A short and sweet tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
"Kimmie! How was your date with Eli?" Savannah asks me when I walk in the door. She's so cute with her little blond curls. She's like a little Taylor Swift, and she's full of energy.
"It was good," I say. "Do you know his sister Emmie? She's about your age."
"No. I think she's in third grade. Oh, and that guy, Jack, called to check up on you."
"Did you say what we practiced?"
"Yep. 'I'm sorry, Kimmie's in the bathroom right now, but can I take a message?' He called again, and I said you were taking a nap."
"Thanks for covering for me, Savvy. Where's mom?"
"She had to work late again, but I called Maysin Gastler from across the street, and she took care of me. She's in the basement right now."
"Ok. Its good that you did the right thing, but I'm mad that you didn't call me. I could've come home. Eli would've understood." After I say this, Maysin comes up the stairs crying.
"Oh my god! There was another story about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school. I feel so bad for that little town."
"Yeah. I'm just so happy that wasn't us, and here I am yelling at Savvy about how she was home alone. She could've been one of the kids that was killed." I hug Maysin and we start bawling our eyes out. "Maysin, you can sleep over if you want. I think we need to stay together. Come here Savvy." Savannah comes and joins our hug.
"Since it's close to Christmas, let's sing a Christmas song," Maysin says. We turn off all the lights, light twenty-six candles, one for everyone who died, and start singing "O Holy Night". We can't finish, though, because Maysin and I are crying too much. All of a sudden, Savannah starts singing "Silent Night". I put my arms around Savannah.
"This is so beautiful," I say. We blow out the candles, and fall asleep together in silence.
R.I.P May they all be in heaven with God.
