| By Cassie Gonzalez
“Students,” the teacher, Ms. Wilson, said. Since the classroom was noisy, no one heard her. The bell rang and everyone sat down. The noise level died down, too. Everyone watched Ms. Wilson walk to the front of the room, followed by a small girl.
“Students,” the teacher repeated, “I present to you…Addie.” She introduced the young girl. “You can sit right there,” she told Addie.
50 minutes later the bell rang, and Addie went to 2nd period.
* * *
“How did school go, Mina?” the blonde woman asked her brown-haired daughter.
“Good. We have a new girl, and her name is Addie.”
“Oh?”
“She’s really nice.” Mina Williams said. Born Wilhemina Williams, she did not like Wilhemina, and therefore preferred to be called ‘Mina’. Her family called her ‘Willy’.
“When is Dad coming home?” Mina asked.
“Regular time.”
“Oh, good.” She opened her backpack and removed her homework.
* * *
Blue. Red. Blue. Red. The lights flashed against the dark sky. Then the noise hit Addie: sirens. The paramedics took the stretcher away and closed the door. They then got into the ambulance. They drove away, fading into the darkness. She turned a full 360 degrees, but saw no one.
* * *
“Mom, I don’t feel good,” Addie said, while still in bed. Her mother checked her temperature.
“Mmm…you have a fever. I guess you will have to stay home today,” her mother replied.
“Oh…” Addie groaned.
“What?” her mother asked.
“The dream came back. You know, where Danny died?” Addie explained. Her mother sighed, and sat down next to her.
“You must let it go, Addie. Move on. He would appreciate it.”
Yes, but I don’t appreciate it. Why did Danny die?”
* * *
“Where were you yesterday?” Mina asked.
“Sick,” Addie replied.
“With what?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Addie replied. “Something.”
During lunch, Addie explained everything to Mina. It was necessary to explain what happened that dismal night.
“My brother, Danny, who was about 16 or 17 years old, was outside getting ready to ride his bike. Being so late, it started getting dark and no one could see him getting on. He saw headlights behind him. He turned around, and before he knew it, a car came straight at him. He had no time whatsoever to react. He…” Addie paused, and almost choked before going on. “He ducked to try to get the kick stand up so he could pedal, and that’s when it hit him. The car smacked his head so severely that the medics said he died before he hit the ground. They said we couldn’t have done anything.” Tears streamed from her eyes. “And thus, I didn’t feel good yesterday.”
“I’m so sorry.” Mina said. Addie closed her eyes.
“Like the paramedics said, we couldn’t have done anything to stop it from happening.”
“Did they get the driver?” Mina asked.
“Yes. They found the man strongly intoxicated and speeding. He’ll be in prison for quite some time. It’s not the first time it’s happened, either, I hear. Every one of his other victims lived, though.
“When’s the funeral?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Well, tomorrow is Saturday, so do you think…?” Mina hesitated before going on. “Do you think I could come with you?”
Addie looked up in surprise. “I’m sure that would be fine. We’ll pick you up at 12:00. It starts at 2:00, and we need to get things set up, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course,” Mina reassured her. “Of course.”
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