Michelle remembers her brother Joey

Joey wasn't just my brother or my friend, he was my hero and my role model. I was constantly looking up to him on how cool he was with all the friends he had and how many people he knew. He was just a normal big brother who would pick on me, not even let me talk to a boy he was very protective mostly over me, because I am the one who is just like him very social, outgoing, kinda rebelious and so he knew how I was and would just sometimes worry about me. We didn't always get along ,but we knew we loved each other. I remember it was the third day of my eigth grade year and there was this boy in my class that I liked and I was "going out" with him (and you would just hold hands and give hugs goodbye) but I came home and went in the living room where my brother was laying and he knew everything and I never had any idea how but, anyways he was like "third day of school and you already have a boyfriend?" He would always be on me about boys and would tell my mom "Don't let her go there, I never was allowed to do that at her age and I was always like "shut up joey you dont know uggggh" but I look back and think he was just trying to protect me and now am so thankful he was like that. And I would never do anything to let my brother down or that he wouldnt approve of...just as if he was still here.

As we were younger I was more close with my brother because believe it or not I was actually suppose to be a boy and when I came out a girl as of what I hear he was a tad bit upset. It didn't really matter because I was pretty much a tom boy and so I was like another boy in the family so we were pretty close and got along real well and I was always his little sister. But as time went on I started to grow up and my brother felt that his job was to start being the BIG brother and always waiting for those punks who messed with "Joey P's" little sisters so he could go beat them up. I just miss how he would say "whos the guy?"

It was a couple years ago on christmas break when I went for my first snowboarding trip and my brother, Adri and Virginia my two sisters, John my brother in law and one of his lady friends (because he had so many of them) all went. So we get up to the top of the cliff and I was ready to get up and go and I was like "Joey I don't know how to do this" he responded "just go!" so he shoved me down the moutain and I'm going so fast not knowing how to stop or how to even ride a board so I end up running into a tree. All these people were like"oh my gosh did you just see that boy shove that girl down the moutain?" So he felt kinda bad and was like get up I'll teach you how. He stayed with me the whole day and I am glad to say that my brother took me and taught me how to snowboard.

In the summer my brother was dating my best friend's sister, Mallory and I just remember it was the day of park fete and I asked if he could take me because the rest of the family wasn't going till later. So we are driving and I was like "oh by the way can you run by and pick up Kyle (Mallorys brother)?" And I remember him getting this big smile on his face and saying "yeah I guess" So nosey me, I saw Joey texting Mallory telling her "yeah I'm picking up your brother you should come and say hi" So we pull up to the house and Mallory and her little brother Kyle come out and Kyle hops in and when Mallory and Joey are done talking we leave and Kyle says "so you've been talking to my sister alot lately?" Joey responded "yeah she is a pretty cool girl haha" We get to park fete and Kyle gets out of the car and Joey grabs my arm and says "hey does Kyle like me..you know does he think I'm cool?" I replied yes Joey don't worry. Me and Kyle thought it was so funny that our siblings were dating and we would always tell each other stuff we heard from both of them then report back to each other. It wasn't just a Mallory and Joey relationship it was more like a Joey, Mallory, Kyle and Michelle relationship because we knew everything that was going on in the relationship and I think they got annoyed with us sometimes but thats what brothers and sisters do. haha

It was about a week before this terrible tragedy happened. I was at my friend Kyle's house making stuff for our first high school rally and Joey was picking me up. I get in the car and we say hi and stuff then it gets kinda quiet so Joey says "why don't you ever talk to me your always mad at me?" and all I say is "Joey be quiet" so he just turns on the music and we get home and he tells my mom that I was being rude and so we just all start fighting then I go to bed and wake up the next morning on a Saturday and my mom comes in my room and says "Michelle you and Joey are going to a Giants game together." We both were so mad. So we go and we were ok not fighting and the day was going really good and I was just so happy that my mom made us go to that game together because me and my brother never really did anything just us two. All I could remember was the entire way there we literally listened to the Kid Rock cd at least 4 times with the windows down. I loved it. Well when the game was over we went in front of the field and took one picture the whole day of just us two. I am so blessed to have that one picture to remind me of that wonderful day me and my brother had together That was probably the last time me and Joey actually got to talk and hang out just us two.

The last time I saw Joey was Saturday afternoon he came into my room as I was getting ready to hang out with my friends and as always says, "where do you think your going tonight?" And I was like "ugggh Joey to my friends house" then he was like "ok..don't do anything stupid" I said back to him "Joey I'm a smart girl I know", but as he walked out the door he said "I know. You were just like me, you know I love you" He left after that and that was the last time I spoke to my brother I'm so blessed to have those as his last words to me. This has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me and my family. There isn't one minute that goes by that I don't think about Joey. It just keeps going through my head "Why him, why our family what did we ever do to deserve this?" Our family will never have a normal holiday, dinner or family get together without my brother, this has changed our lives forever, we will never be the same people. I have lost so much respect for policemen they're supposed to be saving this world, but instead they're going out murdering pure innocent people not just to my brother but to other Americans its all over the news. But he is still here with us and he will give us little signs that he's here with us and that he's ok and everythings going to be alright. I have myself, had many dreams and signs that I know for a fact it's my brother trying to speak to me and to others. We just all need to fight for my brother 'til the end, till we get justice. I miss you so much please continue to give us signs that you're here. There will never go a day where I dont think about you. You will never be forgotten you touched so many peoples lifes in so many ways. You will and forever be my big brother. You will always be remembered as Joey P. (Mr. Goodtime) You're a Legend now.
Love forever and always your little sister,
Michelle