Josie and Paulina stared at each other, stunned. That slap had somehow brought both of them back to their
senses.
Josie remembered that she and Rain had come to ask forgiveness.
Paulina remembered that Rain was only a little girl.
"I shouldn't have slapped you."
"Well, I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Yes, you should!" Rain broke in. "You should! It IS my fault Dante is dead. I didn't mean it... I didn't
mean for the gun to go off... but... I TOOK the gun to school, and THAT'S why..."
Joe came to the door.
"Did you make all the calls?" Paulina asked.
"Yes," Joe said. "Sofia will be here for the... for Dante's... for the funeral."
"Joe," Josie said.
It was not until then that Joe noticed Josie and Rain. He sent up a brief, silent, intense prayer for guidance,
for wisdom, for the ability to forgive.
What must Josie and Rain be feeling now?
Especially Rain.
Joe looked at her and saw a look that should never be in a child's eyes, a look of guilt, of remorse, of anguish.
"I'm so sorry!" she burst out. How many times that day had Rain said the word sorry?
"I know you are," Joe said.
"But it doesn't bring Dante back," Paulina said. The bitterness had returned.
"No," Joe said, "it doesn't bring Dante back, Blue Eyes. But I think we need to forgive Rain for what happened."
"You're not... you're not mad at me?"
"Yes, Rain, I am mad at you," Joe answered, "but I don't think I'm nearly as mad as you are at yourself."
"I wish I hadn't taken the gun to school."
"I know," Joe said, "and I also know you never meant to hurt Dante."
"But I DID hurt him! "I...I..." Once again, the child began to cry hysterically.
"I think I'd better take her home," Josie said.
####
Josie had finally gotten Rain to sleep when the phone rang. She went to answer.
"Hey, Josie, it's Toni. I just wanted to check on you again."
"Thanks, Toni. Rain and I went to see Joe and Paulina."
"What did Joe say when you told him how Rain got her hands on your gun?" Toni asked.
Josie gasped.
"Oh, Toni! I forgot to tell him!"