Keena stared blankly at the computer screen in front of her. She pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. At last, she sighed and sat back, rubbing her temples. The assignment really wasn't that difficult; all she had to do was write a one to two-page paper explaining her definition of courage and a person in her life who displayed courage. Why was it so hard?

There was a gentle knock at the door. 'Come in,'� she called.
'Hey, sweetie,'� her mother said softly. 'I was just checking in on you. How's the homework coming?'�
'I'm fine, Mom. I've finished most of my homework. All I have left to do is this essay,'� she replied. Her mother nodded. Keena stared at her mother, patiently waiting for her mother to reveal why she was there.
'I see. Well, your father is working late tonight and I just got my paycheck, so I was thinking that we could go out to dinner. Would you like that?'� Keena shook her head.
'This essay is due tomorrow and I haven't even written one word. I need to finish it.'� Her mother stood there for a moment before slowly nodding.
'All right. Some other time, then.'� She shrugged and turned her attention back to the computer. Her mother stood there for another moment before leaving, gently shutting the door behind her. Relaxing, she frowned. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard. Was there no one in her life who displayed courage?

What was courage, anyway? Perhaps that was the question she needed to start with. Grabbing her well-worn dictionary from the small bookshelf near her desk, she quickly looked it up. Courage was defined as 'the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.'� Nodding her agreement, she closed the dictionary and contemplated what she had just read.

Still, nothing came to her. It was quite sad there was no one in her life who displayed courage. Besides, it was supposed to be her own definition. Maybe that was she should start with; her own definition of courage. Pursing her lips, she thought about it for several moments. At last, she began typing'� When she had finished, she had exactly a page. Smiling, she gave an approving nod before printing it.

The next day, she placed the paper on her teacher's desk. It wasn't her best, but it was on time and (if she was any judge) fairly well-written. However, when the teacher asked her to stay after class the day he handed the papers back, she knew something was up. Her paper wasn't that good or that horrible. What did he want? 'Keena, this paper, like all the others you have turned in, was well-written and on time. But for once you didn't follow my directions-'
'I know,'� she said, interrupting him before he could continue. 'To be honest I couldn't think of anyone in my life who displays courage.'� Her teacher's eyes widened slightly in surprise. How was that even possible? Silence fell for a moment as her teacher thought about her words and she waited for his response
'You are an excellent student and a good writer, Keena. I will give you two more days to edit this.'� She nodded, understanding.
'Thank you.'� With that, she left, sighing. The rest of the day passed relatively uneventfully. All she could think about was that essay. Finishing it would be harder than her teacher knew. Perhaps if she wrote a convincing enough essay about how there was no one in her life that showed courage. Why hadn't she done that before? The last bell rang. It was time to go home.

It was her stepfather who picked her up. She blithely waved good-bye to her friends before tossing her backpack into the back seat and sliding in after it. Buckling up silently, she shifted so she could be more comfortable. 'Hello, Keena,'� her stepfather said. 'How was your day?'�
'Just fine,'� she replied. He nodded, pursing his lips. Silently she stared out the window at the scenery she had seen so many times before. Neither of them spoke a word. As soon as they reached the driveway, she grabbed her backpack and jumped out, heading straight upstairs. She didn't feel like talking to any member of her family and had a lot of homework to do. As usual. Locking herself in her room, she got straight to work, grateful to have something, anything, to focus her mind on. Before she knew it, she was finished. Just in time, too! Her phone rang the moment she set her pencil down and sat back. She picked it up.
'Hello?'�
'Hey! It's Mark.'� She immediately sat up straighter, her eyes brightening. Mark was without a question the cutest boy she had ever seen and seemed to be very mature and intelligent and funny and'� Her cheeks flushed.
'Oh, hi. What's up?'� This definitely wasn't the first conversation they had had on the phone but the other ones had revolved around homework. 'Do you need help with homework?'� Surprisingly, he laughed.
'Not this time, Keena. I was actually wondering if you wanted to come hang out,'� he said. Her eyes grew wide. Was this really happening? Mark was one of the more 'popular'� kids at her high school.
'Yeah! I bet it'll be fun,'� she said enthusiastically.
'Great!'� Was that relief she heard in his voice? 'Um, me and some friends are going to hang out later at the park near the mall and probably get dinner there at the food court. I could pick you up in 20 minutes,'� he said.
'Okay! Let me ask my parents.'� She didn't wait for his response before she set the phone down and headed downstairs. Her mother was sitting at the dining room table with a worried look on her face staring at a stack of an envelopes and a letter that lay open before her. No need to ask what the envelopes held- bills. And more bills. 'Hey, Mom. One of my friends from school invited me to go to the mall and park with them. Can I go?'�
'Sure. Call when you need me to pick you up.'� Her mother's easy acquiescence surprised her, but she didn't dare question it.
'Okay. Thanks!'� With that, she headed back upstairs to tell Mark the happy news. 'Hey, Mark! My mom said it's fine.'� She gave him directions before saying good-bye and telling him she would see him later. Keena spent the time waiting for him getting ready, which meant trying on one shirt after another before settling on one and touching up her skillfully applied make-up. The door-bell rang and she gave a squeal of joy and raced down the stairs, ignoring her parents as she slammed the door shut behind her. Smiling brightly, she waved at Mark, who waved back. She slid into the passenger's seat beside him
'Thanks for coming to pick me up,'� she said.
'Thanks for coming,'� he replied. They fell into easy conversation about school and mutual friends. She was sad the ride ended as soon as it did. He parked the car and took her hand, sending a wave of warmth crashing through her. Thankfully it didn't spread to her face. A group of people waved to Daniel and he guided her to them. There was a strange-looking glass thing that looked like a vase in the middle of the circle. And there was a cloud of smoke drifting above them. Now that she thought about it, the spot they had chosen was very secluded and hard to see'�

