I got an automated call last night. It was from Lil Bit’s school. Lil Bit is my daughter and she’s eight, so we’ve been getting lots of those and I happened to miss this one.
When I had a moment, I listened to the voicemail. What I heard was not what I expected. I figured it would be a call reminding us about spring t-shirt orders or the daddy-daughter dance next weekend at the elementary school.
No, it was a call informing us that at the high school campus, right next to the elementary school, a freshman brought a loaded handgun and extra ammunition to school. No one was hurt and the student was arrested but, I swear, when I heard this message—my heart stopped.
I didn’t sleep well. I woke up at 2:45 a.m. because I could have sworn I heard a gunshot. I really, really didn’t want to take her to school today, but I did.
I am so, so grateful that this didn’t become a tragedy and that no one was hurt. But I’m also terrified of something like this happening when Lil Bit is older and in high school and the campus police being too late to prevent someone’s injury or death.
I know I’ll be hugging my baby (who’s really not a baby anymore) a little tighter today when I pick her up from school.
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