I never thought I'd look at school as a refuge, but it was. Our flight plan got leaked to the press, and a half-dozen cameras were waiting for us as we got off the plane at the Red Wing Airport. I didn't have much more to say, so Leo moved me past the cameras and into the waiting cars for the ride home.

The first day back was nuts, with everyone wanting to talk about things I just didn't want to discuss. The Principal called an assembly during the second period, during which he read an email from Amy's Mom, and allowed me to say a few words. "I'm hurt,...