Ginny was feeding eight-month-old Paula baby cereal with peaches mixed in when the doorbell rang.

"That'll be your cousin Jakob with his Mommy." Ginny wiped the food from her daughter's face, then lifted the baby from the high chair and carried her to the door.

"Well, hello there!" Elizabeth said to the baby, who gave her a two toothed grin in response.

"And how are you and Jakob this morning?" Ginny asked Elizabeth.

"We're both fine." Jakob began to squirm in his mother's arms, and she stood him down on the floor so he could toddle around. Amon, warmly bundled in coat and hat, stood holding Elizabeth's hand. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

"Not a cloud in sight," Ginny agreed.

"Thank you so much for watching him so I can teach Amon," said Elizabeth. "I know I say that every time I bring him, but I want you to know how grateful I am."

"Oh, it's no problem at all!" Ginny replied. "He and Paula love each other. I'm so glad they get to grow up together."

After Elizabeth and Amon had gone, Ginny turned the television on and began to clean house. After awhile, she sat on the sofa to fold diapers and clothes while watching Paula scoot around in her walker and Jakob play with blocks.

Soon lunchtime arrived. Ginny had made a grilled cheese sandwich and cut it into pieces for Jakob and given him a partially filled cup of milk, and had put Paula's bib on her and was sitting her in her high chair, when a news bulletin came on.

"We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this special report from Dallas, Texas," said a reporter. "President Kennedy has just been shot and is being rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital. Please stay tuned for updates."

"Oh. My. God." Ginny turned pale and had to sink into a nearby chair to keep from falling.


Amon had finished lunch, and Elizabeth was just about to have him start coloring parts of the body on a printed sheet when the telephone rang.

"Turn on the television right now!" said Ginny's panicked voice.

"What happened?" Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat.

"The President's been shot!"

"I don't believe it!"

Elizabeth dropped the receiver and went to turn on the television.

"- shocked and deeply saddened to report that the President has succumbed to his injuries," said a reporter. Elizabeth felt as if a bucket of ice water had just been poured over her. She completely forgot about the telephone as she stared, transfixed, at the images on the screen. A few minutes later, a loud beeping noise reminded her to hang up.

Sinking onto the sofa, she continued to stare at the screen until she heard a noise close by and realized Amon was staring at the screen as well, his face a mask of confusion.

"Come on," she said and signed. "It's time to pick up Jakob. School is over for the day."


The junior high school students had finished lunch and were forming lines to return to their classes when an announcement came over the loud speaker.

"This is to inform all teachers and students that the President has been killed," said the principal. "He was shot in Dallas, Texas, a little after noon, and was pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital a few minutes ago."

A collective gasp of horror swept through the cafeteria, and suddenly bedlam reigned. Dazed, Laura and Annie clung to each other while their teacher, Mrs. Daniels, rounded the students up and then hustled them back to the classroom.

There were no lessons for the rest of the day. The students sat at attention at their desks, listening to news over the intercom, until it was time to go home.

On the walk home, it was all Laura and her friends could talk about.

"I can't believe it!" said Annie. "Why would that Oswald guy have wanted to kill him?"

"I bet he's a Communist," said Yvette.

"Communists in Texas?" asked Laura.

"Communists are everywhere," drawled Yvette. "Don't you watch the news?"

"Just think of poor Caroline and John John!" said Annie. "Now they have to grow up without their Daddy!"

"I wonder what will happen to him," said Jo.

"Oswald, you mean? Oh, he'll definitely spend the rest of his life in prison," said Yvette.

When Laura got home, she saw her mother standing at the open door, holding Jakob. She ran to her mother and buried her face in the front of Elizabeth's dress.

"Mom, something horrible happened today!"

"I know, sweetie." Elizabeth held her close and patted her shoulder. "Want to come inside and talk about it?"

Laura saw that Max was sitting on the sofa with his elbows on his knees, his chin resting in his hands. He looked as if he'd just lost his best friend.

Several hours later, Paul entered the house to find his family still sitting in the living room, staring at the television. Elizabeth jumped up when he came in.

"Oh! I forgot to start dinner!"

"It's all right." Paul held out his arms, and she went into them.


The funeral was the following Monday. School was closed that day, and so was the lumber company where Paul worked, so the whole family stayed home to watch it on the television.

"I feel like I'm right there with them," said Elizabeth.

"So do I," Paul replied. "My parents send their condolences."

"That's sweet of them," said Elizabeth.

Soon Jakob grew cranky, and she went to settle him down for a nap.