"More than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice"
—Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

You were my grandpa’s best friend. You always had a crush on mom and grandma even though they’ve both married and moved on. You were so kind and always sang the loudest in church. I’d hear your voice and thik, ‘Yep I hear Mackie.’

You were sick as hell but still you came to church as often as you could. You taught me some things that I’ll never forget.

1. Always be kind. You never know whose watching. Mom always loved that about you. ‘The nicest, senile, old man I’ve ever met.’

2. Where there’s a church ther’s a way. Mom told me you were supposed to die alot sooner than you did. I alwas wondered why and then it hit me. You were at church. People say just going to church adds ten years to your life.

3. Never give up on unrequited love. Mom always smiled when you’d flirt with her and it just never occured to you that maybe she wasn’t interested. You just kept flirting and kept smiling ’till the day you left the eath.