Midlands SC Community Mourns Beloved School Official

I’m a student at cms, last year i was in sixth grade and quickly became friends with Mr. Collins. closer to the end of that school year he started giving me the newspaper comics from that day’s issue. That carried into 7th grade (this year), Madame Varner told me that Mr. Collins was always finding ways to be in the elective hallway when my grade was there, he would usually atop by my orchestra e2 and drop off the comics there. I remember of December 4th, the morning announcements said something along the lines of, “STAR testing has been cancelled for the day, I repeat, STAR testing has been cancelled for the day.” around an hour after the morning announcements, the ‘beep’ of the P.A system sounded, we all expected some sort of drill, but when Dr. Brewington started speaking i heard the smallest shake in his voice, like he was trying to find the right words to say. “we are sad to announce” there was another pause “Mr. Collins passed away last night in a fatal car crash.” The word “fatal” rang in my head as i began to cry, so did everyone else, i thought of how the last thing i said to Mr. Collins was, “see you tomorrow, and thanks for the comics!” he said back, “i have a stack of comics in my office that i can get to you tomorrow!”. At the end of the class period and everyone was switching classes, there was no usual noise coming from all directions, everyone just had their heads down, almost every eye red from crying. Recess was strange, unlike normal, nobody was playing football, or hanging out by the radiator, just at the tables talking, coping. Some people coped with jokes, others silent, and some sharing their stories about Mr. Collins. It was the only thing that ever truly unified the school, our sadness. I saved every comic he ever gave me, i put them in the shelf of one of my drawers, and on top of my room desk, i keep the ornament we were given that reminds me of Mr. Collins’ every day when i sit down to do my homework or procrastinate, before i start, i always read what he always told me, “I’ll Always Have Your Back.”