She sniffed the air before gazing at Mark with a question in her eyes. But he had already taken his place in the circle. There was a spot next to him and he patted it. 'Hey, take a seat, Keena,'� he said. Smiling almost nervously, she did. Of course she knew everyone in the circle, at least by sight. With wide eyes, she watched someone take something green out of a plastic bag and place it in a part of the glass thing that was sticking out. One of the girls (Becky, she thought) placed her mouth over the opening while someone else took a lighter to the green substance. The glass thing filled with smoke that Becky inhaled. Once she had finished, she smiled and moved back, allowing someone else to take her place. No one spoke much. After Mark had had his turn, he glanced at her. ''�Do you want a turn?'�

Though she had never done this before and none of her friends smoked, she knew what it was they were doing. They were smoking pot. Some of them looked pretty high already. 'I've never done this,'� she admitted. He didn't appeared phased by that fact.
'That's okay. It's not hard. We do this a lot before going into the mall and getting food. It feels really good and it's not that hard on the lungs. Come on,'� he urged. She bit her lip. Keena glanced back and forth from the glass contraption to Mark. Everyone was watching her expectantly, waiting. No doubt they would mock her if she refused. They were all doing it; there wouldn't be anything wrong in joining them. Right?

It seemed like an eternity before she made up her mind. 'No,'� she declared. As she had feared, there were a few snickers from the assembled group. Her cheeks burned and she knew they were growing red. 'I don't want to. Just because everyone around me is doing it doesn't mean I have to.'� They were the 'cool'� kids and this wasn't why. Their eyes gleamed and their mouths cruelly turned upwards. Mark looked very disappointed. Before anyone could say anything different, she rose and raced to the nearby mall.

Once there, she dialed her mother. 'Hello?'� She sounded worried.
'Hey, Mom. Come get me at the mall.'�
'So soon?'� The whole story came pouring out. There was silence while her mother digested the information.
'I am proud of you for making the right decision. Thank you for telling me. I'll be there soon.'� Before she could say good-bye, her mother hung up. Aimlessly, she wandered around until she came to the food court. There were a variety of empty tables and unoccupied chairs. She slumped into one of them, half hoping that Mark or someone would come looking for her. But no one did. By the time her mother arrived, she was nearly in tears. The moisture in her eyes evaporated when she saw her mother.

Neither of them spoke on the drive home. There wasn't much to say. It's probably a good thing I am home earlier than I thought I would be, she said. After all, she hadn't finished that essay yet. She merely waved at her stepfather before heading upstairs and locking the door behind her. Keena was glad her mother gave her some space and she knew that her stepfather would never find out. Determinedly, she turned on her computer and began writing her essay.

Even after giving it some thought she couldn't think of anyone in her life who displayed courage. Her family was a poor example. Although her stepfather oozed charm from every poor and wasn't bad looking, he was'� slimy. There was nothing courageous about a man who went to great lengths to keep his secrets. As for her mother, never once had she seen her stand up for herself to anyone. And she herself didn't display courage. None of her friends did.

She was able to crank out a couple paragraphs about why she couldn't think of anyone in her life who displayed courage. Some might call her refusal to do pot earlier courageous, but she didn't see it that way. Well, it would have to do. Keena found herself exhausted, physically and emotionally. Without bothering to say good-night, she turned out the lights, changed into her pajamas, and slipped beneath the covers. Her sleep was restless and filled with nightmares.

Needless to say, the next morning she was even more tired than she had been the day before. Her mother had gone to work already which meant that it was just her and her stepfather. He smiled at her as she made her way down the stairs. Shivering, she drew her robe closer around her. 'Good morning,'� he said softly. She didn't respond. Silently, she poured herself a glass of orange juice and a bowl of cereal. 'Aren't you going to say something?'�

Her heart was racing. Did she dare ignore him? Her question was answered when he approached her and placed one hand under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. Paling, she stiffened. He smiled. 'You have such lovely eyes, Keena,'� he breathed. His breath stank. His other hand moved to the top of her robe and slowly began drawing it back.
'Please,'� she whispered through gritted teeth.
'Please what?'� he asked. He was much bigger than she was and there was no way she could fend him off for long if he wanted to hurt her as he had in the past. Swallowing nervously, she waited to see what he would do. Sighing, he moved back. Feeling violated, she only managed to choke down a couple bites and a swallow of her juice. She couldn't help leaving the mess out for him to clean.
She avoided him as best she could while she got ready for the rest of the day. Keena could still feel the touch of his hand on her skin. It repulsed her. Too long she had endured in silence. No more. She couldn't. He had threatened to hurt her or worse yet, her mother, if she told anyone. But she couldn't endure his stink, his hands, his weight, anymore. Her eyes narrowed with resolve. Once she got to school, she would tell someone.

Her mother knew but like the fragile thing she was, she couldn't do anything about it. Besides, Keena had never admitted it. Unspoken, it hung between them like a noose. She knew too that he was rough with her mother. He never left a mark but she had watched him and he had come close several times. The bus arrived and she raced out the door before her stepfather could do so much as look at her.

She was anxious to get to school and turn in her edited essay. The bus ride couldn't end soon enough. At last they arrived at the school. While the other students laughed and chattered, she was silent. Pulling her essay out of her backpack, she hurried to her teacher's classroom and placed it on his desk. He smiled approvingly. 'I have to go take care of something. See you later,'� she said. He didn't even get a chance to respond before she headed out the door.

Keena made her way to the counselor's office. Fortunately she wasn't busy. Knocking, she was waved in. This was it. She took a seat and cleared her throat. 'There's something I need to tell you'�'�

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