My heart hurts

Yesterday, in our quiet little community, the unthinkable happened.  One of my students, a 4th grade boy, was playing outside, along with many of his friends.  I don't know all of the details, but somehow he was run over by a car, and pretty much passed away at the scene.

I don't teach the 4th graders this year, but I taught them last year in third grade.  He was new to the school, and new to English.  He worked hard to catch up, to understand and to be involved.  He was a boy who loved to laugh and run and play.

I keep thinking about his mom and dad, and the friends who were with him when it happened.  I keep thinking about him, and hoping that he was met on the other side by someone he knew.  I don't normally think of heaven as a scary place, but he's 10.  What does he know about heaven?

There was an assembly just now for the students, and I have never seen a room full of children so quiet entering or leaving.  Parents were in attendance, and there were many red eyes around the room.

If you have children, give them an extra hug.  Tell them you love them.