Goodbye, Bud
Preston,
I took this photo on Friday Oct 27, 2023. Everything was fine.
The next day I talked to Mae Mae and she told me about the plans that you, your sister, your mom and her were going to carve pumpkins and have chili on Sunday.
Even though you don't like chili all that much.
Mae Mae told me about finding the perfect pumpkins at the store and how she scolded the clerk that helped get them for her.
Evidently, he had picked them up by just the stem and she was worried that he would break the perfect stems and that is why she had picked them out.
You went out with your friends that night and at some point it all went terribly wrong.
Some cowardly pieces of shit attacked you for a reason I have yet to find out and took you from us and left you in the street.
Some heroes that didn't know you or anything about how good of a person you are brought you back and turned you over to first responders and your were able to make it to the hospital.
Sunday morning in Nutrioso, I got a call from your mom telling me that you had been hurt and it "wasn't good" and I needed to get there as soon as possible. I asked her what had happened and after a while she was able to tell me you had been attacked.
She asked me to call Mae Mae and to let her know what was happening and where you were.
As I talked with Mae Mae we didn't know the damage that had been done to you and we just said this isn't happening you were supposed to carve pumpkins and eat chili.
After I talked with her she was able to get a hold of your mom's friend so she could get a ride to come see you.
I don't remember much about the drive from Nutrioso to AJ but when I got to the house to drop stuff off before coming to see you. I opened the kitchen door and there were the pumpkins you guys should have been carving.
I yelled and probably cussed a little. It must have been a little louder than I thought and a neighbor came to see what was wrong. I told him and he asked if he could pray with me. That meant a lot. I told him I had been praying for my whole drive down from Nutrioso and it should be ok.
I got to the hospital and was in no way prepared for you.
The little boy that should have been carving pumpkins I for some reason had pictured in my head was long gone and had been replaced with a young man that had earlier been driving my truck and I couldn't talk to him. He was hurt beyond anything I have ever seen before.
As my heart was being ripped out and shredded. All I could do was watch as your Mom, Dad, Tatum, & Melissa hold you and spend time with you. I was still thinking that this is not real you should be carving pumpkins and eating chili.
We went away that night hoping for better news. That news never came to be.
The next day about 3:00 we started saying goodbye to you and left you with your Mom and Dad.
Goodbye Bud is all l could say.
I had a chance to meet those hero young men that brought you back and thank them. They are heroes to me for the fact they gave us time to say goodbye to you.
Love ya bud,
Grampa
—Written and shared by Tony Reich, Preston’s Grandfather
