(The Genell Swoops story)
 

By Johnny Bodley
 

On February 3rd, 2003, a fifteen year old girl whom I'd known for about six months, died from pneumonia due to complications of AIDS during a 7th period science class at her high school in her hometown in north Alabama. This would be the saddest day of the year at Fairfax high school. It would also be one of my saddest days as well, because I'd grown to love and respect this young lady so much during the short time that I'd known her. She'd become my best friend. Like the average tenth grader she loved music, parties and boys. Sometimes she would talk on the phone nearly all night. Children of all ages especially teens often ask me how I met Genell Swoops. Well, first let me say a few things about her.
 

Born on January 13th, nineteen eighty-eight she was the oldest of three, Joey, a twelve year old bad little brother, and thirteen year old Tiffany, a younger sister, both of them were juvenile delinquents. Their Dad had long abandoned the family and Marquetta, their Mother was working as an assembly line worker six days a week at the local cheese factory, and doing the best she could trying to raise them all by herself. Of the three, 'Nell was the only one who hadn't been in trouble with the law.
 

Because of that everyone showed her so much love. And because she was so smart and had made the A-B honor roll every year since first grade, her mom bought her a new car, a new bedroom set and a new wardrobe. But she would be the first to say that she wasn’t perfect. Especially when people would ask her why did she hook up with Rico, the new boy that she had met? Rico was a thug if there ever was one, who tried to get on (sex) every girl in the 'hood and at school. Because of his thuggish attitude, all the girls from around the way and at school wanted to be down with him. "There's just somethin' about him,” they would say, that made a girl just want to chill with him.
 

Because of an incident in California, where he was from, his family sent him to Alabama to live with his grandparents for a while. Prior to meeting Rico, 'Nell was deeply in love with Wesley, the love of her life, at least she thought he was. They'd made a promise to each other to be together forever, to be faithful, and that they would wait until they were married before they have sex. The both of them were virgins and deep within themselves very proud of this, but ashamed to admit it to others.
 

Wesley was the captain on the basketball team, as well as a straight a student who looked forward to going to the University of Alabama, Auburn University, or Alabama State University after high school. 'Nell was also the school's star cheerleader.
 

Her ultimate goal was becoming a Los Angeles Laker girl. Wes', as some called him always spoke good about 'Nell everywhere he went even to other girls. "When we get married once we graduate from college, we're going to have a whole lot of children" he would often boast proudly.  He was truly in love and seemed to worship the ground that she walked on. It really broke his heart when it started going around at school that 'Nell was seeing Rico. She swore that there was nothing to it when Wes asked her about it. "Don't get upset dog, it ain't nothin'."
 

But Wes' began to get depressed day by day and started to hang around with other girls but would'nt have sex with them. 'Nell really weren't having sex with Rico the thug either. One night at a game in Mobile, Wes' met a girl named Alexandria; a very beautiful cheerleader from the school Fairfax was playing who thought that he was very fine. It was on a Friday night so Wes' lied to his coach saying that he'd gotten permission from his parents to stay in Mobile for the weekend with relatives just to be with her. Alexandria owned the kind of car that most girls older than her dreamed of having, a brand new Eclipse convertible, and it was loaded with a set of shinny sprewell spinners.
 

Wes' felt like a big timer up in her ride, and immediately fell hard for Alexandria, and right away they drove to a deserted country road near the battle ship USS Alabama, parked and jumped in the back seat and had sex. It was his first time. When 'Nell got word of this she was hurt really badly. She thought that her world would end. " I don't want to live anymore," she shouted." How could Wes' do this to me." She cried as she ran from her classroom towards her locker. She took a razor blade from her gym bag that she kept with her that she used to shave her underarms with, and ran out of the school's front door.
 

She had decided that she would cut her wrist. She didn't see Rico standing behind the gym taking a leak. "What are you doing yo?” He said. "I'm gonna kill myself," she said while crying profusely. "Well don't kill yo'self yet, 'cause you ain't let me hit that yet." He said sounding very serious. So right there behind the gym in less than fifteen minutes they had sex. It was her first time and afterwards she really hated the fact that she'd done it. Her virginity was something that she'd cherished, and the one thing that she knew really made her very very special. But just like that she was a virgin no more.
 

