“Rae!” Violet came tearing around the corner, sneakers squeaking on the school’s perpetually waxed linoleum. “You are not going to…” Her jubilant announcement and quick pace came to a halt before a sullen face. The two stood facing one another while the hustle and bustle of high school life swirled around them.

For her part, Rae took note of this, wondered at the magical seclusion that is adolescence. She knew what was going on in the world at large, including the things her own parents perpetrated. There was practically a war going on in their own country. Meanwhile there went Kendra Jenkins running after Harvey Bintz concerned whether their date to the big dance was still on.

Violet, on the other hand, could only stand stupefied by her friend’s blank look. No words were spoken. Her face told it all. Though Violet could not fathom what had transpired, she knew one thing. Rae, her erstwhile friend, could no longer bear to be around her, could hardly face her. Their friendship was over.