| Grace went to school with the usual excitement that all the kids had on their last day of school. This was her last day in 5th grade, her last day in elementary school. Next year she would be in the Middle school, she coulden't wait. She had no idea what lay in store for her on that day. It was a beautiful day in the begining of June. School ended on a Monday of all days this year, June 10th. All the kids were excited and this was the first year that there was an offical '5th Grade Graduation' and she was to be part of it. All the 5th graders had been learning a song in secreat from their teachers to sing for them. Just before the 'graduation' (all of the 3d and 4th graders were there in the caffiteria where it was being held) began the princaple, Mr. Ashley stood up. "Before we begin we found out that one of our students, Nick Baily, died yesterday. If you find that some of the teachers here are sad that's why," he said. Grace just sat there in shock, she didden't know how to react. Her princaple had just announced her best friends death right infront of the whole class. She stood with all the 5th graders and started to sing with them but her voice left her. "Thank You Thank You T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U . . ." the class sang on, but she coulden't. She coulden't believe he was dead, she woulden't believe. She coulden't sing, all she could do was concentrate on not crying. After the small 'graduation' ended the students went back to their classrooms and the counciler that Grace had been seeing walked in. "Hi, Grace, how are you doing?" she asked calmly. "I just wanted to come by and make sure you're ok. I know you talked alot about Nick." "Yeah," Grace said absently. She still coulden't believe it. "I'm fine. I can't believe he's gone." Grace coulden't remember much after that. She barely remembered walking to her grandmothers house. The next thing she knew she was on the phone calling the Baily's. "Hi, this is Grace, I was wondering if Nick was there," she asked trying to keep her voice as steady as possable. "Didden't you hear?" Mrs Baily asked. "Nick died yesterday, we had it announced in the schools." "Yeah I heard," Grace replied, sounding stronger than she felt. "I just didden't believe it. Thank you, bye." "Bye," Mrs. Baily replied. Grace sat in the rocking chair her grandmother kept by the phone untill her mom drove up. "Mom," Grace said quietly. "Nick is dead." "Oh, Grace," her mom said and she embraced her daughter as Grace started to cry. "He's gone mom . . . he's gone," Grace cried as she huged her mother. |
| Can It Be Real? |