Joshua Coleman Waddle, 1990-2009
by Jessica
Josh & I, Spring Break 2008: Disney World
Josh was 19 years old, going to college, majoring in Coaching & minoring as an Algebra teacher. He was only 19. For some reason, Arkansas had just about the rainiest October ever. On the 29th, it was raining really hard. Like, so hard that you could hardly see the road. We live in a small town and Josh lived in a dorm at his college a good hour and a half away. He had a college class, along with two of his friends, the class was about 10 minutes out of town. That night through the rain and the storming they managed to wreck. They were in a truck. Billy Watts in the backseat, my brothers best friend since the were in Kindergarten, Josh Atchley was driving, and my brother Josh was in the passenger seat. My mom got a frantic call from Josh's fiance, Hannah (they dated for 3 1/2 years). She said she knew something was wrong and she and her friend went looking for him. My mom comes into my room, tells me to get dressed, because Josh has been in a wreck. (This is about 9:00 at night). My mom was on her knees praying in our kitchen, shaking. Her and I both were getting ready to go to a hospital. My dad was on hold with some hospital he had called. I stepped outside into our garage to put something in the bag I'd grabbed and thrown into our vehicle. I see headlights. There's a police car. I run inside shaking. He knocks on our front door and comes inside. My mom, so strong, falls to her knees in hysterical cries. My dad looks at the officer and says, please don't give me the news that I think you're going to give me. Police officer: Are you Bruce and Carla Waddle, parents of Josh Waddle? Then we knew. I was in shock, just... stunned. My head was screaming "No, NO, he's here, he's SUPPOSED to be here, he can't JUST LEAVE, he's here, he always has been, CAN'T THEY DO SOMETHING?" My head goes a million miles per hour, I can't cry. My mom and dad are on their knees, crying hysterically. People show up immediately, they found out so fast. My mom grabs a picture of him off our mantle and hugs it as tight as she can. I've never seen my mom cry but once or twice. Much less like this. My other brother, Jake, 21 comes in from Fort Smith (1 hour away) with his wife. I've never seen him so quiet. My head is still spinning. I never imagined this would happen. Never. Josh was my big brother. The one who was always supposed to be there and always was supposed to be there Christmas morning, and to help me with math homework and crack everyone up laughing on the million hour long road trips. Always. The truck hydoplaned and ended up hitting a big truck. I don't know what exactly happened to Josh, or if I even want to find out what caused him to die. Josh Atchley, my bubba's best friend, was driving and now lives with the grief and medical problems. Billy Watts was awake through the whole wreck. He never knocked out. I am 14 years old, my name is Jessica. I feel angry all the time and I just don't know what to do anymore. I went from being the happiest and most bubbly person ever, to being so weak and easily-angered, that I don't want to get up in the morning. I thank God every day for keeping my bubba safe in heaven. I love my Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, soul, and mind. One thing this whole situation has showed me, is that you're never promised tomorrow, and if you're not right with God, you better get there. You never know when your life is going to end. I love you, Joshy. Love, your baby sister<3 Jessica.
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