Jamie Prenkert: Runner

I think Jamie is the runner in the middle.

I didn't know Jamie in 1983 when this photo and caption appeared in the Nappanee Advance News. I think I met him the night someone brought him to a party at Deb's house (Wasn't it at Deb's house?) I think it was a Halloween party, probably in 1988. The rumor quickly spread that he was at the party because Debbie liked him. I remember thinking, "Who is this guy that she likes?"

Well, I was lucky Debbie liked him because I got to know him through her and Jamie turned out to be a great friend.

One time in high school Jamie and Brent Warren were at my house and the three of us were playing a particularly close game of Trivial Pursuit, one that we kept thinking would end soon. All three of us had our pies full for hours. But Jamie (and Brent or me) kept giving Brent and I the dreaded pink Arts & Entertainment questions when we made our way to the center hub. Brent and I in return gave Jamie the orange Sports and Leisure questions. Jamie could maybe run fast and jump far, but general sports knowledge was his weakness in the original Genus edition of Trivial Pursuit.

About five hours into the game, at about 3:00 AM, the phone rang. The three of us looked at each other, then Jamie with a hint of panic states, "That's my mom." (Jamie hadn't bothered to call home to let his mom know he would be running a little late.) By the second ring we had formed our plan, I would answer the phone in my most just-woke-up voice, then Jamie would follow suit.

I pick up the phone.

Me: Helllloooow (pretty scratchy.)
Jamie's mom: Is Jamie there?
Me: Uhhhhh, ohhhhhh, yeahhhhhh (still scratchy.)
Jamie: Hellllllllllooooooooooow (really scratchy.)
Jamie's mom: ?
Jamie: We fellll aslllleeeeepp. (extra scratchy.)

Jamie was such a good influence on me.

He was. That's the worst thing I can remember we did. And if the worst thing we got ourselves mixed up with involved playing Trivial Pursuit we were probably ______________. (You can fill in the blank yourself. Just don't be too mean.)

I think Brent ended up winning that game, on an Arts & Entertainment question about Looney Tunes if I remember correctly.

And Jamie, I hope your mom doesn't find shock, disappointment and disbelief upon reading this post. But, I highly doubt we ever fooled her in the first place.