For Everything

Oh, Rosie

I reach the school building, still in tears. I don't want to think about Gale, I can't think about him anymore. I trusted him, and he would have killed all the students here at the school, just because he was a little frustrated. I don't know this Gale, and I don't want to know. I head to the administration office, all I care about is my sister, I need to see her, to make sure she's okay. I enter the office and head to the woman sitting at the front desk. The woman who helped me the first day here at Blackburg Elementary. She looks up and peers at me through her half moon eyeglasses. "Yes young man?" she says.

"I-I need to see my sister. It's urgent," I stutter.

"What is her grade?" the woman asks, typing on a computer.

"First, First grade," I say.

"And her name?"

"Rosie- Rosie ThorneBerry," I almost cry as I say her name, but I choke back the tears.

The woman pauses for a second, looking up from her computer, "Did, did you say Rosie?"

"Yes. Rosie. Rosie ThorneBerry. Why?"

"Oh. No reason. I just thought I might have heard something else for a second. Yes, Rosie?"

"Yes. Rosie," this time I make sure I emphasize it slowly enough for the woman. She seemed to be having a hard time listening today. She types a couple things into her computer and then looks up at me.

"She's in room 247D, on the second floor with Mrs. Cyndia."

"Thank you, thank you so much," I say, halfway out the door before she can say another thing. I exit the office and make my way to the stairs. 247D, 247D, I keep saying in my mind. I reach the staircase and begin climbing, but then bump into someone. I look up to see a hooded figure standing in front of me. The woman, I already know. I can't deal with this right now, I don't have time for this. "Move, now," I snarl, not caring what could happen. The woman seems surprised for a second and I know that if I could see her face, I would see shock on it right now. But she does end up moving, allowing me to pass. I vault up the stairs, two at a time, and reach the second floor. The whole wall in front of me is the same number with a different letter at the end of each door. I see 247J, 247K, 247L, 247M, etc. in front of me, so I walk down the hall to the left, where 247D would be, at the beginning of the alphabet. 247F, 247E, 247D. I reach the door and grab the door handle. Before I know what's happened, I am standing in a classroom full of first graders. The teacher, Mrs. Cyndia, I assume, stops talking to stare at me. I look around, scanning the classroom for Rosie. The littler children wear more colors than plain grey, but Rosie is easy to spot, in her pink tiara, tutu, and leotard.

"Hello," the teacher starts, "Can I help you?" I don't respond, just make my way over to Rosie's seat. She turns around to look at me and her face lights up.

"Hunter!" Rosie squeals, "Look! Look at what I drew!" she shoves a paper full of scribbles in my face.

"That's great Rosie," I say, squatting down. I look at her face, full of joy and happiness, just beause I'm here. I love Rosie so much. More than words could explain.

"What are you doing here?" Rosie asks.

I pull Rosie into a hug, feeling her little chesnut curls, "I just came to say hi."

Rosie giggles, returning my hug. I feel her tiny arms on my back, her little fingers gliding across my spine. "Hello," she whispers. We break off the hug and Rosie looks at my face, "Hunter?"

"Yes?" I respond.

"Are you feeling sad? Do you want me to make you feel better?"

I smile a weak smile at her, "Yes Rosie. I would love that."

"Okay," she says, reaching in her desk. She pulls out a pink fairy wand with cotton ball looking things and a pink ribbon on it. She takes it and taps my head with it. "Oh wait," she squeals, "I forgot the real magic touch." Rosie leans in and kisses my cheek, "There. Are you feeling better Hunter?"

"Much better. Thank you Rosie," I chuckle. She squeals again, clapping her hands. "I have to go now Rosie," I say, "But it was nice seeing you." I hug her again. "I love you Rosie, so much."

She giggles, "Hunter! That tickles. I love you too. You're the best big brother ever, no matter what you do." I let go of Rosie again and stand up. I ruffle her soft curls.

"Bye, Rosie," I say.

"Bye Hunter," she giggles.

I look at the teacher, Mrs. Cyndia, "I-I'm sorry for-"

"No," she waves me off, smiling, "It's quite alright. I understand."

"Thank you," I smile too. I take one last glance at Rosie, who was back to coloring, and then exit the classroom. I shut the door behind me and walk back down the hall. Past the hooded woman, who was standing right where I left her, past the lockers, past the attendance office, and past the flagpole. I needed to do something. Rosie always somehow surprises me with things she says, and that it what she did today. When she said she would love me no matter what, that sparked something. Rosie doesn't realise what goes on in the world, but she doesn't have to. Her love for me is unconditional, nothing I could do would change that. Why should I be different? She would forgive me whenever and wherever I screw up, so why should I not be the same to others? My reaction to Gale's explanation earlier was completely reasonable, at least I think so, but I don't hate him. In the end, Gale was honest with me, and he didn't lie. Why am I holding a grudge against him? He hasn't killed anyone, and in the end, he doesn't ever kill anyone, so why am I acting like he has? I understand what I have to now, and I admit, it took a six year old to make me realise it. I love Gale, just like I love Rosie, and I should forgive him always, no matter what happens. I head to the corner of Salmon Street and Trout Lane, hoping he's still where I left him. I reach the corner and start into the treeline, in search of Gale. I head in the direction of the dead tree where he was, with one thing in my mind. Forgive Gale.