A Second Chance Merudh Vijay Patel

Edward Jones was my next-door neighbor until my family moved to a different town five years ago. He stood about six feet tall, told great jokes, and played the best songs on his acoustic guitar. He always gave my me and my friends chocolates, and talked about how much he loved children. Unfortunately, he and his wife never became parents. Eight years ago, she died, and Edward resorted to a life of solitude. Before my family moved, I occasionally caught a glimpse of him sitting on his balcony, staring into space. He became a recluse and showed no more interest in spending time with me or with my friends. My parents told me Edward had some kind of illness, and that it was best to leave him alone. I regret avoiding Edward in the time before I moved away. Unfortunately, I never had the courage to approach him. On November 15, 2004, my friend Edward Marcus Jones, diagnosed with severe depression and the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease, suffered a heart attack and died.

Today, if ten dollars could buy Edward a second chance for happiness, I would spend my day of adventure with him. All we would need is his acoustic guitar and the haunts of my old neighborhood. We might travel to the town park to sing some of his beautiful...