om and Dad had just gotten home from work and I was very scared. I was afraid because lately my friends had been ditching me, and in order to save my friendship I needed to get 20 dollars. I couldn't ask Mom and Dad for money. I had already borrowed money from them. I had thought about going up and taking it, but then I had remembered that Dad always reads the paper in the chair when he gets home. So I decided that I would ask Mom for a Tic-Tac then swipe the $20. I went over to Mom, "So Mom how was your day?" I asked, not even caring about her answer. All I was trying to do was butter her up. She said, "Fine, how about yours?"
"Ok." I answered.
"Mom, what's for dinner?" I asked in a sweet little voice.
"Spaghetti" she answered in her usual stern but caring voice.
"Oh yummy, I love your spaghetti!" I replied trying to cover up my disappointment. I recalled the taste of the stale, dry spaghetti. Right before dinner I asked for a Tic-Tac. Surprisingly, she said, "Why certainly, although I don't see the need."

I didn't think of Keegan, my six-year-old little brother, the only kid younger than me, the one who always is in the way of my goals. As soon as Mom said, "yes," there was Keegan whining pitifully, "Mommy I want one, too. Mommy, can I have a Tic-Tac? Mommy!" Sadly, Mom said, "Sorry, there is only one left, so neither of you gets one." There went my great plan, down the drain all because of Keegan, as usual.
I had to come up with a new idea and fast. Just then Mom said to wash up for dinner. That gave me the greatest idea, as my family ran full speed toward the bathroom I knocked my Momís purse on the floor. It wasn't an accident, but I said, "Opps, sorry, I'll get it."

I plopped down on the floor to pick up the stuff that had fallen out. Just as I was about to swipe the $20, my little brother, Keegan, came over to help me pick up the stuff. "Thank you Keegan," I said in an irritated tone of voice. "He always ruins my plans. Why if he were never born I'd be the youngest, and I wouldn't have to steal the money, Mom and Dad would just give it to me." I mumbled quietly to myself. I then got up and went to the bathroom to wash my hands.

When we were all seated around our beautiful table, that my father made just months ago out of a huge maple tree in our back yard. We began to eat a gross spaghetti dinner with a side of garlic bread that is extremely spicy, but good so I took an extra slice. While we were eating spaghetti and garlic bread, Mom started into a long story about when she was growing up. I had heard this one many times before, that gave me a great plan. So I waited till her story about growing up on a farm in Iowa had reached the part about working to harvest the cotton, about how they worked all day and into the dark, star filled sky.
Everyone was so into the story that nobody noticed when I asked Dad quietly, "May I please be excused?" He nodded his head yes in approval.

Nobody even noticed that I got up. So when I walked by my Mom's purse I grabbed it, ran into the bathroom, and shut the door. I quickly opened the section in her leather purse that contains the money and grabbed a 20-dollar bill and stuck it in the back pocket of my favorite jeans. Just to make sure that nobody would be suspicious, I waited a few minutes then flushed the toilet and went to leave.
Just before I opened the door I heard Keegan running from the table. He knocked and loudly announced, "Janthina, can you hurry up I need to go to the bathroom." "I hate it when he calls me that." I said to myself, quietly, then I realized I was stuck! I quickly washed my hands and got another one of my great ideas. I grabbed the yellow towel with brown butterflies that I just used and wrapped it around the purse. I opened the door and stepped out.

Before Keegan could ask a question I said, "This towel looks and smells absolutely disgusting, so I'm going to run upstairs and put it down the laundry chute." He just shrugged and went into the bathroom. I quickly walked forward toward the stairs, it hit me. In order to put the purse back then put the towel down the laundry chute and change I had to walk through the dining room. So I causally walked into the living room with the purse.

I recognized the part about finally being diagnosed with Mono, that meant that Mom's story was nearing the end, and everyone was still listening. I quickly put the purse down in her big pink recliner, tucked the towel partially into my back pocket ,and strolled into the dining room. I picked up my white plate with a rose on it and my glass and put them into our large silver sink. Looking at the clock on our black, 1,000 watt, microwave, I had four minutes until the bus came. I exited the kitchen, which is on the first floor if you don't count the basement, sprinted down the hall and up the stairs. I ran up past the third floor, which is actually the second floor, if you donít count the basement, to the fourth floor to what was once called the attic, but is now called the fourth floor. I ran through the door to the room I share with my older sister Hannah, who I don't get along with extremely well. I dashed to the corner, where the laundry chute is, and put in the towel. I quickly change my shirt and shoes.

