Seven-year-old, Lucy sits in a room with white floors and white walls- almost as if it’s a blank space. It’s bright and glowy---- An orange tabby cat accompanies her, and she wears a white dress. Her blond hair is in two double braids and she holds the cat tightly in her arms.

Leavin’ wasn’t so easy, Ms. Glenn. [She strokes the cat’s fur] But I-I had to do it. Ain’t no way of gettin’ around it. [She shakes her head] Momma and Pops were just so cruel to me! [pause] Well, at least they used to be. [pause.] I couldn’t do nothin’ to please anyone! I would wash and dry the dishes after supper, tidy up around the house, mop the floors and BAM! [she makes a swatting motion with her hand, startling the cat] I would get a smack right on the back, knockin’ the wind out me. [She looks down at the scared cat] Sorry, Ms. Glenn. Didn’t mean to scare ya like that. [she rests her head against the cat’s head, pulling her close] It’s just I did everything right! [she picks the cat up and looks in her eyes] I gave all my birthday and Christmas money every year to Momma like I was ‘posed to, and I cleaned up the broke glass from Pop’s beer bottles every other night and never [emphasizing never] left my room when I wasn’t ‘posed to. Yet, they’d still hurt me. [She has a sad look on her face then loses her train of thought.] I knew they loved me a little extra when I got a bit of TV time, but for some reason, they’d never be home! I’m just glad I wasn’t alone, Ms. Glenn and you were there to keep me company. [She smiles down at the cat.] When Pops caught you in the house that night, I thought I’d never see you again! He kicked you so hard and when I tried to stop him, I got a BAM! Boot straight to the face. It wasn’t the first time, but boy did that one hurt. I was so mad at Pops for killin’ you and taking you away from me. I was cryin’ and cryin’ and as he lifted me up by the collar of my shirt, I could smell that alcohol in his breath. [cringing] It reeked! I’m sure Ms. Polly down the straight could smell Pops’ nasty, dragon breath! Every time I smelt that darn dragon breath I knew to stay away. I called it dragon breath because dragons are evil and boy when Pops drank- he sure was evil. He used to hurt me and Momma so bad when he drank. But Momma was never home, so I got a lot of the beatin’. I think she stayed away because she was scared, but she never took me with her. [pause] I could only come out of my room for supper, which usually was cereal or one of those cans with the peas and potatoes in it. You know what I’m talkin’ bout, right Ms. Glenn? [She looks down, questioning the cat. The cat lays its head in her lap] I asked Momma if she could maybe get the cereal with the marshmallows in it one time and she slapped me right across the face saying I was ungrateful- I learned my lesson to just stop talkin’. Except I didn’t wanna stop. I was so tired of doing everything right, Ms. Glenn, and being punished! I was tired of drawin’ flower petals on my bruises to make me feel better, wearin’ long sleeves and pants in the mid of July and bein’ so hungry that all the kids at lunch gave me their leftovers. Oh, will I miss Ronnie’s mom’s chocolate chip cookies he gave me that day. [She says all this as she’s shaking her head. She places the cat on the ground and stands up, angered.] Wanna know what I did, Ms. Glenn? I marched home that day [marching in place] and I walked straight up to Pops [stops marching and stands proudly] and I said- “Stop drinking! You hurt me and Momma and I’M HUNGRY.” [she shouts as she’s looking down. She sits back down and places the cat in her lap.] Well, as we can now see that didn’t go too hot with Pops. He whipped his head around and grabbed me by the neck and gave a squeeze. “What did you just say to me?” [she lowers her voice, resembling her father’s.] I’m not sure what it was Ms. Glenn but I had a fire in me. I was angry and I was mad and I looked him right in the eyes [squinting her eyes to make them look intimidating] and I said- “You heard me.” Then he threw me against the wall [throwing her arms up fast] so hard that I nearly blacked out. And he was hittin’ and kickin’ and after a little while the noise went away and I got real cold. I don’t remember much, but when I woke up I was here! I’m so glad we met again Ms. Glenn and I got to escape! [She squeezes the cat really tight] I just hope Pops won’t come to hurt us up here. [Lights go bright. Eclipsing the girl and the cat. Leaving a peaceful, heaven-like glow.]