• June 12 was the most important day of Kayla Maddison's life. When Kayla awoke that morning, it was bright out. The sun sent a stream of golden light that filtered through her tiny window and landed squarely on the orange tabby cat on her bed. Kayla gently pushed the cat off of her bed, and it meowed and then stretched and yawned. Outside, the birds were already up, and two squirrels were squabbling by Kayla's window over the nuts Kayla would put out every night. Kayla threw back her covers and swung her feet around the side of the bed. She pulled on some fresh clothes and paused, trying to pick up the scent of the waffles her mother made every Saturday. It wasn't there. Kayla dashed down the stairs and found her father trying to comfort her hysterical mother. Kayla stopped. Her parents didn't notice her.
    "Shh, Mariah, it's okay," said her father.
    "No! It's not! Jordan is gone, he's-he's not coming back! Where are they taking him?" her mother demanded.
    "They gave us the address. Don't worry, he'll be there for only three years."
    "Only three years! Greg, that's too long! My poor boy! He didn't even do anything! He told me he didn't!"
    "Mariah, I know he was a good son. And I am sure he did nothing wrong. But that doesn't matter right now, because it will make no difference. Even if we tried, they wouldn't listen."
    "Who wouldn't listen?" Kayla asked. She surprised her father.
    "Kayla... your brother Jordan... well, he... he's gone. Four men came to take him. They said he had killed a boy his age, and that the were taking him somewhere where he will learn his lesson. He will be gone for three years. Kayla, I'm sorry. I know he was your best friend as well as your older brother. But we can't do anything about it."
    It sounded like a movie, the way he said he was sorry. Kayla's mother sobbed.
    "Where is he now?" Kayla asked coldly.
    "In Washington somewhere. The address is here." Kayla's father motioned to the slip of paper on the counter.
    "Didn't you try and stop them?" Kayla was raising her voice. "Did you want Jordan to go? Why wouldn't you tell me? I would want to say goodbye! Why didn't you wake me up? I want Jordan! Make him come back! You could have at least woken me up to let me say good-"
    "Kayla! Take a deep breath! He isn't coming back for three years, and what is done is done, so we can't do anything about it now. There is no use wasting energy over the past." Her mother surprised Kayla by speaking harshly. "You may write letters to him, but don't dwell on his leaving."
    Kayla was shocked. She slowly walked up the stairs to her room. She pulled a sheet of lined paper out of her desk drawer and began to cry silently. Her paper was bleeding from her teardrops.

    "Dear Jordan:
    Why did you leave? Why did those four men take you? You didn't kill the kid, right? I need you. Mom and Dad didn't do anything about you leaving. It's like they don't care. Like they just let you go. Those stupid goons took you away and they didn't do anything. I am very, very angry at them, especially Dad. He isn't even crying. He sounds like a robot, just pretending to console Mom. Please be good. Please come back. I want you here. I need you here. Please write soon. I miss you already.
    Love, Kayla