Madeleine Schachter

Fire Buddy Madeleine Schachter

This story supplements the murmurings of consolation when one must explain death to a child. When Mike, Timothy's firefighter friend, dies, Timothy's mother and the other firefighters affirm that Mike was lucky to have had Timothy as his friend. The loss is explained and the sadness is acknowledged, as the child is also assured that he had enhanced the life of another and that in time, happy memories will persist amidst the sorrow. FIRE BUDDY explains that in times of immeasurable grief, some semblance of solace lies in the conviction that one had enhanced the life of another. The story concludes with a "Discuss and Discover" guide for parents and caregivers. Questions and responses lay a framework to discuss the key messages of the story.