Gilbert “Dice” J. Thomas
His nickname was ‘Dice‘ I told him that I thought it was a little silly when I went home in 2005. However, it was nice that he was “bonding” with the guys on his block and he had gotten a nickname out of it. I only start crying when I wonder what his last thoughts were or what he had hoped to do this year. I decided to draw him with the dice.
I remembered always asking him whether he had a girlfriend or not. He had some pretty interesting relationships and would tell me random things about them, not the entire stories of course, he would much rather be discreet. I could never get over the fact that he was dating because he was so young, and I was protective of my baby brother. He told me that he had “hit on” a woman once and I freaked out because she was so much older than me.
“Does she know how old you are?!” I asked really shocked.
He did his little grin that I was always fond of and turned.
“Oh boy, I don’t know what to do with you,” I responded. Everyone thought he was so much older because of his stature. I have no idea how any woman would look at this lanky brother of mine and thought he was 19-21 at age 16. I also couldn’t tell him what to do because I felt that I would be lecturing.
“My name is ‘Dice’ now,” he told me when I visited.
“Dice, huh? I don’t know… I kind of like Gilbert Better. I will be calling you Gilbert, feels a little strange calling you Dice.”
I will call him Dice because he wanted it.
Thanks Johanna for donating to the Fund today! I really appreciate everyone’s messages, voice mail, emails etc. Sometimes I got overwhelmed so I didn’t respond but it’s well received.
Jerlyn dear, it’s beautiful the things you write… thanks for sharing.
Hi Jerlyn,
Well cos, I never knew Gilbert but he was my cousin. My Dad’s grand nephew.
Please accept our sympathy from the Entire Lewis Family. In addition, he was also my cousin on my Mom’s side. May his soul rest in peace. I do not have your number.
Hit me back with an email when you can.
THIS IS SO SWEET WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT YOUR BROTHER, SO SAD. I AM SO TIRED OF OUR YOUNG BROTHERS LOSING THEIR LIFE THIS WAY, OH JAH HELP US!