"Why do they give this stuff to kids?"

Those were Kendall's last words to her mother before she seized, lost consciousness, and despite extraordinary attempts to revive her, died.


Kendall was 15, just a month shy of her 16th birthday.  Twenty-four hours before, she had taken that one little pill.


We know she didn't want to.  She knew there would be drugs at the party and told a friend the day before that she didn't want to take any.  Why did she?  Peer pressure, of course, and with marijuana in her system, probably lowered resistance.


Why was she at this house, where it was known that the parent  there allowed minors to drink alcohol, and apparently do drugs too?


Why did Kendall's parents let her go?  Why did the parent at the party allow it?  


Why had Kendall already dropped out of high school early in her sophomore year?  Why didn't she have help setting higher standards?  Why did her parents and adults in her life abuse alcohol and marijuana in her presence, setting the example that it was OK?


There is plenty of blame to go around.  Arrests have been made and the FBI investigation continues.  An 18 year old boy sold the Ecstasy to the 16 year old girl who brought it to the party.  Both have been arrested.  More arrests may be pending.


But that doesn't bring Kendall back.  That doesn't mend the broken hearts.  


Kendall was my grand niece, and I didn't know her well.  She lived 200 miles away, in northwest Oregon.   That's where we were yesterday attending her funeral.  She was my sister Ilene's much beloved granddaughter, and the daughter of my nephew Tim and his wife Kathy. 


There were many young people at the service, and they were obviously hit hard by the death of their friend.


Will they learn?  Will any of them ever learn?


Why, indeed.