Claudia has a sad good-bye to make.

On school days, our family gets up at six-thirty. So I was surprised on Wednesday morning to hear voices and people moving around, and to look at my digital clock and see that it read 4:52.

Four fifty-two? What was going on?

I had to go to the bathroom anyway, so I got up. But I never even reached the bathroom. The noise and commotion was coming from my parents' bedroom. I stopped at their door. I know it isn't nice, but I listened to their voices for a few moments. All I could catch were snatches of conversation.

I heard Dad say, "...arrangements to make."

Then I heard Mom say (and did she sound as if she were crying?), I can't believe it." (A pause.) "...have to tell the girls."

I drew in a deep breath, knowing something was very wrong, and knocked on their door.

My father opened it. He was dressed except for his socks, which he was struggling to put on, hopping around on one foot, and at the same time, reaching for his wallet and stuffing it into his pocket.

Behind him, my mother was hurriedly pulling a blouse on over her slip. A pair of stockings and her pocketbook had been tossed on the bed, which was unmade.

Maybe I've made a mistake, I thought. maybe the clock actually said 9:52 and we were all late for work and school. But no. Mom and Dad's clock now said 4:54.

"Mom? Dad?" I said. "What's going on?"

I realized then that my mother was crying. She sank into a chair and opened her arms to me, inviting me to sit on her lap, which I hadn't done in years. But I did it then anyway.

Mom took my hand and said, "Claudia, Mimi died during the night. Just a little while ago."

I think my heart stopped beating then. I really do. I think it missed two beats. When it began working properly again. I felt my stomach turn into ice.

"I don't believe it," I whispered.

Claudia and the Sad Good-bye
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 059042503X