The winter air was cold and clear as we walked down Maple Lane toward Oak Ridge Elementary School.

The morning sun hung low over the rooftops, throwing long blue shadows across the clean white snow on the sidewalks.

Lucy held my hand with a firm, relaxed grip, swinging her red backpack a little as we walked.

Her red plush rabbit poked its squashed left ear out of the open mesh pocket on the side of her bag.

We turned the corner by the playground fence and climbed the wide concrete steps to the glass front doors.

Brenda was standing inside the warm brick entrance hall holding a wooden clipboard against her navy coat.