Carly Alves remembers Joey

Joey was a senior when I was freshman, and anyone who went to Escalon High knows that as a freshman it is scary to walk down main hall and in between the senior benches. It may have been scary for a week or two but with a friendly face like Joey’s, it didn’t seem all that bad. I first met Joey through Blake, my sister and Laken. For about two years he was around quite often. He had such an outgoing personality and was always so nice to me. He told me once that if any guy ever hurt me to let him know and he would do something about it. Naturally, when that first boy hurt me Joey and Blake were the first people I wanted to tell. They both told me I could do better, but that day at school when I asked Joey what he was going to do, he proudly said that he had given that boy a dirty look. Truth was he was such a friendly guy he didn’t want to hurt anybody. After Joey graduated I didn’t see him all that often. I would occasionally see him driving down my street heading home from Blake’s and he always rolled down his window to wave. Every time I did see him though, he would greet me with a hug and ask how things were going. I was excited to see Joey was at Park Fete this past summer. He was kicking back and having a good time. He always had a smile on his face. We talked for a while and joked about how old he was and that Virginia was already a senior. Luckily for me Virginia and I had became close in P.I.T two years prior. I loved getting to know her better and watching the way she looked up to her older brother. Mr. French would always ask her how Joey was doing and when he was coming in. He was such a well liked guy. Nobody knows why things like this happen and I find myself constantly wondering why him, why this family. The Pinasco's are such an amazing family and my love, thoughts, and prayers are always with them.