The next day, Lizzie still felt beaten up over her recent breakup with her boyfriend, Hank. Witnessing her breakdowns, Madeline and Debra took Lizzie to the park after school for some fresh air. They sat on the bench and watched the passer-bys and the green fields.
"Isn't this relaxing, Lizzie?" asked Debra. "The sun is out, the air is warm and everybody is happy."
Lizzie began to sniffle as her crying became softer and quieter.
"See, it's working," Debra told Madeline.
Suddenly, Lizzie's sobbing became louder than before. Her cries almost turned into shrieks. She buried her face in her wrists which were drowned by the sleeves of her lavender cardigan.
"See, it's not working," Madeline responded.
"Lizzie, you got to calm down and enjoy the fresh air," Debra said to Lizzie.
"Hank loved taking me to the park," Lizzie shuddered, lifting her head up. "We would have picnics, play frisbee and watch the sunset. Now we can't do that because he's gone!" She continued to bawl in her wrists.
"What did you see in him?" questioned Madeline.
"Obviously, he was a gentleman," said Debra.
"Well, gentlemen don't break up with girls unexpectedly."
Debra pulled out a tissue from her fringe tote bag. "Lizzie, honey, blow your nose. The mucus is getting in your mouth."
Lizzie took the tissue from Debra's hand and blew her nose once into it for a few seconds. She continued to weep as she balled up the tissue and stuck it on Debra's chest.
Debra gaped her mouth and plucked the tissue off of her shirt after letting out a tiny groan.
"Why are you so upset?" Madeline closed her eyes tightly. "Debra, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Yes, you may," Debra hopped out of the seat while gawking at the snot stain on her T-shirt.
Madeline stood up. "Lizzie, we will be right back, okay?"
"Whatever," Lizzie replied. "Just let me die!" She laid down on the bench.
"Whatever is good for you, Liz'."
Debra and Madeline walked five yards from across the bench before stopping.
"We need to do something about Lizzie," said Madeline.
"No kidding," Debra responded. "I really like this shirt."
"You can always buy another... Ramones skirt. Look, I don't know what to do about Liz'. I'm running out of options."
"We can't stop helping her."
"I know. I wish Andrea and Skye were here to help us."
"They had to study."
"That's translation for 'We're not handling Lizzie's crazy crying right now'. But I don't blame them."
"Me, neither. Who cries that long?"
"I don't want her to dehydrate."
"I feel you."
"So what should we do?"
"Since Lizzie misses Hank, maybe we should put them in the same place."
"How you mean?"
"We need to get them to talk since they haven't talked in days. In order for Lizzie to get over him, they need closure."
"Exactly! We'll find him and talk him into speaking to Lizzie."
"Do you think we'll convince him?"
"Of course we can. We're social experts."
"That's right we are."
The two girls high-fived before walking back to the bench. They sat next to Lizzie, who was sitting up straight and sobbing into her hands, in their exact seats. They stared at the sniveling then wailing girl between them.
"Stop crying!" Madeline snapped.
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