I hustled down the stairs, into the kitchen. I ran through the kitchen, looked at the clock on the microwave, two minutes, I kissed my Mom good-bye, not wanting her to be suspicious. I bolted through the dining room into the living room and grabbed my coat and flew out the door. It was a five minute walk to the bus. What was I going to do? I decided to take a short cut, that took half the amount of time, and run for it. I ran through the woods, hopped over the short section in the fence. I continued to run, under the next fence, I stopped dead in my tracks, my only choices were to go over an electric fence or under a fence through a field with four angry bulls. I decided to go for the bulls. I went for it, I bent under the fence. When I came up on the other side, I made a mad dash for the road and the end of danger. Ten more feet, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. I looked be hind me, there were the bulls a few yards away. I quickly ducked under the fence, making sure not to get dirty. "Yes, I made it." I said quietly to myself, making sure I was still clean. I looked behind me through the fence. The bulls looked at me and snorted. When I got to the bus stop there were several people waiting. I asked, "anyone know if the bus to the Alderwood Mall has come yet?" Before anyone could answer my question, there was the bus, barreling around the corner, with the number 160 flashing. I was saved.

I stepped on the large bus and walked towards the back. I found a seat towards the back. I sat down and thoughts and feelings started swirling through my head. Was this risky situation worth the trouble it might cause? What would my Mom do when she found out? These questions began to cluster in my head. What was I thinking it's not my fault I had to steal the money, it's Keegan's. One by one the questions were answered with thoughts of denial. Was it worth it, of course. What would Mom do, nothing.

After the questions had been answered or merely diminished. I looked out the window watch the fall colors speed past me. After awhile the colors began to look like a picture or movie. Like I wasn't there or I was watching it from the outside. This feeling I often got, when I am with my friends. The trees began to be few and far apart. I knew that I was nearly to the mall. Where had the time gone? We rounded two corners then came to a halt in front of the mall. I stood up and began to make my way towards the exit.
As I stepped off the large blue and white bus with an ad for Gap on the side, and onto the sidewalk, I began to feel nervous. "I mean, what if they still don't want to be my friends." I said to no one in particular.
"Oh, they will forgive you." Said a familiar voice from behind me. I whipped around, there was my best friend, Ben.
"How did you know I'd be here?" I said in an astonished voice.
"We've been best friends for over 12 years, since we were born. You think I wouldn't know your weekly routine. Every Friday you're at the mall, except the two Fridays before Spring break, that's when you're at the Skate Deck." He said in a very supportive tone of voice. "Well, I guess you do know my routine." I said with a slight laugh.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you Justin and Quinn will be on the next bus. It will get here in about twenty minutes." He said while brushing back a few brown hairs that had escaped from under his tan Union Bay hat.
"Cool, they're coming too. This might turn out to be like when we were younger," I said while remembering some of the things I did with them, like catching salmon with our bare hands, taking rides up to the Look Out on motorbikes, or even Ben's 9th birthday party when we stayed up till 4:00 a.m. just sitting around the campfire. "Boy, those were great times." I said not even realizing that I said that it loud.

"Ya" agreed Ben as though he had just thought about the same things as me.
"We better hurry up. I am starting to get cold." I said, my teeth starting to chatter as I finished talking. We ran toward the two large glass doors. Once we had stepped in and recovered from the startling gust of warm air.
Ben asked, "Why were you wondering if they still would be your friends. Who were you talking about?"
"I was talking about Stephanie, Wes, Lacey, Mark and Conney." I replied in an irritated voice.
"Oh, why?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"I spent all of my allowance the day I got it, so I have been a mooch. They got tired of me borrowing things so they ditched me," I babbled fighting back the tears, by biting my lip. I couldn't do it, one tear escaped.
"It's OK." Ben responded wiping the tear from my cheek. I let another tear out. "You'll be OK" he said giving me a hug.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll be fine." I said once again this time more confidently. I started to walk away. I stopped in my tracks. It dawned on me I had no idea where they would be, I thought a moment. "They might be in Spencers or Hot Topic, their two favorite stores, but which one. Oh I'll try Hot Topic it's closer." I uncertainly commented to myself, in my head. I quickly took off toward Hot Topic. On my way there I thought about things like what if they were there, would they listen or would they just block me out of the "clique" I had once belonged to? I tried to block these thoughts out. I came though the door to Hot Topic. There was Mark and Conney over by the hair dye. As I was walking toward them, I bumped into Stephanie. She looked at me with such disgust, that a chill went down my spine.

