Andy

In my 20's, I began a lifetime of Confidence which flooded my life with amazing memories.
But at 12, I was still trying to find out who Steve Tarde was and what it meant to be alive.
I tried to deflect with my humor, but that wasn't always successful.
Then there was Andy.
Andy was a popular boy who all the boys longed to be.
Swashbuckling, sailing through life, great grades, athlete, good looking, swarming with girlfriends.
What more could a 12 year old boy want?
He was James Bond before we all were introduced to James Bond.
One day it became known that our 6th grade trip from our little hamlet in New York to the nation's capitol might be cancelled due to the fact that a 6th grader was being accused of bending silverware.
One of the more intimidating teachers stalked the cafeteria that day and challenged us to give up our friend, sell out a comrade to save the class.
I weighed the two and whispered Andy's name to the teacher who swore complete confidentiality.
It was only a ruse.
There was no confidentiality.
I became a villain to the graduating class.
I was a snitch.
The few friends I had left me that day.
Andy died last year of cancer, a prominent doctor, set to be wed to a woman who still has not recovered from his death.
Andy and I were still on the outs at the time of his passing, almost 50 years after my betrayal.
Some things one never forgets.