Cornered (42 page)

Authors: Rhoda Belleza

M
ATTHUE
R
OTH
is the author of the Orthodox Jewish punk-rock novel
Never Mind the Goldbergs
and the screenplay
1/20
, currently in production as a feature film. His newest book,
Automatic
, is a Kindle single about falling in love and falling into a coma. He keeps a secret diary at
www.matthue.com
.

D
AVID
Y
OO
is the author of the YA novels
Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
and
Girls for Breakfast
, along with a middle grade novel,
The Detention Club
. His first collection of essays for adults is
The Choke Artist: Confessions of a Chronic Underachiever
. He teaches in the creative writing program at Pine Manor College and at the Gotham Writers' Workshop. David lives in Massachusetts with his wife and son, where he still plays soccer. Visit
www.daveyoo.com
.

Dedications

J
AIME
A
DOFF
:
This one's for the kids that live this every day.

R
HODA
B
ELLEZA
:
To Jasy, for being a braver, better person than I could ever hope to be.

J
OSH
B
ERK
:
This story is dedicated to all the crazies I've made music with over the years and every kid in every garage who picks up a guitar and finds a way to turn their suffering into art. Rock on.

J
ENNIFER
B
ROWN
:
For the mooed-at, the punched, the teased, the humiliated. For the ones sitting by the trash cans at lunch and hoping for invisibility in the hallways. For those who endure bullying with grit and determination. Because you're worth it.

M
AYRA
L
AZARA
D
OLE
:
Ricky, they killed you but not your spirit. You'll always be my shooting star. To LGBT's being bullied. Millions are fighting for you. We love you. Don't give up. Reach out: 866-488-7386.

Z
ETTA
E
LLIOTT
:
“Sweet Sixteen” originated as a play that I developed in the New Perspectives Theater's Women's Work Lab. I dedicate this story to all the women and girls who dare to speak their truth from dim margins and shadowy corners.

K
ATE
E
LLISON
:
To the real Jean-Carlos, whom I do not know, and who left a stack of classmate-apology cards in the snow outside of his elementary school one winter day out of which this story was born. I hope, wherever you are, you are surrounded by people who are kind, and, if still they are not, I hope you are strong, and I hope you are loved.

B
RENDAN
H
ALPIN
:
To Suzanne, my favorite troublemaker.

S
HEBA
K
ARIM
:
To my Albany Academy for Girls crew, Annsunee, Jane, and Katie, who eased the pain of high school with their cooking, humor, and generosity, and reminded me I was never alone.

J
AMES
L
ECESNE
:
For my girls.

L
ISH
M
C
B
RIDE
:
To my brothers, Darin, Jeremy, and Alex. You kept bullies at bay, gave me a safe place and continued support. Thanks for letting me grow up weird.

E
LIZABETH
M
ILES
:
To Laura, Laura, and Jackie, who all have superpowers.

K
IRSTEN
M
ILLER
:
To the person who made freshman year hell. You're lucky we grew up before YouTube came along.

M
ATTHUE
R
OTH
:
For my favorite Russian gangster.

D
AVID
Y
OO
:
Just about everyone gets bullied at some point in their lives, and just about everyone at some point bullies someone else. The only way to stop the cycle is to start with yourself. Fact is, there's nothing good to gain from bullying someone. Remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, “When I
do good
, I
feel good
; when I
do
bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.”

Do you dare to speak the truth?

F
EW THINGS ARE MORE FRIGHTENING
than facing the truth about yourself. Fitting in can be as difficult as understanding why you stand out, and the heart wrenching excitement of it is all a part of coming into one's own.
Truth & Dare: 20 Tales of Heartbreak and Happiness
features stories from such unapologetic and honest authors as Cecil Castellucci, Emma Donoghue, A. M. Homes, Gary Soto, and Ellen Wittlinger.