~A Moonlight Ride~ Jenny was so happy about the house they had found. For once in her life, 'twas on the right side of town. She unpacked her things with such great ease. As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze. How wonderful it was to have her own room. School would be starting; she'd have friends over soon. There'd be sleep overs and parties; she was so happy. It's just the way she wanted her life to be. On the first day of school, everything went great. She made new friends and even got a date! She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be, Because I just got a date with the star of the team!" To be known in this school, you had to have clout, And dating this guy would sure help her out. There was only one problem stopping her fate. Her parents had said she was too young to date. "Well, I just won't tell them the entire truth. They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?" Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night. Her parents frowned but said, "All right." Excited, she got ready for the big event. But as she rushed around like she had no sense, She began to feel guilty about all the lies. But what's a pizza, a party and a moonlight ride? Well, the pizza was good, and the party was great. But the moonlight ride would have to wait. For Jeff was half drunk by this time. But he kissed her and said that he was just fine. Then the room filled with smoke, and Jeff took a puff. Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff. Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point. But only after he'd smoked another joint. They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride. Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive. They finally made it to the point at last, And Jeff started trying to make a pass. A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all. And by a pass, I don't mean playing football. "Perhaps my parents were right; maybe I'm too young. Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb?" With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away. "Please take me home...I don't want to stay." Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas. In a matter of seconds, they were going too fast. As Jeff drove on in a fit of anger, Jenny knew her life was in danger. She begged and pleaded for him to slow down. But he just got faster as they neared the town. "Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied. I really went out for a moonlight ride." Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash. "Oh God, please help us! We're going to crash!" She doesn't remember the force of the impact. Just that everything all of a sudden went black. She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble, And heard, "Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!" Voices she heard...a few words at best. But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck. Then wondered to herself if Jeff was alright, And if the people in the other car were alive. She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad. "You've been in a wreck, and it looks pretty bad." These voices echoed inside her head, As gently they told her that Jeff was dead. They said, "Jenny, we've done all we can do. But it looks as if we'll lose you too." "But the people in the other car!?", Jenny cried. "We're sorry, Jenny, they also died." Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done. I only wanted to have just one night of fun. Tell those other people's family, I've made their lives dim, And I wish I could return their families to them." "Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied, And that it was my fault so many have died. Oh, Nurse, won't you please tell them for me?" The nurse just stood there...she never agreed. But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes. And a few minutes later, Jenny died. A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best To bid that girl her one last request?" She looked at the man with eyes so sad. "Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad." This story is sad and unpleasant, but true. So young people take heed...it could have been you. ~Author Unknown~ An estimated 513,000 people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year, an average of 59 people per hour or approximately one person every minute. (© 1997 Michael Ferguson.  Used with permission.) ~Michael Ferguson's Home Page~   Well, this is part of Beth's Pages, so now Beth (that's me) is going to speak out on this issue. I am going to tell you all this, because by now, all of you know that my motto is..."I just want you to know who I am." Well, I DO want you to know who I am. When I was a child, I felt so very much like the girl, Jenny, in this poem felt. I stopped at nothing to be popular. I think we all know that the term for that is peer pressure. Anyway, I can remember lieing to my folks...going to the parties...riding with the guys that had had wayyyyy too much to drink. But hey! I was young and I thought it could never happen to me. (And luckily it didn't.) But just look at how stupid I was!  I didn't want my girls (ages seventeen and eighteen now) to grow up feeling like they had to crumble under peer pressure, but unfortunately, they both have a couple of times, and it broke my heart because I tried so hard to make them see that it didn't matter what other people were doing.  It doesn't mean I love them any less - it just would have saved a lot of heartache all the way around, ya know?  Geesh, when I think back to some of the really, really stupid things I did...well, I'm lucky to be here.  I just didn't want them to make the same mistakes.  I still hope if anyone who's been drinking wants my girls to ride with them they willl stand up and say, "Hey...are you crazy?? Well, you must be if you think I'm riding with YOU!!"  I pray if you are a teen reading this...PLEASE don't drink and drive or don't let anyone else drink and drive. Also don't feel like you have to fall apart under peer pressure. Going along with the crowd will not make you popular. And if you adults are reading this....I just pray that you can talk to your child and teach him/her to be independent and to know right from wrong. I think the hardest job in the world is being a parent. I love you guys, and I just wanted you all to know my thoughts on this one, cause...I just want you to know who I am. Comments? To return to the alcoholism page... Background set by... To the best of my knowledge, midi playing is public domain. Thank you, Harmony, for the award for this page!! ~Page designed by Beth~ ~I just want you to know who I am~