Murphy And D'Avino (In loving memory of those lost at newton last year.)

                                           Murphy And D'Avino

  Walking into school that morning the walls shone white, the greetings were enthusiastic all the kids energetic bouncing around running here and there. Everyone a friend, every new face a companion already made. This is what she thought everyday before she entered her room, with her kids. Sitting down next to a student whom she assisted everyday, she smiled into his remote placid face.

   D'Avino understood what he meant, as she looked into his expressionless face. Austin had autism and sometimes failed to respond, but she knew he was happy to see her. The fifteen days she'd been working with him were always a struggle. They were also always rewarding. The past three days she'd been working on reading "The missing piece" with Austin. Met mostly with stares but, smiles emerged from his face as he heard the sing song like poem sections. Typical from a child with autism.

   Ms. Murphy was at the next table going through the alphabet with Susan. She could hear the giggles erupting from the little girls lips, as Ms. Murphy sang the alphabet in a deep voice. It made her realize just how much she loved being here. There was nothing compared to the happiness felt when working with kids; this thought also depressed her knowing how hard the years to come were after they left elementary school, and how cruel some people can be.

   A crash sounded from outside the room; seemingly far away she gave it no thought. Most likely the janitor or teacher dropping something on the floor. D'Avino went back to reading, watching Austins face illuminate as they searched for the missing piece inside the book. Then a door opened with a slam, a deafening sound. Coming from one of the classrooms down the hall.

   Looking into Mrs. Murphy's eyes, D'Avino turned to Austin and said, "I'll be right back sit tight honey" turning away she slipped into the hallway. She could hear yelling and screaming, echoing across the walls. A few steps forward and she saw it, blood. Blood ran askew pooling at a door lining the corridor. Walking closer hand clasping her mouth she saw it. She saw Mrs. Dawn, the principle laying dead on the ground. Mary, the school psychologist was motionless a few feet away.

   Body tingling, gagging on tears she backed away, only to have her hysteria interrupted by loud cracks pounding through the walls in the classroom to her left. The sound continued, each noise followed by thuds, like a fist hitting flesh. The screaming from the room thickened the air, desks could be heard skating across the room, as D'Avino veered away. Stumbling away the door behind her slid open, propelled by the grim scene behind it.

   Bursting into the classroom Ms. Murphy jumped, fear in her eyes, confusion influencing her posture. Trying to put on a smile for the kids, all ten faces penetrating her with the same gaze. Wide eyed frozen with confusion and fear. Sweat started to drip from her brow, struggling to figure out what to do. More cracks erupted from the hall leaving ringing in the ears of everyone in the room. The students rushed out of their seats, crowding by the windows, trying to force them open. Their tiny hands were the only things that could fit through.

  D'avino and Ms. Murphy ran across the room, grabbing tables and chairs, while toppling down bookcases, trying to barricade the door. The women backed away from the door, hearing the overwhelming cries erupting behind them. Turning around Ms. Murphy said in a hushed tone, "Everyone be very quite", she was interrupted suddenly, by smashing on the door.

  Incredibly silent the room came to a halt. Devoid of cries or shuffling of feet, the scraping on the windows seized. The pounding continued the table and chairs screeched as the door surged forward, again and again, each time gaining inches in progress to being fully ajar. The firing of a rifle sounded in the air as a man entered the room, throwing the furniture across the floor.

   Into the room came the man, wearing all black clothing and a utility vest, a gun rested in his arms, it was a menacing long barreled gun. A stench succumbed the room, of iron, like the faint taste you get in your mouth after you bite your tongue, and your mouth starts to bleed. D'Avino trembled; shivering as the man slowly walked across the room.

   Ms. Murphy was the first to act, jumping up from her downed position, "please", she pleaded. She stood in-between the gunman and the children acting as a barrier. The man pointed his gun at her, whipping it into formation. The gun fired sending gun powder into the air, the teacher went down, hitting the floor motionlessly, just as D'Avino had seen Ms. Dawn before.

   Veins pulsating, adrenaline surging through her body, D'Avino stood up straight and bolted towards the gunman. Knocking him off guard, she struggled to disarm him, thrashing around. A burning pain sheared up her neck, from the discharge gunpowder released from the firing of a gun. She felt a tearing pain through her left breast. Falling to her knees she was struck in the face. Another dull throb penetrated her skull as her head hit the ground. she looked up saw the man putting a new clip into the gun, throwing the old aside. Firing again D'Avino closed her eyes as the world went to light.