“It was mine.”
“Yes, but you’re ten.”
Ariel tilted her head.
“Would you have helped her?”
“Probably.”
“Then what did I do wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I just don’t want you thinking you have to fix grown-up problems on your own.”
“I wasn’t fixing her whole life.”
She looked completely serious.
“I was fixing her glasses.”
I laughed.
“Fair enough. But talk to me next time.”
“Okay.”
I kissed her forehead.
I thought that was the end of it.
Then Mr. Reed called the next day.
I reached his office out of breath.
Ariel sat beside his desk.
Mrs. Grunwald stood near the window wearing neat dark-framed glasses.
Officer Rogers was beside Mr. Reed.
I crossed the room and went straight to Ariel.
“Are you
okay?”
“Yeah.”
I touched her shoulder.
“Did anyone ask you questions before I got here?”
“No. Mr. Reed just told me to wait.”
I turned to the adults.
“Then somebody needs to tell me what’s happening.”
The principal lifted his hands.
“Nothing bad. I should’ve started there, Jennifer.”



