Amy showed up at school the next day looking not quite as gloomy as she had been. Celia hoped that she had helped Amy by sharing the burden. Then, after just a few minutes in class, Amy was called to the office. On her way out, she looked at Celia. It wasn’t an accusing look. It looked more like a sad “goodbye”. Celia was sure Amy would be back, but just the fact that she was called to the office set Celia’s mind to manufacturing terrible scenarios. Maybe Amy’s parents were headed to prison. Maybe Amy was headed to prison! Whatever was happening could not be good!

For the rest of the school day, Celia’s mind created one scenario after another about the future. Some of her scenarios even had Celia going to prison. What should have been a day of learning became instead a day of worrying.

As Celia left school that evening, she looked down the road at Amy’s house. She was sorely tempted to go ask about her friend, but remembered the guns and drugs and kept her distance.

She went home to another sleepless night, worrying about her friend. Finally, she was able to go to sleep about 2 hours before time to get up.

After that insufficient sleep, she trudged to the kitchen with her eyes half-open. Her mom was fixing breakfast and commented on her daughter’s appearance. “I see you’re losing sleep over your friend. OK, you will see some things today that may worry you, but let me assure you that your friend is perfectly safe. Listen carefully, though. If anyone asks you about Amy, she told you nothing and you don’t know what happened to her or where she is. That should be easy because you really don’t know anything. Please take my word, though, she is a lot better off than she has been for a long time.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Celia wondered what was going on, but she knew her mom would not give any more details. She ate just a little breakfast, picked up her backpack, and headed for school.

As soon as she turned on the school street, she could see down the road at Amy’s house a crowd of police cars, ambulances, firetrucks, and whatever other kinds of official cars and trucks the city could come up with. Lights flashed red, blue, and yellow. Celia’s heart sank. Was Amy down there? Was she in the back of a police car or was she already in prison?

Celia came up with a scenario that she thought was likely: Her mom called the police about the drugs at Amy’s house. The police went in and arrested everyone there. That would include Amy. Celia wondered if Amy was counting money when the police came in. That wouldn’t look good on her record. Celia smiled at the thought, "Maybe it will help her get into an accounting school."

When she got to school, the one subject of gossip was murder at the house down the street. Murder? Celia’s mom said Amy was better off now. Did that mean she was in heaven? One thing was sure; whatever happened was all Celia’s fault for getting her mother involved. But Child Protective Services was supposed to protect children; not get them killed.

The gossip at school was that there was a disagreement over a drug deal. Guns were drawn, and everyone there was shot and killed. Celia knew now for sure that her friend was dead, and her mom’s comment that Amy was “better off” meant that Amy was in heaven.

That school day was seemingly endless. When she finally made it home, Celia went straight to the web to see what she could find out. “Five dead in drug dispute.” “Disagreement over drugs initiates shooting, killing 5.” The headlines didn’t help much. Was it 5 adults? Surely they would say if a child was killed!

Finally, Celia’s mom came home. Celia was at the front door waiting. “Is Amy dead, Mom?”

“Oh, no, Honey!” She held her daughter close to her chest. “I told you she would be fine!”

“But everything I can find out talks about people dying!” Her lip trembled.

“I’ll tell you everything I can tell you. Amy was not there and she will be sent to a place where she will be safe and happy.”

“Can I call her?”

“I’m sorry, Honey, you can’t. The police don’t think it’s safe. Amy’s parents were dealing with some very dangerous people.”

One thing was sure; whatever happened was all Celia’s fault for getting her mother involved.

That school day was seemingly endless. When she finally made it home, Celia went straight to the web to see what she could find out. “Five dead in drug dispute.” “Disagreement over drugs initiates shooting, killing 5.” The headlines didn’t help much. Was it 5 adults? Surely they would say if a child was killed!

Finally, Celia’s mom came home. Celia was at the front door waiting. “Is Amy dead, Mom?”

“Oh, no, Honey!” She held her daughter close to her chest. “I told you she would be fine!”

“But everything I can find out talks about people dying!” Her lip trembled.

“I’ll tell you everything I can tell you. Amy was not there and she will be sent to a place where she will be safe and happy.”

“Can I call her?”

“I’m sorry, Honey, you can’t. The police don’t think that anyone would go after her, but we can’t be sure for a while. It’s possible that you may see her again, but not for a very long time.”

Celia went to her bed, fell on her face, and sobbed. She had lost her best friend, and it was her own fault!