The apologies were late, short and misspelled.
Last October, Brandon Storey, a 16-year-old student at Greenfield High School, was beaten by four teens who didn't know him; they just jumped him and pounded him. Earlier this year, he had surgery to repair a knee injury that had been aggravated during the beating. Ten days later he died.
| BAS Ride/Run/Walk |
| The Brandon A. Storey (BAS) Foundation will hold a BAS Ride/Run/Walk '98 on Sept. 27 on the Milwaukee Mile racetrack at State Fair Park. If you want an entry form, you can record your name and address at 327-3357 or pick up forms at the Greenfield and West Allis libraries, many SuperAmerica stations on the south side and major bicycle shops. Participants can ride bikes, walk, run or roll their wheelchairs to raise money to help cognitively disabled kids, whom Brandon helped and loved. |
Court-ordered letter No. 1, written to Danny and Lori Storey, the parents of Brandon:
"Mr. and Mrs. Story (sic), This letter I'm writing right now was supposed to be for Brandon. I am very, very sorry for what happened to Brandon. I swear, I swear to you I did not want that to happen, when I found out that happened I was in shock, after I was told that your son died.
"I sat down and thought about how stupid it was to do that to your son. I didn't even know who your son was. . . . Every day before I go to bed I lay down and I think about why I did it -- why I beat up your son for no reason at all.
"I probably know you don't really care what I think cuz what I did, but I mean it when I say I'm sorry for what happened. I have a lot of sympathy for both of you and all of your family. That's all I got to say."
Letter No. 2: "Dear Storie (sic) Family, There isn't anything I can do or say to earn your friendship or your respect. I can only tell you as another person how sorry I am for what I have done. I have a real empty feeling about this whole incident. I shouldn't have participated in the fight that night. I didn't even know Brandon.
"I know how hard it is to lose someone close to you. It feels really bad and makes you upset. If I could take back what I did I would in a second. . . . I am really not a bad kid either. So whatever it does mean to you I am truely sorry for what I did. Sincerly."
The final remarks were written by Danielle Storey, who explained something the teens didn't know; she explained who Brandon was:
"Brandon was a good brother. He was just starting to be a mature adult with a great future. No ordinary brother would be nice to their little sister and take them shopping. . . . Brandon wasn't an ordinary person. In fact, he didn't want to be ordinary. He never even wanted to be a macho man or a tough show-off. He is hard to explain. He was one of a kind.
"He was a quiet person. He never thought he had any friends until he got beat up. He would have been so happy if he were still alive and knew how many girls wanted to marry him. . . . When I saw (one of the boys who beat Brandon) I knew he was a wimp. Tough boys don't have curls. I just wanted to do back to him what he did to Brandon. I really wanted to but I didn't. I didn't because I was taught by great parents that that isn't right. What isn't right, you will pay for.
"I had a horrible 13th birthday. There was no brother to make me green pancakes. . . . I wish he were here to see me. I am pushing myself to do things. I made it to the Regional Spelling Bee. I made Government Day (when she worked with Greenfield Police Chief Francis Springob). Before I filled out the form, I told Brandon, 'Please let me make it.' She read the names of who made it. While she was reading, I said, 'Come on, Brandon, please, if my name isn't on the list, add it.'
"I asked him to help me get on the volleyball team. I made it. I asked him to let me hear his voice again. (And) if he met grandpa, Aunt Elsie and Uncle Jay in heaven yet? "I keep hoping this is just a dream. I hope. But like everyone says, no one can come back to life. I just want to start all over. Go back to when we both weren't born and start all over. Both of us. Oh boy do I wish."