The Urgent Summons
The temporary peace was abruptly shattered the following morning by a ringing phone.
When Letty’s mother answered, the tense, breathless voice of the middle school principal came through the speaker.
“You need to come to the school right now,” he insisted, his voice sharp and unnatural. “It’s about Letty.”
A wave of cold dread washed over her. “Is Letty okay? Did something happen?”
“It would be better if you saw this with your own eyes,” the principal cut in, refusing to offer details over the line. “Please… you need to come immediately.”
Dropping everything, the widowed mother sprinted to her car, her mind racing through every worst-case scenario imaginable. Was Letty being punished for bringing an unauthorized package to school? Had the boys who bullied Millie turned their cruelty toward Letty?
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she sped across town, pulling into the school parking lot with trembling hands.
When she hurried through the front doors, the principal met her in the hallway. His face was pale, his posture unreadable.
“Come into my office. Now,” he said, gesturing down the corridor.
