Only 15 days of school stood between Daniela and Sofia Mendoza and summer break. The curly-haired sisters were juggling their elementary school schedules of field trips, cheer practices and award ceremonies when, on an overcast Saturday, it all came to a grinding stop while shopping at the outlet mall with their mom.
They were walking outside the H&M when a sound came that made no sense: pop pop pop pop pop. Their mother, Ilda Mendoza, 35, was wounded and is hospitalized. The girls were among the eight who died in what turned out to be the nation’s second-deadliest shooting this year.
Sofia, 8, was an honor roll student at Cheri Cox Elementary, where she was learning about fractions, weather patterns and organisms. She had been memorizing lines for the lead role in her drama class’ upcoming play Pirate Jane.
The day before the shooting, she made a scrapbook at school where she described herself as “sassy” and talked about her dreams for the future.
“She was a kid that would just laugh and say things in a way that was just so warm and welcome,” said Wylie ISD superintendent David Vinson. “She was a kid that had a lot of confidence and kindness.”
Daniela, 11, who wore black-framed glasses and bows in her hair, was on the cusp of graduating fourth grade, also at Cheri Cox Elementary. She was once named Most Likely to Become a Teacher and, along with her sister, won awards for perfect attendance.
“Both of them were just leaders. Both were kids that showed a lot of compassion toward others,” Vinson said. “The teachers are just so fragile right now, and I think it’s a reflection of who these kids were and what a great family the Mendozas are.”
On Wednesday, students and teachers throughout Wylie ISD wore yellow — the Mendoza girls’ favorite color. At their school, yellow umbrellas contrasted the stormy sky during afternoon pick-up; a mom pushed a stroller with a baby wearing yellow rain boots; kids ran around in yellow sandals; and girls in yellow dresses licked yellow lollipops.
Bouquets of flowers, a cross, sunshine balloons and stuffed animals — in pairs — formed a memorial in front of the school’s sign. Karen Hampton, a school bus driver, added two stuffed dolls wearing pink and orange sequin dresses to the pile before starting her Wednesday afternoon routes.
“Two sister dolls,” Hampton said. “I’ve been praying for them everyday.”
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