Authors: Sandi Perry
"I
don't
really
watch
it;
I
sort
of
just
know
what's
going
on
through
my
friends.
I
can't
relate
to
the
contestants.
Most
of
them
come
from
nothing
and
work
their
heads
off
to
get
to
where
they
want
to
be.
Someone
with
everything
like
me
can't
imagine
making
the
sacrifices
they
make.
They
really
love
what
they're
doing.
I've
never
felt
that
passionately
about
anything."
"So
I
guess
we're
alike
in
that
respect.
I
can't
seem
to
summon
up
any
passion
for
anything
either,"
Allison
said
morosely.
"That's
not
true!"
Kaitlin
exclaimed.
"What
about
your
art?"
"It's
an
outlet...
a
response
to
a
tragedy...
it
comes
from
a
negative
place."
She
stared
at
Kaitlin,
horrified
at
what
she'd
just
said.
"Oh
my
goodness!
I
can't
believe
I
just
unloaded
on
you
like
that.
It
was
completely
inappropriate.
I'm
so
sorry.
Someone's
been
messing
with
my
head,
lately."
"It's
okay.
You
were
being
honest.
My
therapist,
Dr.
Rosenbaum,
says
nothing
bad
can
come
from
being
honest."
"Are
you
sure
you're
only
twelve
and
didn't
swallow
a
thirty-year
woman
on
your
way
over
here?"
Allison
asked.
Kaitlin
laughed,
"So,
who's
messing
with
your
head?"
"Now,
that
,
I'll
keep
to
myself.
But
I
do
wish
I
could
simply
erase
him."
"Dr.
Rosenbaum
gave
me
a
trick
and
it
works
pretty
well.
If
I
ever
find
myself
obsessing
over
something,
a
negative
comment
someone
made,
or
you
know
how
a
song
can
get
stuck
in
your
head?"
Allison
took
a
bite
of
her
chocolate
cupcake
and
nodded.
"Well,
he
told
me
to
write
it
down
on
a
piece
of
paper
and
flush
it."
"Does
that
work?"
"It
might
take
a
couple
of
times,
but
watching
it
swirl
down
the
toilet
bowl
into
oblivion
is
kinda
satisfying.
Of
course
it's
only
symbolic,
but
it
does
put
those
annoying
thoughts..."
"Or
annoying
person..."
"Or
annoying
person,"
Kaitlin
smiled
widely.
"In
their
rightful
place."
Allison
nodded,
"Are
you
enjoying
your
cupcake?"
"I
can't
believe
I
chickened
out
and
went
for
the
peanut
butter
again.
I
hate
it
that
I
play
it
so
safe."
"There's
nothing
wrong
with
safe,
you're
about
to
enter
your
crazy
teen
years
and
I'm
fairly
certain
you'll
end
up
taking
some
risks.
Just
remember
that
your
peanut-butter
cupcake
is
reliable,
dependable,
and
always
there
for
you."
They
sat
for
a
few
minutes
and
then
Allison
spoke
up.
"But
if
there
is
anything
that
you
discover
that
really
lights
your
fire,
grab
it
with
both
hands
and
make
it
happen.
Some
opportunities
only
come
around
once
and
it
wouldn't
be
good
to
let
your
fear
get
the
upper
hand.
Now,
tell
me,
are
you
free
next
Tuesday
night?
Because
I
have
a
pair
of
front-row
seats
for
the
American
Ballet
at
Lincoln
Center."
Kaitlin
wriggled
her
nose,
"The
ballet?
I
think
I'll
pass."
"Don't
tell
me
you've
never
been!
You
live
in
New
York,
the
capital
of
culture...surely
you've
been
to
the
MoMA?"
Kaitlin
shook
her
head.
"The
Met?"
Again,
she
shook
her
head.
"Isn't
your
father
on
the
board
of
all
those
places?"
"I
have
no
idea,"
Kaitlin
shrugged.
"You're
coming
with
me
next
Tuesday,
and
furthermore
you're
going
to
really
like
it."
Kaitlin
sighed,
"I
probably
won't,
but
if
I'll
be
with
you
and
get
out
of
doing
my
homework,
I'm
sure
it'll
be
worth
it.
Or
maybe,
I
can
come
to
your
opening
party
Friday
night?
If
I
say
pretty
please?"
"Please
isn't
enough,
you
have
to
be
at
least
twenty.
How'd
you
hear
about
that,
anyway?"
Allison
asked.
"I
saw
the
invitation
on
the
front
hall
table.
I
think
my
Dad
is
planning
on
going.
Oh!
I
almost
forgot,
here."
She
handed
a
digital
camera
to
Allison.
"What's
this
for?"
"I
need
you
to
take
my
picture.
We're
doing
a
pictorial
diary
for
a
school
project.
It's
supposed
to
give
us
an
instant
'snapshot'
of
how
we
spend
our
time."
She
held
up
her
cupcake
and
pretended
to
take
a
bite
while
she
smiled.