Mrs. Lloyd opened the front door and was surprised to see me. "Susu." She squinted at me. "Susu. That is how it is pronounced, right? I must have it right this time. I see you every other day."

I smiled and clapped. "You have graduated!"

She squealed. "Yes. I knew that I would get it sooner or later. So what brings you to my cozy home?"

Mrs. Lloyd is my next-door neighbor. She brings me so much life. She is the other reason why I have not taken myself. I consider her my second mother. She may be a tough cookie, but she would be crushed if I passed. She would lose another person. I cannot do that to her.

My neighbor is not obsessed with me. She just likes my company and treats me how any kid should be treated. Her husband is at work during the week, so Mrs. Lloyd is alone. Alone in her house. She would not be lonely if she did not have a miscarriage. She could be caring for her son instead of being with me if she never lost him.

I kicked a pebble and watched it fly off the porch. "The reason that I am here is because...uh...I heard that you were cleaning your attic. I want to help."

"Who told you that I am cleaning out my attic?"

"My grandmother."

"And you want to assist me?"

"Yes. I hope that you do not mind. It will go faster. You will be finished before you know it."

She clasped her hands together. "Awe. How sweet. You do not have to help me, Susu. I can clean with no issue. I will be done by the afternoon."

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my pants. "It is no bother. Really. I would love to help you."

"I appreciate it, but...you are only a kid once. You need to make the most of it. Hang out with your buddies. Go to the arcade or the pool. Enjoy yourself - and life."

She does not want me to...hang out...with my friends. I cannot hang out with them because they do not exist. I have none.

"But you are my friend, Mrs. Lloyd. My only friend. No one else wants to be friends with the Susu. Susu means quiet. I am the quiet one in my classes. Wish that I was not...but I cannot help it. I talk to my teachers and give speeches like that there is no tomorrow."

"You like public speaking?"

"Very much. I do not get what the big deal is. Not hard. You share your opinions about a subject and may show photos that give your audience a better idea. Ah. It was made for people like me. Want to know the best part?"

She ran her fingers through her long hair. "What is the best part?"

"Nobody can interrupt you during your speech - or our teacher will lower their grades. So my classmates must listen to the quiet one. I love it!"

"I am happy that you enjoy public speaking. It is a skill that everyone should have. Hey, did you know that it is the number one fear? Death comes in second."

"Yeah. Our teacher told us. I was surprised and figured that she was joking around. No way that folks are more afraid of public speaking than death."

"It is the sad truth, Susu. Not that you should be afraid of death either."

I took my hands out of my pockets. "May I come in?"

She pondered for a minute. "Say...do you want to assist just to get out of school?"

I giggled. "You know that I would never do that. School is closed for the day. It is my day off."

"All the more reason that you should not help me clean the attic. Enjoy your day off and make the most of it."

"I told you. It is no bother. It gives me something to do and somebody to talk to. I would rather do this than be bored. I will get on my knees if you say no."

She sighed. "It would be nice to have some help. Fine." She motioned for me to come in. "Do not be shy. Come inside. I will show you to the attic."

I have been in Mrs. Lloyd's house so many times that I have it memorized. But I have never been in the attic. I have not even seen it. My place has neither a basement nor an attic, so I was excited to see what my neighbor's attic looked like. I expected it to be small and messy or stacked with boxes. It had to be cleaned. I followed her to the attic and asked what was up there.

"Wish that I knew," Mrs. Lloyd replied. She halted and forced me to do the same. "I have not been in that attic for five years."

"'Five years'? Wow. Why have you not been in there?"

"It is crowded. I mean, it is a huge attic. Lots of space - if it was not filled with junk. It is stacked with boxes."

So I was right and wrong.

"Do you have any idea what we will find?"

"Spider and their webs. Maybe cockroaches."

"I was talking about the stuff in the boxes."

"Oh. Probably things that I will donate. If I did not use them for five years, I do not need them."

I noticed a chain hanging on her ceiling and was about to ask why it was there. But my question was answered when she pulled it. I watched as she grasped said chain and pulled it with all her might. A small door opened. I pressed my hands to my cheeks as a staircase unfolded and reached the floor. Remember that I do not have an attic, so it was cool to me. I walked to the staircase and squinted at the attic...

...and fell.