For Mrs Wassermann a champion among school librarians who can face down the eye of any storm
1 The day of the disaster Blair O’Neill actually thought her weekend was improving She and her brothers had survived their mom’s wedding Now all they had to do was get home to Michigan They’d left on schedule exactly at eight One hour down twelve to go Blair’s older brother David was driving as usual Her younger brother Logan sat in the back earbuds in eyes closed Blair was in the front passenger seat She’d offered to drive part of the way since she had her permit now but no luck You can drive us around once you have your license David had told 1
her For now you’ll be my copilot Really the GPS was his copilot Blair was just moral support I’m so glad to be out of there David said as the car’s clock blinked to 9 02 a m I noticed said Blair Her older brother had been visibly tense ever since they arrived in Hatchville South Dakota He’d hardly said anything to their mom Gritted his teeth through the overdue introduction to Theo their mom’s fiancé now her husband Barely smiled in the wedding photos Didn’t dance or mingle at the reception For a guy who’d just turned twenty-one he’d acted a lot like a cranky uncle more so than usual I almost wish we hadn’t come at all he mumbled now his eyes on the road It’s not like Mom would’ve missed us Blair tried not to flinch She was used to hearing this from David For a long time she’d felt the same way But it had been six years since their mom left Weren’t they old enough to know better now Come on Dave that’s not true Sure their mom was flaky but 2
