School Of Death

#7

" Hey, Kisha close that door please. " my bus driver to Southeast said when he saw I was the last one. So I close the door and head to my seat next to Ray.

We look at each other, tears form in my eyes and he just holds me. No one says anything to us, because they are all doing similar things. Jeff Mornamo, the man who died, had worked for the school district for as long as any of us can remember. He was a nice man and a very respected man at that, everyone would miss him very much. " I'm sorry Ray. " I say softly, whipping the tears from my face and sit up.

He looks at me confused, " What for, Kish? " he puts his hand on my shoulder, " Your sad. Why would I be upset, or anything, with you? " I look back over into his deep green eyes, thinking he's right, I have nothing really to be sorry for.

We sit and wait for the first out of seven kids to get off, all at different houses. The first kid gets off at a lonely looking building with just a couple of cars there and one broken window, that we can see. The next kid got of at Jen & Lesa's, the most popular coffee place in the area. The next five kids all got off at the same house but only two of them went to the house, the other three walked to close by houses. Its finally time to go to Southeast, but the clouds look dark and the sky unpromising. I think we might have to stay at the school until the weather is safe enough to drive in. " Kids when we get to Southeast I need you all to exactly what I tell you to okay. It looks like we're in for some bad weather. " The bus driver announces to the remaining kids on the bus.

I hear all the people around me talking about, what if we can't go home?, and, do you think we'll make it to the school? They where asking stupid questions with simple answers, if we can't go home the school will make sure our families know and we will stay a the school, and we will make it back to the school because we're not that far away and the weather hasn't quite rolled in yet.

" Whatcha thinking about? " Ray slowly puts my hands down, from where I was answering these people's questions, in my head.

" Nothing. " I say while still listening to the questions, trying to figure out answers.

Ray looks at me knowing exactly what I'm doing, " Stop. " he says putting my hands back down, " Stop trying to answer their questions. You know that their just worried, and that they are asking what comes to mind first. " He holds both of my hands in his, and turns me to look at him, " Everything will be fine." he smiles.

And I know that we will all be alright, and everything will turn out fine. I lean my head on his shoulder as he still holds both my hands in his. The noise only gets louder as people continue to worry. Ray and I sit there, talking about nothing, just sitting there together in our own silence.