friends.
As Lucy climbed in, Claire leaned over and gave her a hug. “And how are you, Lucy?”
“Oh . . . coping,” she answered, finding her seat belt.
Claire pulled out of the Post Office parking lot and headed down Front Street.
“And how is Amber?” she asked.
“She’s doing all right. I didn’t tell her we’d be coming by today. I didn’t want to cause any alarm before we had to.”
“Fine, fine.”
“I’m going to take her back to the elementary school on Monday and see if I can get her worked into her classes there again. Miss Brewer doesn’t think she’ll have too much trouble catching up and just finishing out the year.”
“Oh, no, not Amber, and it’s so close to the end of the year anyway.”
They drove through town and then turned onto 187th, commonly called Pond Road because it passed by a large and popular cattailedpond some two miles west. Along with the street sign naming the road was another sign pointing the direction to the Good Shepherd Community Church and the Good Shepherd Academy.
“I think John and Paula will be there today,” said Claire. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I guess not. I haven’t even met them yet.”
“Well, you’ll find they’re wonderful people. I’m glad we’ll be working with them on this thing. Reporters aren’t always as courteous as they are.”
Lucy was quiet for a moment, just watching the farmlands and small forests go by.
Finally she said, “Why did we have to bring in the press?”
“Oh, it’s very simple. In a case like this, public opinion is important. It’s the public mind that eventually creates the laws we all have to live by. You see, we fight our battles at two levels: in the courts and in the public arena. A lot of the cases we win today came about because of public opinion that was molded years ago. What we do now to mold public opinion will have a positive effect on legal cases that arise in the future. It’s a process.”
“I just don’t know if Amber can go through it.”
Claire smiled with confidence. “Oh, Amber’s a strong little soldier. She can do it. I was impressed with how she spoke right up and told everything to our staff, and Dr. Mandanhi, and even Mrs. Bledsoe.”
Lucy was bitter. “ Amber? You mean ‘Amethyst,’ don’t you?”
Claire smiled and nodded. “Yes, you’re right. But that doesn’t matter. It’s still Amber, really. Amethyst is a good friend for Amber because she bears the burden of what happened and speaks so freely, something Amber could never do as herself.”
Lucy smiled a nervous smile. “But you know . . . I don’t think I like Amethyst.”
Claire laughed.
Lucy laughed too, hoping that statement would not be taken as seriously as she meant it. “I mean . . . Amethyst is just so brash and disrespectful . . . And I think Amber’s getting away with a lot by blaming it on Amethyst.”
“Well, you should put a stop to that, of course.”
“But you see what I’m worried about? I think I would trust Amberto tell the truth . . . and I would know what she was thinking and feeling. But I just don’t know about Amethyst. I never know what she’ll say next!” Lucy shook her head to think she was even having such a conversation. “I need a set of reins for that little critter!”
Claire only laughed again. “Oh, don’t be afraid of Amethyst. Inner guides are always trustworthy, and Amber needs that support and fellowship for what’s ahead.”
“Oh, I can see that.”
But Lucy didn’t feel any better, and Claire noticed.
“What else?” Claire asked.
“Since we’re talking about Amethyst . . .”
“Yes?”
“Did you see that other article in the paper, about Sally Roe?”
Claire knew about it. “Lucy, really that’s no concern of yours. You shouldn’t even think such a thing!”
Lucy was close to tears. “But how can I help it?”
Claire stole several looks at Lucy as she drove. “Listen to me. It’s not Amber’s fault. I had some friends
As Lucy climbed in, Claire leaned over and gave her a hug. “And how are you, Lucy?”
“Oh . . . coping,” she answered, finding her seat belt.
Claire pulled out of the Post Office parking lot and headed down Front Street.
“And how is Amber?” she asked.
“She’s doing all right. I didn’t tell her we’d be coming by today. I didn’t want to cause any alarm before we had to.”
“Fine, fine.”
“I’m going to take her back to the elementary school on Monday and see if I can get her worked into her classes there again. Miss Brewer doesn’t think she’ll have too much trouble catching up and just finishing out the year.”
“Oh, no, not Amber, and it’s so close to the end of the year anyway.”
They drove through town and then turned onto 187th, commonly called Pond Road because it passed by a large and popular cattailedpond some two miles west. Along with the street sign naming the road was another sign pointing the direction to the Good Shepherd Community Church and the Good Shepherd Academy.
“I think John and Paula will be there today,” said Claire. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I guess not. I haven’t even met them yet.”
“Well, you’ll find they’re wonderful people. I’m glad we’ll be working with them on this thing. Reporters aren’t always as courteous as they are.”
Lucy was quiet for a moment, just watching the farmlands and small forests go by.
Finally she said, “Why did we have to bring in the press?”
“Oh, it’s very simple. In a case like this, public opinion is important. It’s the public mind that eventually creates the laws we all have to live by. You see, we fight our battles at two levels: in the courts and in the public arena. A lot of the cases we win today came about because of public opinion that was molded years ago. What we do now to mold public opinion will have a positive effect on legal cases that arise in the future. It’s a process.”
“I just don’t know if Amber can go through it.”
Claire smiled with confidence. “Oh, Amber’s a strong little soldier. She can do it. I was impressed with how she spoke right up and told everything to our staff, and Dr. Mandanhi, and even Mrs. Bledsoe.”
Lucy was bitter. “ Amber? You mean ‘Amethyst,’ don’t you?”
Claire smiled and nodded. “Yes, you’re right. But that doesn’t matter. It’s still Amber, really. Amethyst is a good friend for Amber because she bears the burden of what happened and speaks so freely, something Amber could never do as herself.”
Lucy smiled a nervous smile. “But you know . . . I don’t think I like Amethyst.”
Claire laughed.
Lucy laughed too, hoping that statement would not be taken as seriously as she meant it. “I mean . . . Amethyst is just so brash and disrespectful . . . And I think Amber’s getting away with a lot by blaming it on Amethyst.”
“Well, you should put a stop to that, of course.”
“But you see what I’m worried about? I think I would trust Amberto tell the truth . . . and I would know what she was thinking and feeling. But I just don’t know about Amethyst. I never know what she’ll say next!” Lucy shook her head to think she was even having such a conversation. “I need a set of reins for that little critter!”
Claire only laughed again. “Oh, don’t be afraid of Amethyst. Inner guides are always trustworthy, and Amber needs that support and fellowship for what’s ahead.”
“Oh, I can see that.”
But Lucy didn’t feel any better, and Claire noticed.
“What else?” Claire asked.
“Since we’re talking about Amethyst . . .”
“Yes?”
“Did you see that other article in the paper, about Sally Roe?”
Claire knew about it. “Lucy, really that’s no concern of yours. You shouldn’t even think such a thing!”
Lucy was close to tears. “But how can I help it?”
Claire stole several looks at Lucy as she drove. “Listen to me. It’s not Amber’s fault. I had some friends
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