Vinnie’s Jacket by Anna Nussbaum

Jen Greselin - Summarizer
This story is about a girl whose best friend passed away right after graduation. He had taken too many painkillers, and this stopped his heart. The girl was so saddened by his death and did not know how she would ever move on without him. He was the person that she could be herself the most with, and he made her be a better person. She was amazed with their friendship, and how it taught her about loyalty and laughter. Before Vinnie passed away, he let her borrow one of his jackets. This jacket smelled like him, like cigarettes and cologne, and had a stain on it from when he was fixing his car. When she wore his jacket to a party it made her feel cool and safe even though she was the youngest person there. He eventually let her keep the jacket. She still wears Vinnie’s jacket now that he is gone, and even though it no longer smells like him, she still remembers him. They loved each other, and that is what she remembers about him. This story is about remembering the good times you had with someone rather than asking questions about why it happened.

Meghan Earnest-Passage Picker
“The jacket smelled like him, like Marlboros and sweat and Calvin Klein cologne. It had a grease stain on the sleeve from when he’s worn it while repairing his old Ford. Its cotton exterior and nylon lining were worn and smooth,” that was Vinnie’s jacket (p. 159) Vinnie gave Anna his jacket one night to ware it was cold in the basement because the door was open. Over time Vinnie decided that Anna should just keep the jacket, and that’s what she did forever. Anna went to Vinnie’s house one night they promised each other “To NEVER lose touch (p.160).” Vinnie died in June he had been sick for awhile but no one exactly knew what was wrong. Vinnie took too many painkillers that had been given to him by a shrink, which stopped his heart. It was an accidental over dose and least that’s what everyone was told. Anna states, “Vinnie was the last person with whom I could still be a kid, long after I would no long be a kid myself (p.160).” I think the message Anna wants to get across to the readers is that we need to focus on who Vinnie was while he was alive, not who he is made out to be now that he is dead. “Adults want to focus on why Vinnie died. They want to know who was at fault (p.160).” I’ve learned from experience that trying to find someone to blame or a reason behind what has happened just causes more pain. Anna was able to learn from Vinnie, “Friendship can teach you about loyalty and laughter; it also shows you how one friend can carry you from one road to the next (p.161).” In the end Anna knows that Vinnie loved her and that’s what she is able to take away with her. Anna’s story was a hard one to tell, but she doesn’t want Vinnie to be forgotten.

Zara Zaengle-Researcher
The story Vinnie’s Jacket is about a young girl named Anna who found that the closest person to her has died from an unintentional overdose. She has kept his jacket as a symbol of the friendship with Vinnie and the times they had shared. It helped her keep a part of him in presence because at one point it smelled like Vinnie, but now the scent is all but gone. Although she was heartbroken with grief she was not interested in who was at fault but found that their friendship taught her many positive things and found that Vinnie was her greatest memory.
“Memories are one of the most important treasures we share with family and friends. Making everlasting memories helps to celebrate life by presenting life stories to share with friends and family, whether it be a building of a child’s life story or memorializing a loved one after their passing” states (mem.com) This shows that people all over the world keep memories of loved ones closest to them that had passed away in remembrance. Here, she kept a jacket that has very much value to her and helps her to remember Vinnie just the way he was.
On Journal Sentinel, Carter Doering stated “No man is dead until he is forgotten.” Anna, keeps Vinnie alive by reenacting the way he had and lessons she had learned from him. The jacket shows that Vinnie will always be with her.