Graduation Day: My Escape, Their Show

hday. E

hift, walked

de, a single, cheap cupcake fr

ht switch. Nothing. B

through the grimy

ced the cupcake on the p

ed to stick one in,

Wished for good

l

on the flimsy

p! Rent

r we're c

t time. Stil

g debts. He o

rner, biting my lip

t wait. Th

od spl

he door

ugh-looking g

yanked me up. "Your old m

ed down my face. "I don't have any

ake what w

ers pulled out, contents dumped

y dollars. My wa

ks? Barely

eted it

ake, my fifty-cent wish, smashed on

rumbling, le

irth

ne, trembling. The

ier today. Ken

ght, filled with p

er dress. Mom hire

, a princess," Mom

happiness rad

on the dining table

led high in

utiful, ha

ark, crue

She had parents

d...

's chat wa

rs are actors, rig

month, like clockwork

just take the gi

The dad said it builds ch

felt anyt