The next day was rough. I was constantly trying to remind myself that there was nothing I could've done to save Dad, but -since my flashback yesterday- I just couldn't. I told Grams about it and she suggested looking into different grief programs for teenagers. 

     I told her no one would be interested in listening to my story, but she persuaded me. "These kids have gone through what you have, dear." She said. "Who knows, you might make a new friend or two!" So, I reluctantly agreed. 

     And now, I was sitting in the front seat of Grams car driving to the local bookstore. This bookstore had weekly grief sessions in the back, and Grams said she would be looking around the bookstore and if I needed to leave, just to find her. I nodded.  When we got there, she led me to the back, where a group of 3 girls were. 

     "Hello, girls!" Grams said. 2 girls waved, but they didn't smile or say hello. "This is my granddaughter, Lillian. She will be joining you today, is that alright?" The same 2 girls nodded, but 1 of them cracked a smile. 

     "Sure, Ms. Bosie!" She said. I looked at Grams, wondering how they knew her name. "My name is Dixie, and these 2 girls are Charlotte and Wendy!" The girl who had waved with Dixie (her name was Charlotte) smiled, but Wendy remained cold and mean towards me. Great, just great. 

     Grams left me with them, and I took a seat on one of the 4 empty chairs. The seat I took was right across from Wendy, and next to Charlotte. "So." Wendy said, finally speaking up and using her voice. "Why are you here? Did Ms. Bosie take pity on you because you're an orphan? Or is it just to promote her campaign?" I looked up at her, startled. What campaign?  

     "What campaign? What are you talking about, Wendy?" I said, trying to defend myself. "I am here for the same reason that you guys are here. I'm going through grief, and I want to talk about it to people who will listen! Is that a crime?" I stood up and stormed out of the room, but Dixie caught up to me. 

     "Hey. She didn't mean any harm." Dixie said. "Her parents moved a little over 2 months ago. She's new here, but she wasn't our friend immediately. Give her some time."

     "Well then why is she in a grief support group?" I challenged. "Did your Dad drown next to you in a car crash? Did your mom die before you could meet her? Do you have to live with your Grandma in the middle of nowhere?" 

     Her face fell, and I knew that I'd gone too far. Charlotte looked at me with disgust in her eyes, and Dixie went over to Wendy to make sure that she was alright. I looked at them and felt suffocated in the room. I wanted to get out, but then Wendy spoke. 

     "I moved here 2 months ago. My little sister had just died. She was only on this planet for 2 years, and my parents needed a fresh start." Wendy spoke from her heart. I admired her for that, but I wanted to hear the rest. "So we packed up our life as we knew it and moved here. I was still grieving, so I joined the group. At the time, it was just Dixie. Charlotte joined a month later. But shortly after Char joined, my Mom died. It was from cancer. She had just gotten diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and was only given 5 weeks to live, but she only lived 2 of those 5 weeks.

     My dad got lost to grief, and he ended up taking his own life. The last thing he said to me was 'Take care of yourself, Wendy.' I now live in an elderly couple who live about half a mile from here. So ya, I'm sorry for being cold to you at first, but I have my reasons." 

     I felt very bad for her, and I instantly regretted my choice of words. Wendy was going through a hard time, and she did need to be here. More than me. And maybe more than Charlotte and Dixie.

     I looked back at them. Wendy was crying enough tears to fill a bucket, while Wendy and Charlotte were trying to console her. I knew that it would be in my best interest to leave, but I just couldn't leave Wendy there. 

     "Hush, little baby don't say a word, Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird. And if that mocking bird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring". I stopped singing when I saw that Wendy was smiling through her tears. 

     "And if that diamond ring is brass, Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass." She finished for me. "My Dad used to sing that song for me all the time. It was the lullaby that he sang to Fannie at her funeral. Same with Mom. So, thank you."

     At first I was blown away. After everything I said to her, she was thanking me? I was shocked. I smiled, but I grabbed my phone and started to leave again. This time, no one stopped me. 

     "Done so early?" Grams said to me almost as soon as I walked out the door. I nodded. Grams led me out to her car and we sat down. We sat in silence for most of the car ride home, until I remembered what Wendy had said about a campaign. 

     "Grams" I said. She smiled as her way of saying yes, and I continued speaking again. "Wendy mentioned something about a campaign. What is she talking about?"

      Grams' body suddenly tensed up, and she clutched the steering wheel hard. "I- I'm running for town mayor. I know my chances of winning are very unlikely, but I might've used you as a tool to try and win. I'm so sorry, Lillian." 

     I felt so betrayed and used. And by my own Grandma. She could've at least told me first. After what had happened today at the grief meeting, and Grams betrayed me, I had enough. The second we got home, I hopped on my bicycle and left. I knew that Grams would be looking for me, but I just needed to leave. 

     I rode down our street until I reached the house at the very end. I noticed a young girl with red, curly hair sitting on the driveway, scrolling through her phone. This was it! A chance to make friends in this town. 

     I rode over to her, but as soon as she saw me, she got up. "Wait! Wait! My name is Lillian!" I called out, hoping that she would stop and say hi. She turned to me and gave me a slight smile. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around." I asked. She nodded. 

     "We just moved here yesterday." She said, walking towards me. I noticed that she had the typical nerd look, the hair, glasses, and the outfit. it just screamed nerdy. And I knew at this instant that we would be best friends. At least I hoped we would be. "My name is Erna. It is nice to meet you, Lillian." 

     "By any chance" I asked, "Do you like classical music?" It was the most random question, but if she did, it would certify her as a nerd. 

     "I'm listening to Mozart right now!" She said as she plucked her headphones out of her ears. I smiled. She smiled back. "But, Puccini is one of my favorites!" I had to disagree, a favorite for me is Beethoven. But I did like her taste in music. 

     "Would you like to meet my dad and my Grandma Camilla?" She asked me. I nodded my head yes. I was too mad to go back home to Grams, but I would at least text her to let her know I was at a friend's. Or at least a soon to be friend. 

     When I went inside her house, it was like most houses here, small and tiny. Her Grandma Camilla seemed nice, offering me a freshly made brownie. I gladly accepted it, thinking that she was like most of the grandma's in movies.

     I met Travis, Erna's Dad. He seemed ok with me being over, saying that I was her first friend. And then Erna kicked her Dad. I chuckled. Their relationship reminded me of the relationship that Dad and I had. Before he died of course.

     I learned that Travis was actually Erna's adoptive Dad, and that he adopted her when she was only 3 months old. Her mom (adoptive mom) died when she was only 3, and they had moved to Residential drive for her Grandma Camilla's treatment. 

      When she asked about my parents, I just said that they divorced, and I live with my Grams until they get it all figured out. I felt glad to have a friend, and I hoped to that we could become best friends too. I also think Grandma Camilla and Grams would become best friends. 

    And besides, maybe Travis can become like a secondly father figure to me. I would love to have Erna as my sister.