Beyond Broken Pencils: A School Shooting Tale of Heartbreak and Healing

by Julie C. Gilbert

Checking both directions, Mrs. Marquette executes an illegal U-turn. “Mom? You know the school’s the other way, right?” asks Megan. “Yes, but the good Dunkin Donuts is this way,” says Mrs. Marquette. Sherri and Val exchange excited looks. Then, Sherri’s expression shifts to worry. I don’t have any money. Following her line of thought, Val leans close to whisper in her ear. “Mom buys gift cards by the boatload. I’m sure she’ll buy you anything you want. You’re practically family.” The sentiment puts a lump in Sherri’s throat. Her blond hair doesn’t exactly blend in with the dark locks shared among all three Marquette women. She flashes her friend a smile, but her stomach churns with unease. There has always been a marked difference between the finances of their families, but Val works hard to make her feel comfortable. She appreciates the effort, but that doesn’t make accepting gifts any easier. Sherri can’t wait until she is old enough to get a job, then she can treat Val to breakfast for a change.

Ian surprises himself by having an opinion on the matter. Since he has a pen in hand and a blank page in front of him, he decides to participate. It should make the time pass quicker anyway. Keep the mascot the same. There’s history at stake. There’s also no real reason to change. Selling more shirts is a piss-poor reason to change your history. This town may not rely on horses any more, but that’s not the point. What is a high school mascot or any mascot for that matter? It’s a symbol. Something to fight for and wave little flags and get all excited for nothing. The football team’s hardly won a game in three years. Changing stuff on the uniform isn’t going to save them. People suck. They need cheap stuff like this to cling to. It gives their pathetic little lives meaning. Because we all want to be winners. We were promised we were winners. We were lied to. This isn’t about dragons or broncos. It’s about control. Make a change. Protest! Pitch a fit. If you whine loud enough, somebody will cave and give you what you want like the freaking baby you are. The future is yours. Seize the day. Be the change you want to see. And all that rot. I don’t care. If being represented by something that never existed makes you feel better, go for it.

“Why do you feel terrible?” Becca asks softly. “You’re a hero.” Faith meets Becca’s steady blue eyes. “Heroes are only needed when things go wrong, and today, things went very, very wrong. People shouldn’t need to do this kind of saving. Our society should be better than this.”