My Uncle RhettMy Uncle Rhett

ByBy

Kristen Hallie SingletonKristen Hallie Singleton

My Uncle Rhett was the My Uncle Rhett was the kindest person you could kindest person you could ever know. He was nice to ever know. He was nice to everyone and never made everyone and never made fun of people. He was fun of people. He was funny and a joy to be funny and a joy to be around. No matter what around. No matter what kind of mood you were in, kind of mood you were in, he could do his “happy he could do his “happy dance” and make you dance” and make you smile.smile.

We always found We always found something fun to do like something fun to do like sledding, playing cards, or sledding, playing cards, or swimming. My Uncle Rhett swimming. My Uncle Rhett loved to run cross country. loved to run cross country. He said he was going to He said he was going to teach me how to run as teach me how to run as well as him someday.well as him someday.

I remember when I I remember when I was little and he first was little and he first introduced me to his introduced me to his girlfriend, Crystal. We girlfriend, Crystal. We became best friends became best friends the moment we started the moment we started talking, and I know that talking, and I know that made him happy. made him happy.

Then, before anyone knew Then, before anyone knew it, they were engaged to be it, they were engaged to be married. This made me so married. This made me so happy! I even got to be a happy! I even got to be a flower girl in their wedding. flower girl in their wedding. It was so romantic. He It was so romantic. He looked so handsome and looked so handsome and she looked beautiful.she looked beautiful.

It wasn’t long until, R.J. It wasn’t long until, R.J. was born. After many was born. After many tries, their beautiful tries, their beautiful baby boy finally was baby boy finally was sent from God. He was sent from God. He was so proud of him! I also so proud of him! I also remember when I first remember when I first met R.J. He was so met R.J. He was so precious, fragile, and precious, fragile, and just so cute! just so cute!

I believe his first word I believe his first word was “Papaw”. It made was “Papaw”. It made my Uncle Rhett so my Uncle Rhett so mad when they would mad when they would be leaving my Papaw be leaving my Papaw and Granny’s house and Granny’s house and R.J. would say and R.J. would say Papaw over and over Papaw over and over again. He wanted him again. He wanted him to say daddy so much, to say daddy so much, and he finally did. and he finally did.

Everything was going Everything was going perfect. Thanksgiving perfect. Thanksgiving was coming up. R.J. was coming up. R.J. was getting more was getting more spoiled everyday. spoiled everyday. Then, without warning Then, without warning my Uncle Rhett my Uncle Rhett passed away. passed away.

I remember my reaction. I remember my reaction. There was a faint creak of There was a faint creak of my thick, brown bedroom my thick, brown bedroom door. Then, there was a door. Then, there was a smell of gasoline. It was smell of gasoline. It was Papaw Bob. I would know Papaw Bob. I would know the smell of his work the smell of his work uniform anywhere. It was uniform anywhere. It was an odor that I usually was an odor that I usually was delighted to smell. delighted to smell.

I didn’t expect to ever I didn’t expect to ever hear the words that hear the words that came from his mouth. came from his mouth. Then he said those Then he said those terrible, shocking terrible, shocking words. “ Kathy called . . words. “ Kathy called . . . ummm.” He cleared . ummm.” He cleared his throat and muttered his throat and muttered in a shaky voice, “Your in a shaky voice, “Your Uncle Rhett was killed Uncle Rhett was killed last night. . . .”last night. . . .”

Then he left me alone in Then he left me alone in the dark with those nasty the dark with those nasty words. I know a part of me words. I know a part of me died that very moment. I died that very moment. I was drowning in pity and was drowning in pity and shock. Suddenly, I ran to shock. Suddenly, I ran to the living room and the living room and screamed, “You’re lying!” screamed, “You’re lying!” Tears streamed down my Tears streamed down my face in agony and pain. face in agony and pain.

“ “What would I say to What would I say to Mom?” “ What would I Mom?” “ What would I say to Crystal?” I didn’t say to Crystal?” I didn’t understand. I was understand. I was mad! I wanted to know mad! I wanted to know “Why?” “Why?”

The next thing I knew, I The next thing I knew, I was at a sad lonely was at a sad lonely place. Crying people place. Crying people were everywhere I were everywhere I looked, even in the looked, even in the mirror. mirror.

The only person I tried The only person I tried to smile for was R.J. I to smile for was R.J. I think that is why I’m think that is why I’m still alive. I‘m here to still alive. I‘m here to remind him and to tell remind him and to tell him about how him about how wonderful his daddy wonderful his daddy was.was.

Love you forever and always!Love you forever and always!

Kristen Hallie SingletonKristen Hallie Singleton