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14 to 17 really sucked for me, and for a combination of reasons.

In High school, as a Freshman, just over 4' tall I had to challenge a 6'4" Senior (It was the first week of school... hazing an all) to a fight after school, since I was the shortest and he was the tallest it seemed like a good prank to those that set it up, I took it serious and kicked his ass, (bad move), not only was he the tallest he had also been President of the Student Council, was the Captain of the Football team and would be for the Basketball team as well, so anyone that had or wanted a Lettermans Jacket pretty much had it in for me, my remaining years in High school were interesting and I kept it that way by being "in the rut" my temper, attitude and willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime and also being the smallest kid (even the Girls were bigger than I was) in the entire High school, and me being a walking Pimple with an erection, if I wasn't fighting I was thinking about girls, but being 4' tall covered with pimples and always in trouble for fighting, and mostly fighting guys that the girls liked (why I thought that was smart I will never know).

I hated High school so much I Graduated a year early and joined the Navy.

Sidebar

(((( I loved the Navy (The Military), it introduced me to discipline and the World, (right away I grew 16" and gained 80 lbs) then in the next 28 years (between the Navy, National Guard and Army) was able to go around the World 5 times and to visit more than 40 Countries. After I left the Military, Sept 11th happened, I wish I were just a few years younger and that they would let me come back, (more than that, it hurts my feelings that they haven't asked me to come back!)

On an earlier thread I mentioned that if I found Aladdin's Lamp, that I would wish for youth and the opportunity to go back and serve with my Brothers and Friends in the Military again and then I would sell the remaining two wishes on EBAY, and I really would. ))))

But Age catches us all and with each passing day another Hero or Mentor of mine dies, (recently it was Chris Ledoux) and those reminders of Age and Time and then remembering being 14 years old trying to disguise pimples and erections and fighting everyone in sight while standing 4' tall in High school...I wish I could tell that young man, the payoff of facing the challenges of life are later in life, the fellowship, the satisfaction of having served your fellow man, the Hugs and support to and from my Kids, my Wife and at every annual check-up with the family Physician when he lets me know I'm good to go until next year, (yea I Hug my DR. too, but not my Dentist) to be able to look back at the past and be amused by the path taken and the unknown destination that had not even been perceived and yet... it was achieved.

So with all that personal history and all of those words, my theory is this 14 year old young man died from the inexperience of youth and the wild drive of Hormones and the inability to balance advanced intellect without a corresponding physical stature or the patience to wait for the inevitable.

JMHO

May God keep him and hold him and forgive him of his sins as I pray that God forgives me of mine.

Rush-The Pass

Proud swagger out of the schoolyard
Waiting for the world’s applause
Rebel without a conscience
Martyr without a cause

Static on your frequency
Electrical storm in your veins
Raging at unreachable glory
Straining at invisible chains

And now you’re trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Can’t face life on a razor’s edge
Nothing’s what you thought it would be

All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
Turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor’s edge
Don’t turn your back
And slam the door on me

It’s not as if this barricade
Blocks the only road
It’s not as if you’re all alone
In wanting to explode

Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight

And now you’re trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Done with life on a razor’s edge
Nothing’s what you thought it would be

No hero in your tragedy
No daring in your escape
No salutes for your surrender
Nothing noble in your fate
Christ, what have you done?