Sherran McDonough

It was a very sunny June morning.

Grandmother and I were going on a field trip to a museum downtown.

We took a container of ice . . . . just ice cubes so that the ice would be cold water when we returned to the car.

Grandmother made certain that it was in a spill-proof,leak proof, and air tight container.

(Grandmother is a bit fussy about her new car and wanted to make sure that nothing spilled.)

When we got to the museum. Grandmother locked the car and we went in.

We went downstairs to the new exhibit just for children the grown ups call it a "hands on" exhibit — it was really fun! I dressed up like an Indian and got into a real live tee pee.

I drew a picture of a horse, and the museum people hung my painting up to dry!

There was another very cool exhibit that was all about reflections and light. It had music and dancing colors, so I danced, too. I danced in and out of the moving lights. My shadow followed me wherever I went — in all different colors. It was like the colors were dancing with me!

I love to dance. This was my favorite exhibit for sure!

Then Grandmother and I went back to the car.

Grandmother unlocked the car and I looked into the back seat where we put the container of ice.

The ice was gone!

The car had been locked.

The lid was still on the waterproof container.

There were no spills anywhere in the car!

I was puzzled — how could this be?

The ice was gone!

Hmmmmm — something happened — something changed — and yet the container never opened.

The container was still there — but the ice was gone!

I began to understand about what happens when someone dies.

I never understood what happened before.

The important things — the part of them that makes people who they really are doesn't leave — but, the form changes.

I am not sure about it all yet — but I do feel better now — knowing that the love within a person never dies and it stays with us forever!