3/5/1994
Yesterday John Candy died of a heart attack. He was 43 years old. Andy and I were sitting in the living room and doing homework after school with the T.V. on and the news was talking about it. It’s so sad to think about. He was a really funny guy. He was in the movie “Home Alone” in 1990. I love that movie. They showed a clip from his scene there and from other movies too. He seemed to be a great, funny guy.
Later Andy’s mom came home and the first thing she said was, “Did you see who died? John Candy!”
Andy and I nodded our heads. But then she said, “You know why? Because he was fat. When you’re fat, you get heart attacks. I’d think carefully about how much you eat Andy.”
Come on! Really? I was so happy when Andy spoke up.
“Mom, I don’t eat that much. I’m only a little overweight.”
“A little? I see that belly right there.” I knew what she was referring to. I had noticed her belly hanging a bit over her waist, but not that much.
“John Candy was obese, and it’s not his fault he was fat.”
“Not his fault?” her mom laughed. “Nobody made him eat until he got to be hundreds of pounds.”
“I don’t weigh that much and I’m not obese. He was also losing weight. They said so on the news.”
“Are you losing weight? No, you keep gaining.”
What Andy said, better yet, shouted next took me by surprise.
“How can I lose weight with you constantly putting me down?!”
Her mother was stunned too. Andy’s never shouted at her mother since we were five years old and her mother had slapped her face for being sassy. “Putting you down? I don’t put you down.”
“You don’t help me either! Nobody helps me! You only criticize me! You and everyone else!”
“Who?” Her mom was shouting back now. “And I don’t criticize you! I’m trying to help you.”
“Well you’re not!”
With that said Andy got up, went to her room and slammed the door.
“ANDY!”
I left after that. I didn’t know what to do or say. I walked home but that was alright. I was shaking with anger for Andy’s mom, shocked by Andy’s reactions and confession, but most of all extreme guilt. I’ve been telling myself to talk to her but I haven’t. I’ve been an awful friend. I bet she was referring to me. She was telling me that I wasn’t helping her and that made me feel… words can’t describe it.
I got home crying and my mom saw me before I was able to get to my room. I told her everything and she told me that I wasn’t a bad friend. She told me that I should talk to Andy tomorrow at school when we were alone. I love my mom so much.
~Sky
