Part 2

In the Stewart's kitchen, Miley and her friends were busy making some fudge for Cindy. Oliver was chopping nuts with a hand chopper, Lilly was cutting up marshmallows with a pair of kitchen scissors, Miley was stirring the chocolate, and Robbie Ray was looking through the cupboards, and he said, "Your in luck, Oliver… I found some more nuts."

"How much fudge can Cindy eat?" asked Oliver, "She still unconscious."

"But when she comes out of it she'll be starved," said Lilly, then she ate a marshmallow.

"Daddy? What if she doesn't come out of it?" asked Miley.

"She will, Bud," said Robbie Ray, "We'll just think positive and keep busy."

"Cindy seemed so cool," said Oliver, "Who'd dream she'd do something like this?"

"Finding Cindy this afternoon was the was the worst thing that ever happened to me," said Lilly. Just then the phone rang.

"Maybe that's Cindy's mom," said Miley. Cindy's mother arrived home the same time the EMT's arrived so she went with Cindy to the hospital.

Robbie Ray picked up the phone, "Hello… Yes… What?… I can't believe it… We are all truly sorry for your lose, Mrs. Parker… OK… Good Bye…"

The three teenagers didn't have to have Robbie Ray tell them, they knew from hearing his side of the conversation… their friend, Cindy, was dead.

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A few days later was Cindy's funeral, the three teenagers dressed in black walked in to the Stewart's house with Robbie Ray, and Lilly's mom, Heather following behind. Then they all sat down, "It was a very nice service," said Heather.

"Yes, it was," said Robbie Ray.

"It's just so weird," said Lilly, "a few days ago, we were joking and laughing… Now, she's gone…"

"She was so pretty and so popular," said Miley, "I though she hand everything."

"Maybe being a diplomat's family isn't so glamorous," said Oliver, "being dragged around from country to country. Sleeping in strange beds, drinking strange water…"

"But, she wasn't going to be moving around anymore," said Miley, "her parents were going to Germany without her."

"Only her dad is going to Germany," said Heather, "I was talking to Mrs. Parker at the funeral, and she told me that her and Cindy's father were in the process of getting divorced."

"Your kidding?" said Lilly.

"Do you think that could be the reason she did this?" said Miley.

"Who knows, Bud…" said Robbie Ray, as he held his daughter.

"I don't know what I'd do if my parents got divorced," said Oliver.

"Well, you wouldn't kill yourself," said Lilly, "I've lived through it…" Then, Lilly hugged her mother.

"Yeah… If everyone killed themselves because of a divorce, half the country would be wiped out," said Heather.

The five of them had a light chuckle at Heather's comment then Heather looked at the necklace that Lilly was wearing, "Where did you get this?"

"Cindy gave it to me the last time I saw her… I guess it was her way of saying good-bye to me…" Then Lilly started to cry a little, "Why did she have to do this?"

"We'll probably never know why. Some kids reach a point where they can't see anyway out."

"At 16, what would be so terrible it would make you want to stop living?" asked Oliver.

"Exactly, Oliver," said Robbie Ray, "Life is always changing. That's the one thing you can count on. So, when you feel like your on the end of your rope, tie a knot, and hang on. You're all under a lot of pressure… to achieve, to succeed, to fit in, to grow up. And I'll tell you, it's ok to feel confused, and frightened, and insecure, we all do… And when you feel that way, please, talk about it. You can talk to your parents or me or Mrs. Truscott… Right, Heather?"

Heather nodded her head and Lilly said, "Nothing personal, Mr. Stewart. But, sometimes the only people you can talk to are kids your own age."

"That makes sense," said Heather, "Talk to your friends…"

"Sometimes there are things you can't even tell your friends," said Oliver.

"We should have something at Seaview," said Miley, "You know, for kids who want to talk but are afraid and don't have anyone to talk to."

"You mean like a hotline?" asked Oliver.

"Can we do something like that?" asked Lilly.

"Why not?" asked Miley, "I'll talk to the Student Council about it. Daddy, would you have time to help us set it up?"

"I'll make time," said Robbie Ray.

"Me too," said Heather, "That's a wonderful idea, Miley. Robbie and I'll talk to the PTA and we'll see if we can get some of the other parents involved."

"At least some good will come out of this…" said Miley, as she hugged her Daddy.

And, so, a few weeks later, the Cindy Parker Teen Outreach Center opened at Seaview High.

THE END