Dale knew he was done for. He struggled but he was pinned. Fists slammed into him. Then he felt something tear in his neck, followed by an odd sensation. He felt the warm wash of blood spilling from his neck and coldness creeping into his body. Oddly enough, he did not feel pain.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Dale. All he could see above him were his attackers. They struggled with each other as much as they were fighting him. He felt strangely detached from the events. He watched the arms and heads move out of his line of sight, and then he saw his mother standing there, hugging her bat.
Dale smiled up at her. “It’s ok. I love you.” He tried to say. Then the moment was gone, and Dale felt a sharp pain before everything faded.
Claire saw her son. Then her view of her son’s face was obscured by his attackers and Claire’s vision focused instead on the bat held in front of her. With a scream, she swung the bat at the back of one of her son’s attackers. Two soldiers stepped in, pulled her away from the scene and towards a waiting school bus.
Chapter Fifty-one
Rays of sunshine surrounded Claire like a halo. She had finished her story a few seconds ago and stood there with her back to the window, looking at her audience but not really seeing them.
Nancy got out of her chair and stood up. She walked over to Claire with a kind smile. When she got to Claire, she reached out, offering her hands. Claire placed her hands in Nancy’s and the older woman looked at Claire with a sad, sincere look.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Sounds like Dale was a wonderful son. But Claire, don’t give up. Dale was right. Maybe Tom is still out there. Maybe Darren and Sheila are with him, and they’re riding this thing out, just like we are.”
Claire lowered her face and shook her head. “He would have called...” She felt somebody grab her forearm and looked down to see Maria standing there, looking up at her with tearful eyes. Shelley came up behind Maria. She put a hand on Maria’s shoulder and smiled sadly at Claire.
Sarah had also come close. She stepped around Nancy and put her arm around Claire’s back. She waited for the other woman to look at her before she spoke. “Maybe they went to that cottage. Besides, they can’t call you because they wouldn’t know where you are. Look. I don’t know if they’re alive or not but do know that I can’t let you give up, Claire. None of us can afford to...”
Claire looked at the other woman, her eyes betraying her hopelessness. The fight had gone out of her. She appreciated the kind sentiments of the females around her and smiled at each of them.
Maria pulled on Claire’s sleeve, drawing the older woman’s attention. “Missus Moore?”
“Yes, Maria.” Claire’s voice was little more than a whisper.
“Your son; Dale, was very brave. He sacrificed himself for you.”
Claire nodded silently as fresh tears started to form.
“No Missus Moore. No more tears. Listen to me. Your son, he said that you were the strongest person he knew. He also said that there would be other people that need you.”
Claire listened to the girl, slightly shocked at her forcefulness.
“Well, these ladies here. They need you. And me. I need you.” Her bottom lip started to tremble.
“I lost my little baby brother. My papa. My mama.” A solitary tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m very sad.” More tears came with that admission. “But I know they are all in heaven. And that they want me to live. Maybe to get revenge. Maybe not. I’m sad, but I’m also angry, you know?”
Claire was about to speak but Maria shushed her. She had more to say.
“You can be sad and angry too. But you can’t give up. You are strong. We” –she indicated the other women around Claire– “need you to be strong again.”
“Oh dear!” Was all Claire could say, and she hugged Maria tight. The ladies all hugged, each one deep in their own thoughts but united in the need for support.
Claire was the first to break off the group hug. Her eyes were dry.
“Thanks.” She said with a wry smile. “I didn’t think it would help me at all, but...” Her eyes opened just a bit wider as realization dawned upon her “But I feel” –she frowned as she looked for the right words– “that I needed this.”
She looked up and for the first time noticed that several more people had gathered in the doorway of the classroom. She spotted Rachel and Joe, holding each other tightly, standing just inside and to the right of the door. Mel stood to the left of the door and framed by the door itself stood Jack and Emily.
Claire walked to the door with a small smile.
“Oh, you poor thing!” Rachel declared and swept her up in a hug. “I’m so sorry!” Claire returned the hug. “It’s ok. Thanks, Rachel.” Rachel continuing to cry as they separated.
Joe hugged the grey-haired lady tenderly. “Maria is right, you know. We all need you. We all need each other.”
It was hugs all around after that. Claire hugged Mel and Emily, followed by a slightly awkward hug from Jack. Claire noticed out of the corner of her eye that everybody else was hugging as well. Even Emily and Rachel hugged with a few lukewarm words for each other.
Claire walked out into the hallway and down the stairs, followed by her entourage. She walked into the cafeteria, where a conversation was quickly hushed as all eyes turned to her.
Claire walked up to the freshly hung volunteer lists. She picked up a marker and wrote her name on the list with ‘kitchen’ written on it. She turned and faced the rest of the group.
“I’m ready to help out now...”
Chapter Fifty-two
