“AWESOME!!!” Alex exclaimed, “A slumber party on Saturday NIght! Our first of Junior High Jordan! And it’s at Georgia’s house! What amazing luck!!!”

“Yeah – great.” Jordan said with zero zip.

“What?! What’s wrong? Don’t you like Georgia? I bet it’ll be real small just how you like parties Jordan – she’s kinda shy like you ya know? And her house!! It’s sooooo nice… This is gonna be GREAT!”

“Alex! I can’t possibly go to this.”

“What?! Why?”

“Alex! Don’t you remember what I told you about last night!!!” Jordan looked down.

“Wha—oh…well…it’s no big deal Jordan…just bring one of your things and you can sneak it in the bathroom before bed and put it on. No one will know.”

“ALEX!! SHHHHHHH!!” Jordan said rather loudly herself as she shuffled her friend off closer to the bushes near the front of the building.

“Jordan, lots of kids wet the bed and really – no one will notice. Just put it on before bed and it’ll be fine….or don’t wear it…you said it doesn’t’ happen every night anyways….”

Much less than convinced, Jordan was almost in tears. “Alex I don’t think you understand how big of deal this is for me. If anyone here were to find out, Amber and Nicole would destroy me at school…it’s just now finally starting to get better…I can’t risk anyone finding out…I can’t go to the party. I’m sorry Alex.” Jordan turned to walk away.

“Jordan…?”

“I’ve gotta catch my bus Alex.”

Alex was shaken by the conversation. Since her friend had confided in her the night before, it hadn’t sunk in how big of a deal it was to her – how frightened she was by the possibility of discovery – how embarrassed she was of the problem. She wished she could do something to help her friend but she didn’t know what it might be. After a few moments, she too made her way toward the busses.

Just feet from where the two had stood, a school window was cracked open to the fresh Winter Seattle air.