If anyone ever asked me to name the best three people I know, Russell Allison will be the

first name out of my mouth. We've been friends since high school, and in the 20 years since

I've never had any reason to doubt his honesty, loyalty or kindness. He's always just being

the best guy I've ever known. He's also the unluckiest person I've ever known.

Russell's mom ran off when he was a baby, and his father spent most of his time either working

at his welding job, or sleeping off a combination of the day's work and the night's booze.

He had no siblings, and before we got assigned as partners in 10th grade biology, I'm not sure

he'd ever had a close friend before. I'd like to say that his look changed as he got older,

and for a while I thought maybe it had. He had a good job at the meat processing plant

on the edge of town. He'd started dating this girl Stephanie that he was crazy about,

and his father, while still not the warmest guy, had certainly mellowed out in his latter years.

But then about two years ago, Russell's dad died suddenly of a heart attack. He was heartbroken,

but between Stephanie we got him through the parts he couldn't get through on his own.

I remember how much I appreciated Stephanie back then. She was patient with him,

and they really did seem to have a good relationship. Better than any I'd ever managed anyway.

There was a time when I thought they'd get married and live happily ever after.

Six months later, Russ came to me, eyes red and voice trembling.

He told me that Stephanie had been cheating on him since before his dad died, and at first I defended

her. Said he must have made a mistake, and that she didn't seem like the type to cheat.

But he just shook his head, cutting me off, told me that he'd been suspicious for a while,

and when he confronted her she'd finally admitted it. I asked him if she'd said who it was,

but he just shook his head, said he didn't get a chance to even ask before she dropped

...