Free Shadow Man by Cynthia D. Grant Page A

that the moment of death is too painful. Your heart just stops beating.”
    Tears were running down her cheeks. “But it seems like it would hurt,” she said. “And nobody would be there with me.”
    â€œWhen you die, you mean? Or after you’re dead?”
    â€œBoth. The last, mostly. What happens to you then? I mean, after you die, where do you go?”
    â€œIt depends on what your beliefs are, Amy,” I said. “Some people believe in heaven. Some don’t. Some people believe in reincarnation: that you’re born again as someone or something else.”
    â€œWhat do you believe?”
    I took a deep breath. I’m supposed to guide these kids, not lead them. “I believe different things at different times,” I said.
    â€œDo you think Gabe’s in heaven?”
    â€œIf heaven exists, I’m sure Gabe would be welcome. And some part of him will always be alive in our memories.”
    â€œThat’s what I think,” she said. “I’m going to the funeral. Everybody’s going, ’cause they love him so much. I’m scared when I die nobody will come to my funeral. Just my parents and brother. Nobody else would care.”
    â€œAmy, that’s not true. Lots of people would care. Because the thing is, honey, we’re all connected; every one of us on this planet. When we’re mean to people, they pass along meanness. When we love them, they pass along love.” My eyes filled up. She noticed and looked frightened. I blinked away the tears. I’m supposed to be an adult. “That’s why it’s so important to be kind and helpful whenever we can; to treat others the way we want to be treated. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
    â€œI guess so.” She looked doubtful. “But I still don’t want to die.”
    I had to smile. “That makes two of us.”

26
    Gabriel McCloud
    Dear Mrs. Sanders,
    Thanks for coming hear Jennie play the other night. The band sounded great. The thing I like about her flute playing is she sounds like she does when she’s talking know what I mean? If I played an instrument it would be the drum KABOOM my dad wouldn’t go for that. Another thing I wanted to play was the piano but anyway its to late for that but it sure makes me proud to hear Jennie! I want our kids to play some instruments. If we have some I mean.
    David was glad you said to say hi to him. He’s standing here now and he says be sure to say hi back.
    HI BACK! Now he’s punching my arm.
    Jennie sure looked pretty the other night. She looked like an angle in that dress. Sometimes I don’t know what she’s doing with me (I bet you wonder that to a lot of people do.) Its my hidden charm. On the outside all you see is a stupid old redneck like all these boys in town but inside where it really counts I’m smooth and smart and full of power. Like Shadow Man that’s me! One thing about this town you get in a rut. Like your a jock or a brain or a doper or a redneck and people allways see you that way because they knew you since you were a kid. Maybe you’ve changed and your different then they think but they don’t know that.
    I keep meaning to bring in a Shadow Man for you to see but you’d probly think it was stupid. But I’m telling you the drawing is really good and the words are like poems. I like the way he talks people really stop and lissen. The other day Shadow Man was helping this little boy who didn’t have any family and you could see it made the boy feel good like he finally had a big brother. It made Shadow Man feel good to he’s alone a lot. He had a girlfriend for a while but it didn’t work out but he still loves her. Some of the fans don’t go for that stuff they write in letters in the back of each issue. They want Shadow Man to be like all the other super heros there allways fighting nazis and monsters. Who cares about that crap pardon my