"Hi Stephanie." I said with a smile.
"Oh, Hi Jan" she sneered back at me.
"Hi Mark. I love your green hair. Oh Conney, what color are you going to die your hair? You look best with pink or light blue. Wes, Lacey, are you two going to get matching fisherman caps? Oh, those are so cute on you two." I said with a smile. My friends were soaring as high as a bird, in the greatest of moods. All because of a few little compliments. Stephanie broke my thoughts,

"Why are you here?" she asked.
"Well, we always come to the mall on Friday night. Sorry I am late." I said the smile still on my face.
"Don't." She started to say, then noticed Ben walking through the doors. "Hi Ben." She said in a sweet voice that was very different from the way she had just talked to me. It didn't bother me, because I knew she was in love with Ben.
"Oh I'm glad you found them." He whispered to me, paying no attention to Stephanie. "Hey, I just heard the Spencers got in a new stock of glow in the dark stuff. Let's head over there right now" Ben said taking control of the situation.

"As soon as we pay, we will go" replied Conney placing the pink hair dye she intended on buying, on the counter next to Markís blue hair dye.
"But we wanted to go to Claire's and get a feathered boa" wined Lacey.
"We'll go Claires then head over to Spencers," Offered Wes not wanting to go listen to Lacey whine.
"OK" replied Mark as the cash register open and the cashier grabbed the money from Conney. Conney got her change, receipt, and hair dye and headed for the door. We followed behind her.

Mean while back at home Mom made the discovery. "Honey did you borrow some money?" she called to my Dad.

"No Sweetheart, why?" he answered her in a puzzled manner.
"Well, I got $100 at the bank today. Two $20s, one $10 and a $50, those were the exact bills. Now there is only one $20."
"Are you sure Sweetheart?" he responded.
"Of course I'm sure. I pay extra attention ever since I drove off without any money, just an empty envelope," she snapped at Dad, her anger flowing out like lava from a volcano.
"Calm down Sweetheart! Going crazy won't solve anything. Let's call a family meeting, maybe someone took it but forgot to ask." He reasoned with Mom.
"OK' agreed Mom.
'Kids, family meeting in the den" Dad called up the stairs.

Music stopped, laughter ceased, and an avalanche of kids thundered down the stairs into the den and got situated each taking a seat. Dagwood, the oldest, chose his seat, the navy blue, leather couch, that was in the corner. Faustine and Gardenia sat on the leather, forest green couch, it was in the opposite corner of the room as the navy blue couch. Hannah chose to sit in the maroon recliner. Ira chose the cream recliner. Both recliners were located between the two couches. Keegan sat in his blue, bean bag chair, a few feet in front of Faustine and Gardenia. Once they were all seated and quiet the meeting began.

"Children, we have called you for a family meeting because your mother realized something was missing. Any of you have any idea of what that could be?" he asked.
"Seven voices called out like bunch of ravens squawking."
"One at a time kids. We'll start with the oldest, Dagwood?" Reasoned dad.
"Is it the car keys?" He asked.
"No, why did you take the car keys?" questioned Mom.
"No it was just a guess." He replied quickly.
"Ok, Eberhard, your next." Replied Dad, calm as usual.
"Was it money?" He asked.
"Yes it was, did you take it," sneered Mom.
"No Mom it was just a guess," he quickly replied.
"Girls?" Dad looked at Faustine and Gardenia suspiciously.
"Don't look at us." They responded in unison.
"Hannah?" Mom asked.
"Sorry Mom, not me. Are you sure you didn't lose it like last time?" Hannah replied.
"Ira, any ideas?" Dad asked, before Mom could get into an argument with Hannah.
"Sorry Dad, no ideas." Ira muttered.

