MY NAME IS RACHEL. I AM SIXTEEN AND A JUNIOR IN HIGHSCHOOL. I HAVE TWO PARENTS AND FOUR SIBLINGS. I USED TO HAVE FIVE SIBLINGS BUT MY BROTHER PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS SIX. HE HAD CANCER- JEUKEMIA TO BE MORE SPECIFIC. HE WAS SICK FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE HE DIED AT FIFTEEN. SOMETIME IT FEELS STRANGE KNOWING I MADE IT LONGER THAN MY OLDER BROTHER, I GOT MY LICENSE AND HE NEVER DID, HE NEVER WILL. ONE DAY I’LL HOPEFULLY GET MARRIED AND HAVE A LAFE AND HE WON’T. SO YEA, ITS STRANGE, BUT THIS ISN’T ABOUT ME. IT’S ABOUT THEM.

JOSH- 16 YRS OLD, ILLINOIS
KARAS MAD AT ME AGAIN. I TOOK HER DOLL AND HID IT IN THE DISHWATER. I DON’T TAKE HER DOLL TO BE MEAN TO HER BUT IT’S NICE SEEING HER RUN AROUND. USUALLY SHE’S JUST SO DRAINED OF ENERGY SHE DOESN’T DO MUCH BUT LIE IN BED OR SIT WITH THAT DOLL OF HERS. IT WASN’T ALWAYS LIKE THIS, SHE USED TO RUN AROUND AND PLAY WITH HER FRIENDS LIKE ANY OTHER NINE YEAR OLD GIRL. AFTER KARA GOT SICK, SHE COULDN’T GO OUT TO PLAY OR HAVE TEA PARTIES WITH HER FRIENDS FOR FEAR SHED CATCH A COLD OR FALL AND HURT HERSELF. FOUR MONTHS AGO MY BABY SISTER LOST HER CHILDHOOD AND THAT HURT.
“GIVE IT BACK YOU BIG OAF!” KARA SHOUTED “ I KNOW YOU HAVE HER!”
I RAN UPSTAIRS WITH HER RUNNING AFTER ME. II TURNED AROUNT THE CORNER AND HID IN THE CLOSET. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE PITTER PATTER OF HER SMALL FEET I TIPTOED DOWN THE STEPS AND FLEW OUT THE FRONT DOOR.
“IF YOU WANT YOUR PRECIOUS DOLL COME AND GET HER.” I TAUNTED.
“JOSH!!” WOW, SHE WAS EXASPERATED! I DID A GOOD JOB!
“YOU KNOW,” A VOICE OVER MY SHOULDER SAID, “IT’S REALLY RUDE TO TAKE A LITTLE GIRLS DOLL. IT’S ONE OF THE EIGHT DEADLY SINS.” I SPUN AROUND TO SEE TIFFANY MEYER STANDING THERE WITH HER ARMS CROSSED AND HER EYEBROWS RAISED.
“EIGHT? I THOUGHT THERE WERE ONLY SEVEN.” I SAID.
“THERE WAS, BUT I JUST ADDED ONE. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT BOYS LIKE YOU ARE STOPPED FROM TAKING LITTLE GIRLS TOYS.” SHE REPLIED.
I CHUCKLED AND STEPPED CLOSER. “OH? AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?”
“WELL MAYBE I WON’T GIVE YOU A KI-“ I CUT HER OFF WITH A PECK ON HER LIPS.
“TOO LATE” I SAID.