Member-only story
My Uncle’s Tragic Life
And the lessons he taught me
Chris was my favorite uncle. I remember spending summer days at Malone’s Lake, bobbing on his knee as he explained again how I had to reach out with my arms and kick my feet to stay above the surface. I remember reaching for him when I would venture too far into the water, his hands grasping me underneath my arms just before I went under.
I remember him clinging to my hand and pushing me forward as I wabbled between him and Uncle Jamie on my first set of roller skates at the local skating rink. I remember him encouraging me to jump from the moving swing at Stubb’s Park, assuring me he’d catch me as twilight faded into darkness and running to our grandmother’s house before the streetlights came on.
Chris was always on the edge, existing on the threshold between the light and darkness…so went the story of his life.
Christopher Forbes was born on December 8, 1968. He was nearly fourteen years old when I was born, and he took to me like an older brother, as I was a fixture at my grandmother’s house on weekends and during the summers of my childhood. My aunt was only five years older than me. Chris and Jamie were our protectors.
But somewhere along the way, my uncle Chris’s life took a turn. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t someone who struggled with drug…
