Spangler?” Clarissa asked, looking up at her fourth grade teacher. “Yes, Clarissa,” Mrs. Spangler replied, placing her hand softly on Clarissa’s shoulder. Clarissa loved the way Mrs. Spangler answered questions. She put her hand on your shoulder and looked right into your eyes, like your question was the most important thing in the world. Clarissa smiled up at her. “Do you know if anyone ever died in our classroom?” Mrs. Spangler’s smile faltered just a bit, but then she regained it. “Why no, Clarissa,” she said. “I’m afraid I don’t have any information about that. Why did you want to know?” Clarissa shrugged. “I was just wondering,” she replied. Knowing about some of the frightening circumstances when Clarissa was younger, the concerned teacher pressed a bit further. “Are you afraid of something?” she asked. “Are you worried someone might die?” Shocked, Clarissa shook her head. “No, I’m not,” she replied, her voice hesitant. “Are you?”
