell out of the bus in her action. After a long moment, she let him go and pulled him up into the bus. She sniffed back her emotions and said in a slow, cracked voice.."Kelly, this is your brother Dewayne!"

He was so very much taller than me, and now that look back on that day, it's so strange that I started my scan of him at his feet! He was wearing bright white tennis shoes, dark blue jeans that were snug on his long legs. I swear it seemed like his legs were 10 feet long! He had on a dark blue, button front shirt with some sort of print. He was slender built, not skinny, but not muscular either, which struck me as odd since we were all so....ROUND. Then....I looked at his face.

My very first thought was, Uh....he looks nothing like me! He had fire red hair, large blue eyes and.....FRECKLES...... but his smile was warm and comfortable. Not a smile of a stranger, but of someone that already knew me, even though he was very new to me.

I love my brother! More than anyone could ever imagine and I miss him more with each passing day! I look forward to the day that we meet again....and I will NEVER let you go again! I love you bubba! Now....and forever!!!!

A brothers love is always there when you need it. i could always count on you Dewayne. even though you had to grip me out about how i got in the predicament i was in . you are always there for me. even in your Passing you still help me every day. because i have learned so many things from you. i can always count on the knolage you passed on to me. And for that i thank you. I miss you every day . i think of you atleast two times a day.i have lost my only true friend on this earth. and i am saddened by the thought i can never hug your neck in this life again but at the same time i know that there will come a time when you and i meet again. I love you and miss you Dewayne.