Knowing it was his turn Keegan shouted, ìI know! It was Jan. I saw her take Mommy's purse, when she went to the bathroom, I followed her, knowing she wasn't supposed to have Mommy's purse. When she came out, she was acting funny." Keegan babbled.
"Kids, you can leave now." Dad announced. There was a rush for the door. Nobody wanted to see Mom when she exploded.

Meanwhile back at the mall, we had just entered Spencers. "Oh I have to get this glow-in-the-dark candle." Announced Conney.
"Look at this inflatable chair, it's so cool, too bad I'm broke." Whined Stephanie.
"Lets see it's only $3.90, I'll pay for it." I offered.
"Oh thanks," Stephanie responded happily.
"Conney your candle is only $1.10 how about I pay for it." I replied.
"Sure," answered Conney.
"Mark, do you want anything," I asked.
"I really like these fluorescent paints," he answered.
"Three for a dollar, what color do you want Mark? Do you think Wes and Lacey would like these paints," I asked.
"I'll have yellow," announced Mark.
"We will take a green and a blue," said someone behind me. I turned around to see who it was. It was Justin and Quinn, I had forgotten all about them. "Hi guys," I replied.

"Hi Jan," they responded, giving me a hug.
"Justin, Quinn, these are my friends" Stephanie, Mark, and Conney. In a few minutes my friends' Wes and Lacey will be meeting us here." I replied.
"We're are starving so after that can we head to the food court. Is that ok with you," Justin asked.
"Fine with us," Stephanie replied staring into Justin's big brown eyes. Just then Lacey walked into Spencers screaming.

"What's wrong," we all asked.
"Wes walked out of Claire's hand-in hand with Shannon. He claimed she was his cousin. He dumped me," She wailed.
"I'll pay for the stuff" I announced. I strolled to counter, put down six jars of paint, the inflatable chair, and the candle.
"The total is $7.43." The cashier replied.

I reached in my right pocket and pulled out the $20 bill. I handed it to her, starting to feel a trickle of guilt running down my back. "Why should I feel guilty, it's Keegan's fault I had to steal it.," I convinced myself. I got my change, my receipt, and my purchase and headed for the door. Justin, Quinn, and Ben sped up a bit in order to catch me, the rest followed behind us like lost sheep. I headed for Cinnibons, so did Ben. Everyone else went to their favorite place and got food. We all sat down at the tables. Justin, Quinn, Ben, and I sat at one table. Conney, Mark, Stephanie, and Lacey sat at the table next to us. We ate in silence.
I glanced at my watch 9:20. "Sorry guys, I have to go," I announced, breaking the silence."We're all staying at your house tonight," Ben replied, "I called your Mom before I came, it was a surprise. Do you like it?"
"Your coming to my house, cool, great surprise," I answered.

There was a squeak of chairs and a crinkling of bags as we got up. I gave them their things. We strolled to the large doors. I took one last breath of that mall air and opened the door. The cold hitting my face felt like a thousand needles. We ran to the bus stop and looked at the schedule said 9:23 was the last bus. I glanced at my watch it said 9:24, we missed it. I was about ready to panic when I realized that the bus was halting to a stop. It was my bus. I was saved again. The bus ride and the walk home were peaceful, nobody talked. As soon as we had stepped in the door Mom came down the stairs yelling.

"Janthina I need to talk to you, privately," She announced, looking at Ben, Justin, and Quinn.
"We'll get situated in Jan's room," Quinn replied, heading for the stairs.
"She'll be upstairs in just a minute, this won't take long," Mom called after them as they bolted up the stairs.
"What did you want to talk to me about," I asked even though I knew what it was she wanted to talk about.
"Did you take money from my purse? Keegan said that he saw you take it," she shouted at me.

There was no use in lying,

"Yes, I took it Mom. I took the money and was going to ask for it after dinner. When I came downstairs, I forgot. So I kissed you goodbye and left. Well, now the money's gone. I guess I'll have to pay you back the $20." I replied, knowing that I did have some money left.

"Well I guess you did tell the truth the first time I asked. So giving me the $20 back, babysitting Keegan next Friday for free, and cooking and cleaning up dinner for the next three weeks should be a good enough." She responded with a laugh.
"Oh great just when I thought I got off easy, you lay it down really hard," I replied.
"Hey, this didn't turn out to be so bad," I told myself heading for the stairs.

The End

Story by: Lora, age 13, USA

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