Kevin Szafranski
I was walking up the path to the Lares building at Penn State Abington on the Friday before Thanksgiving break. It's a winding path through some trees, hills creating dynamics. I was wearing my Abington baseball hoodie with my hands curled up in he front pouch. My hood was up and draped over my face. It was very cold that morning after my workout. I walked up to the steps of Lares and began my ascent. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, me and some of my friends play rummy and I love that game. A smile came across my face in anticipation of the good times I was about to have. I walk in the doors to find it a little on the hot side so I took off my hoodie. I walk into the cafeteria and there is my friend Nick sitting at the table that we always sit at. He has a somber look on his face and a newspaper is sitting in front of him not opened, just sitting there with the top fold down. I set my bag and hoodie down in front of the seat next to Nick.
"Hey, Nick, how are you," I questioned with a smile on my face. He looked up at me with glassy eyes.
"Hey, Mike, how are you?" That wasn't the usual response. Something wasn't right that day.
"I'm alright, doing good."
"Sorry but I just found out that Kevin Szafranski passed away in his sleep Thursday night."
What? I didn't believe it, I couldn't believe it. He just graduated this past spring. I was playing baseball with him barely five months ago. He was only 22. Nick must be joking. I was trying to think of any explanation. I sat there with half a smile just in case he was trying to be funny. But why would he joke about something like this. It wouldn't be funny if he was just kidding around.
"I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you," he said. The soft, low, monotone in his voice confirmed it. My friend had died. I sat there and looked out the window for some time. I can't say how long. I went to buy some french toast sticks because I thought I was hungry. I sat down with my breakfast, but I didn't feel hungry. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling. Shock, amazement, I couldn't tell you. My mind felt empty except for thoughts of Kevin.
"Do they know how it happened?"
"No. They don't know yet." Nick went on to tell me how he learned it from a text from our mutual friend Dan and he couldn't go to class. It hit us all pretty hard. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks, Nick."
The rest of the day went on slowly. My thoughts were far from me. Kevin was always smiling. He was a role model and still is. He never once thought of himself. He always helped out with anything he could and he never missed an opportunity to make someones day. Reflecting on Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for in the life of Kevin Szafranski, and I feel so privileged to have known him and to become a part of a family with him in the Penn State Abington Baseball team. You will be missed Kevin.
"Hey, Nick, how are you," I questioned with a smile on my face. He looked up at me with glassy eyes.
"Hey, Mike, how are you?" That wasn't the usual response. Something wasn't right that day.
"I'm alright, doing good."
"Sorry but I just found out that Kevin Szafranski passed away in his sleep Thursday night."
What? I didn't believe it, I couldn't believe it. He just graduated this past spring. I was playing baseball with him barely five months ago. He was only 22. Nick must be joking. I was trying to think of any explanation. I sat there with half a smile just in case he was trying to be funny. But why would he joke about something like this. It wouldn't be funny if he was just kidding around.
"I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you," he said. The soft, low, monotone in his voice confirmed it. My friend had died. I sat there and looked out the window for some time. I can't say how long. I went to buy some french toast sticks because I thought I was hungry. I sat down with my breakfast, but I didn't feel hungry. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling. Shock, amazement, I couldn't tell you. My mind felt empty except for thoughts of Kevin.
"Do they know how it happened?"
"No. They don't know yet." Nick went on to tell me how he learned it from a text from our mutual friend Dan and he couldn't go to class. It hit us all pretty hard. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks, Nick."
The rest of the day went on slowly. My thoughts were far from me. Kevin was always smiling. He was a role model and still is. He never once thought of himself. He always helped out with anything he could and he never missed an opportunity to make someones day. Reflecting on Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for in the life of Kevin Szafranski, and I feel so privileged to have known him and to become a part of a family with him in the Penn State Abington Baseball team. You will be missed Kevin.
Comments
Post a Comment