The first was a 16 yr old kid . . . very quiet and shy. He went into the garage and put a hose through the window of the family car. By the time they found him it was too late. Oddly, it was hardly spoken about. Almost like he didn't matter.
The second was a guy we had spent a summer holiday with. He was a lovely guy but also rather shy. He did a similar thing . . . drove out to a country lay-by after work. He had 2 little girls.
The third was a young girl who had become pregnant as was later discovered . . . she had told nobody. She overdosed on meds.
The fourth was my best friend. We had moved congo's but still kept in touch regularly. He was struggling with depression and took advice from an MS (Elders son) in the congregation who was into "alternative" therapies. He had stopped his regular meds 2 weeks before driving to his parents house and shooting himself in their lounge. He had a wife and two children. His widow questioned his "treatment" and was disfellowshipped for slander 3 months after he died. She's now reinstated and remarried. His daughter has attempted suicide twice since. I loved him.
The fifth was a sister about my age who had an unbelieving mate. My wife knew her well. He was a real nice guy and never attempted to disuade her. She was also receiving personal "support" from an Elder who was once ticked off for visiting her on his own. She had not long started pioneering when she took an overdose. She had a teenage son.
The sixth was another youth . . . 17. His father was in another congo so I studied with him. He became very close to my eldest son. He was so incredibly talented . . . at everything he did . . . but was so modest along with it. Just a great kid . . . and I came to love him too. It's complicated, but he was basically persecuted by the COBE who hated his father. The final straw was when he was rung by the COBE the night before the Assembly and told his approval for baptism had been withdrawn. Several other youths, his friends, all got baptised except him. Nothing was said to me. I got a ring on the Monday to say he'd hung himself in his garage . . . by sliding off the roof of his beloved "project car" I still greive deeply for him.
There were 4 others . . . but I can't do this anymore.
