Why Do We Do This

He was a gangly kid. Ugly on the upside. Unmemorable, until the day he died. Suddenly, he was totally everyone’s best friend. They try to one-up each other with “Timmy” stories. Why do we do this? What is wrong with us? Is it our claim to fame to know a person who is gone? I saw him Thursday night at Tuck’s Treats. He looked sad. We chewed watermelon gum together on Friday. I saw Timmy a few seconds before the grizzlies dragged him off. I heard him screaming for a long time. I called the police, but I could not get through. I heard they dragged him way into the woods. Uh-huh. I saw it happen. People who would have not recognized Timmy in a lineup of Two even after nine or ten tries suddenly are at his house, Wailing louder than his relatives, telling Timmy stories. Trying to one-up each other. What is wrong with people?