Working It Out: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope by Abby Rike & Shay Sorrells

Author:Abby Rike & Shay Sorrells [RIKE, ABBY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIO026000
ISBN: 9781609419288
Publisher: FaithWords
Published: 2011-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

Mrs. Rike,

I just wanted to pay my respects… and tell you how important you and your family became to me in the past year…

Almost daily (an every-other-day sort of ritual) Nick DeAnda or someone would get up at 3:05 and walk to the front doors to pick up Macy. And every other day, she would come bouncing in, brimming with her adventures from school to tell. She was just so exuberant. It never failed to amaze me, how constantly cheerful she could be. The moment she walked in the room, she became the center of attention. It was an attention she thrived on. Her races and cartwheels—she loved being in the middle of everything. She had to know everyone…

Mr. Rike was so full of confidence—faith—in the people around him. But it wasn’t a sort of blind trust. He was realistic—more of a “trust man, and man will prove himself to be trusted” kind of person. And, amazingly, it seemed to work out with him…

Last week sometime, we went to class and he had his laptop and projector out. Baby picture time. (We just smiled, and general laughter and teasing ensued. We all wanted to see the much heard of Caleb, but had to give the father a bit of a hard time first.) Mr. Rike sort of hemmed and hawed and said that, “You know, no baby is really cute when they’re first born.” We laughed and then he said, “But Caleb really is good to look at.” Then he showed us the pictures… Caleb was his son, UT and all. He was so proud of him… He said he sat there, holding your hand, the entire time. No fainting or anything. He was so proud and full of love for all of you…

I remember unloading the bus that day we had District UIL… You and Mr. Rike took me aside and handed me a silver medal for Journalism. It was for “all my hard work” you said. For trying. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me, after I had “blown” my events—at least place-wise. That medal is hanging in my room, where it has been for the past seven, eight months, a reminder of last year, and my first year on Team Rike. It wasn’t the only material reminder of last year, though, for Canton High School. The District trophy was something else. Everyone had to touch it, feel it. Make sure it was real. It was the Holy Grail of CHS. That trophy was sacred.

Just like their memories will be. He was a wonderful teacher and an extraordinary person to know. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. I still keep wondering when I’ll wake up and it’ll all be back to normal…

Mr. Rike was incredible. The way he could take such a personal and caring interest in everyone. He knew what was going on in their lives. He knew our athletic schedules—something I can barely keep up with. Knowing him is one of the greatest honors and pleasures I have ever had and ever will have.

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