Weapons

This is a true story.

It happened right here in my town two years ago.

A lot of people die in a lot of really weird ways

in this story,

but you're not gonna find it in the news

or anywhere like that

because the police and the top people in this town

were, like, so embarrassed

that they weren't able to solve it

that they covered everything all up.

But if you come here and ask anyone,

they'll all tell you the same thing

that I'm gonna tell you now.

This story starts in my school.

Maybrook Elementary

is kindergarten through fifth grade.

So this one Wednesday

is like a normal day for the whole school.

And they had this teacher who was new.

Her name was Justine Gandy.

And on this day, she was going to her classroom

just like every morning.

But today was different.

Today, none of her kids were there.

Every other class at that school had all their kids.

Even the other third grade Mrs. Belt taught was full.

But Mrs. Gandy's room was totally empty.

Well, not totally.

There was one boy there.

And his name was Alex Lilly.

And he was the only kid in the class of 18

that came to school that day.

And do you know why?

He was the only one there

because the night before at 2:17 in the morning,

every other kid woke up,

got out of bed,

walked downstairs,

opened the front door,

walked across the front yard and into the dark.

And they never came back.

All the parents and people at the school

were really sad and upset.

The police could tell that the kids left at 2:17

because, like, half the houses had alarms

that got tripped when they walked outside.

Some of the kids even got videoed

by the houses that had cameras.

But the cameras only showed the kids

walking out into the darkness.

They didn't show where they went after that.

The police talked to Alex a lot.

They asked him why his classmates did what they did,

but he told them he didn't know.

They asked him if there was a plan,

but he said if there was, he never heard it.

They asked him if there was a TV show

where someone ran away like that,

but he said if there was, he never saw it.

They also talked to Mrs. Gandy a whole bunch,

but she also didn't know anything

and couldn't help them.

For almost a whole month,

they kept the school closed for their big investigation.

But after a while, they had to open everything back up,

so that the kids that didn't disappear could learn again.

One night before they did,

they had a big meeting at the school.

There was a bunch of counselors

and people like that

to help everybody figure out how to feel

and be sad together, I guess.

This is where the story really starts.

What's important is that we don't judge our grief.

We might experience emotions we don't like.

Emotions besides sadness.

We need to make sure that we allow ourselves

to feel emotions like anger.

Anger is a very healthy part of the grief cycle.

It can be especially powerful in instances of abandonment.

Now, there are often times that we...

What does that mean?

"Especially powerful in instances of abandonment"?

Are you saying that we should be upset with Matthew?

I'm saying it wouldn't be abnormal...

I'll tell you right now

that you may call what happened "abandonment,"

but I don't. I don't see it like that.

I see something that doesn't make any sense at all.

We're talking about 17 kids in one classroom.

What happened in that classroom?

Why just her classroom? Why only hers?

- Yeah! -

Look, I'm picking up a lot of emotion,

and that's fine.

So you'll forgive me if I'm not

particularly interested in hearing any more out of you.

I wanna hear from Justine Gandy.

- Yeah. -

She's here. I wanna know exactly

what she was doing in there.

Uh...

I've...

First...

I just wanna say how very sorry I am for...

all of what's happened.

I know there's nothing I can say to make this better.

The truth is, is that I want an answer

- just as bad as all of you. -

- Finally. Liar! - That bitch.

I love those kids.

And...

I... I know...

We know you know exactly what's going on.

I know... I know it's... it's not...

She should be locked up until she tells us what happened!

Okay, now that kind of thing is really not called for.

I'm serious.

Mrs. Gandy is here

as an affected member of this community,

and she is hurting just like all of us.

You're either negligent or complicit!

Where are our children, Mrs. Gandy?

That's enough. Everybody needs to give us some space.

Please. Please. It's been a long, long night.

We need to get some sleep,

wake up tomorrow with clearer heads.

Do you have anyone you can stay with tonight?

- Mm-mmm. - Then I recommend you going

straight home and laying low.

This feels like it could turn in...

Excuse me, ma'am, I'm saving up for a bus ticket

to see my brother. Do you have any change on you at all?

No, I'm sorry. Sorry.

[music playing through PA system]

Hello?

Hello?

- Who is this? - You better watch your back

because tonight's the night that I...

Excuse me, miss, I'm saving up for a bus ticket

to see my brother. Do you have any change?

- No, sorry. - Okay, thank you.

- -

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Hello?

Hello?

Yes?

- -

- Jesus! Fucking what? -

Who's there?

Hello?

Fuck!

You're gonna keep your health insurance,

and if you don't mind me saying,

there's a lot of mental health specialists on the plan.

Some of them are...

I, uh... I just need to work, you know?

I just need to fill my days with, uh...

Yeah, I... I need to work. So...

Justine, the scene last night was just proof

that we have a lot of emotional parents here.

For now, I think it's best

if you keep some distance from this place

until folks find time to sort themselves out.

How's Alex? Is he...

Alex is doing well.