Summary

In "Thoughts and Prayers," first person narrator, Paola, did not notice anything different on the morning of the shooting. Like every other morning, the neighbors were out on their lawns praying to the angels on their roofs. The angels "barely noticed" (1). Paola's family's angel was known to be the "most blessed in the neighborhood" (2). The Patils, who lived next door, had an unlucky angel. Rima Patil was Paola's best friend. Paola felt sorry their family always had bad luck.

Paola and Rima met the bus together. Rima's kind and talented older sister, Shruti, said goodbye at the door. Paola wished she could be like Shruti.

At recess, two policewomen arrived, spoke to the teacher, and took Rima away.

After school, Paola learned that Shruti was shot in a shooting at her "arts magnate high school" (7). Paola's...