serious question
My friend Fu just phoned me and gave me some really harsh news. Our friend Tavis passed away in a car accident last night. It's weird and unreal. Fu was really close to him, he was like a second brother to her, as he practically lived there all their lives because Tavis was best friends with her brother, Tommy. I was more of a casual friend and was friends with his twin sister etc.

As if this wasn't bad enough;

Tommy is currently stationed over in Iraq serving his time with the army. I'm almost positive that the one and only thing that gets him through the hot days and nights are his memories of his best friend. The main method of communication with Tommy has been letters and sporatic phone calls when able.

The dilemna:

Should they tell Tommy? How should they tell him? Writing a letter seems like such a horrible way to go about things, but the choices are so limited. His mom wants to just not tell him until he gets home, but like Fu, I think that's horribly cruel. He'll be flying home thinking about how much he wants to hang out with Tavis. However, no matter how you tell Tommy the news, it's going to kill him..I mean, there's no other way around it. But to tell him it could risk Tommy not being on the top of his game, watching his back overseas.

This fucking sucks and I'd love to hear your takes on this situation. What do you think Tommy's mom and sister should do?

that's a tough one. i'd probably tell him, tho. he has a right to know about his best friend. as much as it sucks, it should be done. maybe he can find comfort in knowing that his best friend is now his guardian angel...

Hope that helps a little.

I'd have him brought back home immediately, before or after telling him. Once he finds out he probably won't have the heart to do shit over there for some time, no sense in having him sit around in a tent eating sand.

You absolutely have to tell him. As much as it's gonna suck for him and whoever tells him, if the kid means that much to him, he should know.

That's just my view.

DeOdiumMortis said:

That's a better idea, but I don't think he's gonna just be free to come home.

or just sitting there like a stationary target....

thegreatspaldino said:

hey, that's kinda fucked up!