"Howard Gray" (unknown)

Date: 04/21/2000
From: Yeontoo

Most everyone knows or knows of a Howard Gray. Those who don't could be the Howard everyone else knows.

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Most everyone I knew put the whole Gray family down.
They were the poorest family in that little country town.

Howard always looked too big,
In his funny ragged clothes.

The kids all laughed at him,
And someone always turned up their nose.

Howard sat across from me,
In the seventh grade at school,

I didn't like it much,
But momma taught the golden rule.

So when the spitballs flew at him,
I never would join in.

I guess that was the reason,
Howard thought I was his friend.

After things had quietened down,
Sometimes I'd turn and see,

The grateful eyes of Howard Gray,
Looking back at me.

Howard Gray, oh Howard Gray,
Somehow they got their kicks,
Out of treating you that way.

Deep down I kinda liked you,
But I was too afraid,
To be a friend to you,
...Howard Gray.

One day after lunch,
I went to comb my hair and saw,

They had Howard pinned,
Against the locker in the hall.

They were poking fun at him,
About the big hole in his shirt,

And had his left arm twisted back,
Till I was sure it hurt.

To this day I can't explain,
And I won't try to guess,

Just how it was that I wound up,
Laughing harder than all the rest.

I laughed until I cried,
But thru my tears I still could see,

The tear-stained eyes of Howard Gray,
Looking back at me.

Howard Gray, oh Howard Gray,
I can't believe I joined them all,
In treating you that way.

I wanted to apologize,
But I was too afraid,
Of what they'd think of me,
...Howard Gray.

Now, from that day on,
After I'd made fun of him,

He never looked my way,
He never smiled at me again.

Not much longer after that,
His family moved away.

That's the last I ever saw
Or heard of Howard Gray.

Now that was 40 years ago,
And still I haven't found,

Just why we'll kick a brother,
Or a sister when they're down.

I know it might sound crazy,
But now and then I dream,

About the eyes of Howard Gray,
Looking back at me.

Howard Gray, oh Howard Gray,
I've never quite forgiven us
For treating you that way.

I hope that maybe somehow,
You'll hear this song someday,
And know that I am sorry,
...Howard Gray

We'll probably never meet again,
All I can do is pray,
May you and God forgive me,
...Howard Gray

wow...very powerful

Date: 04/21/2000
From: Sabre_Edge

Oh man how true this is...hindsight is so 20/20. I knew a couple of kids like Howard. Why do we avoid being their friends just because they don't exactly fit our model? Now you got me really "pondering" (as A§her) would say.

I really hope we don't have anybody that feels like a Howard on our board.

SE

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/20047
Nominated by DMD