Man Overboard

( On April 9th, 2006 the greatest friend I will ever have passed on. I'm sittin here in tears typing this story on my droid. I have this story to share with you about this fallen teamrider, as always I hope you like it, I know I do.)

My old friend Flint was a little apprehensive about his 21st birthday. He was alone, his family had packed up and moved back west. Flint chose to continue his life here a little longer before following them. I think it was cause he loved us as much as his family.

Flint had told me he wanted his father to be there for his birthday. I knew what he meant. He was like me or most young men, he wanted acceptance from his father. My 21st birthday I actually tried to be around my father, you know as a"Man now".

The morning of his birthday I got up, well morning for us was late afternoon. I got up got my act together and before grabbing my board I dug through my closet till I found what I was looking for and headed out for our nightly rondevu at the Carrows.

I was the first to arrive of all the crew. I waited and was seated in the smoking area and served my usual coke. After a short wait Flint arrived, I had told the hostess that when he arrived to show him to my table and she did. He set down his skateboard and removed his backpack known as "Jerry" and sat down.

I started off by saying happy birthday, then I told him this:

" In the old days when a boy reached adulthood and became a man, his father would take him to the edge of the family land, hand him a weapon and send him off into the world to make his fortune.

Flint you are 21 and a man now, since your father is absent and I am your senior , I will take his place…"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a brand new pair of Escrima sticks. His eyes widened as I presented them to him handle first. A while after I had met Flint he had made a set of sticks from a shovel handle, even carving nodes in them to make em resemble rattan.

He took them from my hand, eyes wide with wonder.

"Flint your a man now, go and make your fortune…"

He looked at me, then hugged me, he told me he loved me. Then we made our plans for the night and went skating…

(Flint carried those sticks around for a long time. I don't know what happened to them after his death but I'm sure if you went though his stuff you find a worn pair of escrima sticks amungst his things…)

In loving memory of Flint "Busta" Beck.

-B