She often told me how much she regretted doing it, and that she only did it because she was feeling real low after what Wes' had done. In the following week's word started going around on campus that Rico was sick, and that he had the virus (HIV). 'Nell dismissed it as just talk. But one day she went to see her doctor because she thought that she was pregnant. " Would it be all right if I give you an HIV test?" The Doctor asked her,  "I don't care, she said."
 

On Thanksgiving morning, 2002 the constant ringing of my phone woke me from a deep sleep, it was Genell, and she was crying and sounding very sad and scared. "What's wrong Nellie?" I asked very cautiously, knowing that she would tell me something real bad had happen to her. "I got it JB," she cried. " You got what" I said sounding very concerned. I got AIDS! Rico gave me AIDS! I'm gonna die! Please help me JB." For a moment there was dead silence on the phone because I was totally in shock.
 

I felt very helpless at the moment.  “ You’re not going to die,” I said sounding very convincing.  I’d already planned on spending Thanksgiving Day with ‘Nell and her family, and had already told her that I was going to eat them out of a house and a home. But this shocking news snapped my appetite right out of me. After several weeks had passed and she accepted the fact that she was infected with HIV she was never the same.
 

Most of her days would find her feeling sorry for herself. I’d given her the name lonely girl, and whenever I hit her up on the phone I would always say “hey there lonely girl,” and she would always say “hey there lonely boy.” It got so bad till I had to constantly remind her that her teddy bear was not the only friend she had in this world. Some days she would feel pretty good. But then some days she would feel very bad, and on her good days she longed to go to Fairfax and just talk to the students.
 

But she could never get up enough nerve. She wanted to tell them so bad to be careful so that they wouldn’t end up like her. On her feel bad days she would always ask me to sing her a song, and I would always sing, “ His Eye is On the Sparrow.” I would always remind her that she’d become God’s special sparrow because she cared so much and was so concerned about her classmates and friends. 
 

Once while sitting next to me with her head resting upon my shoulder she asked  “is God going to let me into heaven when it’s time for me to go?”  “ Sure, He still loves you, He would never stop loving you because of one mistake,” I said while hugging her neck very tight as if I was choking her. “JB when I’m gone who’s gonna love and take care of teddy” she looked me straight in the eyes and said. “I will, don’t I love and take care of you” I said smiling.
 

It was early in the morning on February 3^rd, when I received a phone call telling me that they’d rushed ‘Nell to Helen Keller hospital in Sheffield. I was told that she was asking for me, and that she wanted me to stop by her house and pick up Teddy. When I entered her room at the hospital she had this big smile on her face, one that I’d never saw before. “ Hey there lonely boy” she said smiling. “Hey there lonely girl” I said, trying very hard to hold back the tears. “YO, JB, sing my song” she said softly.
 

I began to sing, “Why should I feel discouraged, and why should the shadows?” overtaken by emotion, I had to suddenly stop. She went into her drawer and took out a red ribbon and a button that said I Love Carefully. She then pinned the button on teddy and tied the little red ribbon around his neck. “What are you getting ready to do choke teddy to death?” I asked jokingly. “Look at this red ribbon everyday JB, and when you do, think of me, because I’ll be in heaven thinking of you.” "You’re going to be right here with me and teddy,” I said while wiping the tears from my eyes.  "Hey there lonely boy don’t cry,” she whispered. Those were the last words she said.
 

With a trace of a smile still gracing her very young face, Genell died. I kneeled beside her bed, held her hand in mine and said a prayer. My best friend was gone. Knowing that this would be the last time that I would have the opportunity to hold her in my arms I took advantage of the moment. I held her close, kissed her forehead and said softly “I love you.” Genell was laid to rest at the saddest graveside service I’d ever attended on February 9^th, 2003 at three in the after noon in the family’s cemetery next to the Tennessee river near Huntsville.
 

I remained at her graveside long after everyone had left talking and singing to her. At first night I sung her favorite song one last time, kissed her grave again, and said softly  “Goodbye lonely girl.” I then drove home to Selma. I will never ever forget my friend Genell. Because of her I’m a better person, and determined to do everything that I can to keep her memory alive. I am determined to do all that I can to destroy the disease that destroyed her during the best time of her life, her childhood. So the battle for me continues, I must fight on. For Genell, and for people everywhere, especially young people, I will fight on.    
 

 eyes...
 

 johnnybodley.yahoo.com