Tears of a Tiger

Tears of a Tiger

After a basketball game, four kids, Andrew Jackson, Tyrone Mills, Robert Washington and B.J. Carson, celebrate a win by going out drinking and driving. Andrew lost control of his car and crashed into a retaining wall on I-75. Andy, Tyrone, and B.J. escaped from the four-door Chevy right after the accident. Teen basketball star and Hazelwood high team captain was sitting in the passenger’s side with his feet on the dashboard. When the crash happened, his feet went through the windshield and he was unable to escape. The gas tank then exploded and burned Robbie to death while the three unharmed kids tried to save him.

Andy goes back to school and talks to his basketball coach about how he feels about Rob’s death and how his fiends and family feel about the accident. In addition, they discuss Andy’s sentence because Andy keeps punishing himself for Rob’s death. Everybody at school was crying during Rob’s memorial service. Grief Counselors from downtown come to the school to try to get the kids to share their feelings.

At the next basketball practice, Andy comes in late and the coach tells him to get ready for warm-ups. In their next game, the Hazelwood Tigers are down late in the fourth quarter. Andy makes a three pointer for the win with five seconds left in the game. After the game, the coach gives Andy Rob’s position as starting center and team captain.

Andy goes to psychologist, Dr. Carrothers, to discuss his depression about Rob’s death. He does not think he needs to be there because he is fine in school and he is fine at home. Andy talks about why the accident is his fault. He realizes he needs help with his depression and wants to come back for another visit to discuss what is going on with him.

When Andy goes to visit the psychologist for a second time, they start talking about Andy’s grades. Andy’s parents yell at him because he will never get into a good college. Andy has been feeling pressure to do well in school, as college gets closer and closer. Everybody in Andy’s class hates Marcus because he makes while all the other brothers in his class make Cs and Ds. His school counselor did not help him at all when he went to visit she just said he would not be able to succeed in pre-law because it was too demanding and he should just stick to sports. Andy does not try in school because the teachers do not think he is paying attention in class. They think he is just another dumb kid.

After Christmas break Andy goes to see Dr. Carrothers again. This will be the first Christmas without Rob. Andy tells a story about how he and Rob used to go into a store and mess with the sales woman behind the counter because she was afraid of them because of their appearance. It always made him feel bad the way they were treated.

Kiesha calls Andy to tell him there is snow on the ground and