Normally, this would be a time for Darrel Crimeni to celebrate Christmas.
A tree would go up in his Walnut Grove home, there would be festive lights, and holiday decorations.
When he downsized, he managed to get a roomy place with enough space for large family gatherings, including a good-sized yard facing the tall stand of trees in the park between his house and Walnut Grove Secondary.
This year, the first Christmas since his grandson Carson died, the only sign of Christmas in his house is a small red poinsettia plant on his kitchen table.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 put a tree up,鈥� Darrel said. 鈥淭his is it.鈥�
He was planning to go away for 鈥渢wo or three days鈥� over the holidays, possibly to a country cabin a relative had offered.
As Darrel talked with a visitor, Koko, Carson鈥檚 cat, sprawled at his feet, purring.
Koko used to cuddle up to sleep with Carson, when the teen was staying with his grandfather. It was an arrangement with his dad Aaron, a single parent who worked long hours and couldn鈥檛 drive Carson to school.
Carson would walk to classes at his school via the pathway that runs through the woods next to his grandfather鈥檚 house.
鈥淓very night before he went to sleep, [Carson would] grab the cat,鈥� Darrel told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淗e liked all animals. He said he鈥檇 like to be a vet.鈥�
Now, his grandfather allows Koko to sleep by his bed.
At 14, Koko is moving slower than he used to.
鈥淗e got really skinny in the last year,鈥� Crimeni observed.
Carson鈥檚 dad Aaron Crimeni doesn鈥檛 plan to celebrate the holidays, either, and he has turned down the offer of a stay in the same cabin.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty much pretending there is no Christmas,鈥� Aaron declared.
鈥淚 honestly don鈥檛 know if I will ever celebrate Christmas again.鈥�
On Aug. 7, the night Carson died of an apparent drug overdose, disturbing video clips were broadcast on social media, showing the 91原创 teen barely able to stand or speak at the Walnut Grove skate park, while people can be heard laughing.
READ MORE: Carson: A 91原创 teen鈥檚 death on social media
READ MORE: Carson Crimeni laid to rest
Months after he downloaded the clips to his phone, Darrel finally watched them, a few weeks ago.
He recalls weeping at the sight, and will never forget the voice he heard as the video of Carson, obviously sick and in distress, played.
鈥淵ou can hear someone laughing, saying 鈥榟e鈥檚 15 caps in,鈥� Darrel said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to watch.鈥�
Aaron hasn鈥檛 been able to bring himself to watch the videos, but expects he will have to, once people are charged and the case goes to trial.
He鈥檚 hoping the police investigation will lead to charges early in the new year.
Aaron believes there are witnesses who haven鈥檛 spoken to police yet, and he urged them to come forward.
鈥淢y fear is that everybody gets on with their life and nothing changes,鈥� Aaron said.
READ MORE: A wave of grief and outrage over death of teen in 91原创 park
Carson鈥檚 story has resonated around the world, with contributions to the family coming from as far away as Japan.
There have been news stories in out-of-the way places, like a small village in Romania, where Darrel鈥檚 brother Adrian, there on business, called him to ask about a report the skate park might be named after Carson.
Darrell supports the , because he believes it might prevent another death like Carson鈥檚.
鈥淚 would like to see them rename the park as an awareness campaign,鈥� Darrell said.
鈥淚 think it would help. If you can get kids talking to parents, kid [will] hesitate.鈥�
Darrell took a photo of the graffiti someone painted on the skateboard of Carson鈥檚 name and framed it. It hangs on the wall of his kitchen.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Grandfather speaks out about teen who died after overdosing in 91原创 park
He has begun to give away some of Carson鈥檚 possession, the ones that don鈥檛 have an emotional connection attached.
One young mom got his set of Carson鈥檚 golf clubs for her child, and a young player got Carson鈥檚 hockey gear, purchased when he outgrew his skates and pads and barely used.
Darrel said there are plans in the works for a memorial bench near the soccer field where he used to play, to hand his hockey jersey at the sportsplex rinks where Carson played, and as company has told Crimeni they are considering sponsoring players in Carson鈥檚 name.
鈥淚 want to do something for pink shirt day (in February) , for anti-bullying, maybe print up pink shirts,鈥� Darrel said.
They will all read 鈥減lay and be kind,鈥� the message that will also be on the bench and the hockey jersey display.
READ MORE: No negligence in RCMP actions in Carson Crimeni death: Watchdog
READ MORE: Carson Crimeni autopsy found no obvious cause of death, father says
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
