Josie went upstairs and walked into Rain's bedroom.
"What's troubling you, Sunshine?"
"Oh, Mom," Rain said, "I had such awful dreams."
"The same dreams you've been having?" Josie asked, taking the little girl in her arms.
"Yes. I thought if you spanked me, they'd stop, but they didn't. They were just as bad as ever!"
"I think," Josie said, "it was a mistake to spank you for taking my gun, even though you wanted me to do it. In fact, I
think we should cancel the other punishments."
"You do?"
"Yes, Sunshine, I do," Josie answered. "For one thing, it was more my fault than yours. And," she added, "I should have
realized that you had already been punished."
"You mean when Ms. Jordan suspended me from school?"
"No," Josie said, "when you saw Dante fall."
"That was the worst moment of my life," said Rain. "Dante was my best friend."
"I know," Josie whispered.
"Mom," Rain said, "I think I know what I have to do now."
"What?" Josie asked.
"I have to tell Dante I'm sorry," Rain said. "Will you and Dad take me to his... to his funeral?"