This morning when I left Mom's parting words were, "Come straight home after school." Wow! Like I'm going to get stoned at 3:30—it doesn't sound so bad at that.

It's a good thing most people bleed on the inside or this would be a gory, blood-smeared earth.

The voice of every kid hooked on drugs, alcohol or the occult joins the sad chorus "Not me! I didn't think it could ever happen to me. I was sure I could handle it.

This morning when I left Mom's parting words were, "Come straight home after school." Wow! Like I'm going to get stoned at 3:30—it doesn't sound so bad at that.

I pretend I've got lots of confidence and I'm a big jock and like that but deep inside I'm a frightened, insecure, can't-make-it failure.

She didn't know whether she was running away from something or running to something, but she admitted that deep in her heart she wanted to go home.

I guess I'll never measure up to anyone's expectations. I surely don't measure up to what I'd like to be.