I sighed loudly and put the book down. I then flopped over to look at Elaine, Amanda and Anderson. They were all smiling, so happy, at least they looked happy on their school pictures. Happier than I was, that was indisputable. My brother walked into my room and flopped onto my bed right next to me as I was looking at the pictures and put his little arm around my neck. He was so lucky to not be able to understand the full scope of the situation. He only seemed to be vaguely aware that there was something wrong at daddy’s work. He didn’t have to face surviving your best friend’s school shooting and then bankruptcy.
“Why do you have a picture of the killer in your room?” Anderson asked me in his usual cute little boy voice.
“Because he’s my friend,” I meekly replied, “don’t you remember wh
