Dear Libby,

My best friend Sam just moved away and I’ve been missing her a lot. She had to go somewhere really far away, and I wish I knew where. Everyone says I’m too young to understand. I really, really, really want to tell her how much she means to me and that I can’t wait until she comes back to visit.

What I need advice about is what to do about her stuffed bunny Hopscotch. He was her favorite, and she took him everywhere. I can’t believe she left him behind! I’m kind of mad at her about that. How can she leave her favorite stuffed animal behind? It’s almost as bad as leaving her best friend behind!

I would like to send Hopscotch to her, but since I don’t know where she is, I can’t do that. I would keep him, but I think my stuffed froggy Frogsworth would get jealous. He doesn’t like anyone who can jump higher than him like Hopscotch can. I maybe have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work.

I see the people who took Sam away go into the forest every night, and I thought maybe if I follow them, I can find out where Sam is. My mom says I can’t go into the forest at night, but if Sam was able to go, shouldn’t I be able to go too? Do you think I should try to find Sam, or just wait until she comes back to see me?

–Missing My Friend

Dear “My Missing Friend,”

It’s always hard to lose your best friend, especially at such a young age. You obviously miss her a lot, and I don’t blame you. But she’s missing you just as much as you’re missing her. Even when best friends are apart, they’re still best friends. They’ll still do whatever they can to help their best friend, even if they know they won’t ever see them again. I think that maybe Sam left Hopscotch behind on purpose. She wanted you to have something of hers to hold on to whenever missing her feels like too much.

I want you to try something for me: close your eyes and think about how much you miss her. Then give Hopscotch a hug using all those feelings. Did that make you feel a little bit better? I hope it did. And that’s why Sam wanted you to have him. You can do that anytime you want, and because you and her are best friends at any distance, I think she’ll be able to feel your love through Hopscotch.

Now I want you to be absolutely sure you read and understand this next part: DO NOT GO INTO THE FOREST!!!!!!!! Sometimes it’s okay to break the rules, but this is not one of those times. Don’t even look out your window at night. Never let the people who took Sam see you looking at them. You should probably stay away from the forest completely, even during the day. If anyone tells you to go with those people into the forest, no matter who it is—even if it’s your own parents—DO NOT listen to them! Run away from them as fast as you can, and don’t stop running until you’re out of Emerson Valley.

–Lovingly, Libby