Ben
I'm driving out of the school employee parking lot when I spot a long-haired girl by the bike racks with a yellow and white backpack that looks like a sad sunny side-up egg. Even from the back, the girl's form is achingly familiar, so I slow the car down and stop next to her.
I'm surprised to see that she's still around because Nancy is very prompt about picking her up after school. I press a button to roll the windows down. "Miss Plum? What's the matter?"
She turns around and the tears streaming down her cheeks are a gut punch that momentarily takes the wind out of me. Upon seeing me, she quickly wipes her tears away with the sides of her fists and attempts to smile, but the effort looks painful.
I turn the flashers on and get out of the car. She is hovering worriedly by her bicyc
