by Greg T. Hall
Sweltering in the Texas summer heat, I was struggling to replace the battery on my mother-in-law’s old Dodge Stratus. The car had been immobilized out in front of my house for over a week.
I had replaced countless car batteries before…but I could not even find this one. Exacerbated, I continued to scan underneath the hood wondering which Chrysler “automotive engineer” had decided to develop a sense of humor.
Just before I was about to succumb to complete frustration…over my shoulder, I heard a young, yet confident voice.
“Can I help?”
It was Kyle Hicks (Rob and Ann’s kid from down the street). But…he wasn’t a “kid” anymore.
He had grown into a man; a man with the insight to help someone in need before being asked.
When my wife Stephanie and I moved our family to this friendly, close-knit, cul-de-sac named Bluebird Drive, Kyle and his younger brother Andy lived a few houses down and across the street.
They…along with my three children and many other neighborhood little ones…became known as the “Bluebird Kids”.
Collectively, all of the “Bluebird parents” celebrated the children’s victories, supported them in their struggles…and prayed for their futures.
We were there for birthdays, graduations, weddings (including Kyle’s) and even the births of the next generation of “baby blues”.
Much time has passed and many of that generation flew away from that hallowed street. We still pray for them as they seek their destinies and pursue their own unique dreams.
Back to that hot summer evening…wiping the sweat from my brow, I turned toward the “confident voice” and I exclaimed…”I have no idea where the battery is located on this dumb car!”
Respectfully, Kyle smiled and pointed to the wheel well above the driver’s side front tire.
“It’s right there.”
He must have seen me struggling, because he already had a car jack and his big rolling tool box with him. Politely taking over…he skillfully removed the tire, revealing the old battery, and replaced it with the new one.
While he worked, we had the best conversation we would ever have. He caught me up on the latest news going on in his life and some of his goals. He then took special care to assure me that this car’s battery location would have been difficult for anyone to find.
Even though I knew that was not the case…I thanked him for preserving my ego.
On that day, I got to see a glimpse of the man he had become. I knew there was something special about him. Yet, how could I have known that I was in the presence of a hero…that in that moment…I was experiencing what it was like to have “entertained angels unawares”?
Years later, Stephanie and I were not surprised when we heard that he had bravely taken an oath to protect and defend…not only the lives of his wife Cassie and their four children…but the rest of us.
On April 24, 2024…Officer Kyle Hicks of the Corpus Cristi Police Department…the “Bluebird kid” who had decided to stay “BLUE”… gave his life in the service of that oath.
Kyle’s story continues through the legacy of his heroic memory, his beautiful family and the countless people who know and love him.
All I can do, through my tear-stained memories, is to offer this glimpse of a “Bluebird Kid”…a protective and special angel…who found his wings so very soon.
Keep soaring Kyle…as you paint Heaven blue.
Kyle Strong
The Kyle Hicks Memorial Fund is a non-profit 501C3
organization created to recognize individuals who are making a positive impact on their
communities.
Your donation will go towards rewarding those who are living a
life of kindness and positivity with a genuine concern for others.