6 I stopped going to the park . Mr. Peterson said the bad kids knew we were onto them now , and it was safer for me to stay home . He came to visit me every day instead , checking my locks and reminding me not to open the door for strangers . He became my new best friend . I told him all about my dollhouse . He listened intently . " Tricia ," he said , " you're much smarter than they think . " I don't know about smart . I just know my game has to be played by my rules . Vivian came by every day . She wouldn't knock , she would just stand outside my door for a long time . Somet- imes she'd slip things through the mail slot - a piece of cake , a new dress . I collected everything she left and threw it all in the dumpster outside . Gifts from bad kids are poison . Joshua didn't show up again , but he was watching me in other ways . I noticed a black car was always park- ed down the street . There was someone inside . I drew the curtains and pretended not to see . I knew they were scared . Scared of my dollhouse , scared of my record book , scared of my new rules . I started a new project . I gathered all the gifts Joshua and Vivian had ever given me . A necklace from him with a tiny star pendant . A sweater from her with a cute bunny on it . A music box he'd made himself that played " Twinkle , Twinkle , Little Star . " I arranged them , one by one , around the dollhouse , like offerings at an altar . 10/11 11:19 Chapter 1 Mr. Peterson saw the display on his next visit . He was silent for a long time . Then he stroked my hair and said , " Tricia , if you're sad , it's okay to cry . " I shook my head . " I'm not sad . " 11 It was the truth . My heart felt perfectly calm , like the sea just before a hurricane . I picked up the star necklace . Using a pair of small pliers , I snipped the little star pendant off the chain and dropped it in the trash . Then , I took the bunny sweater and a pair of scissors and carefully cut out every sing- le bunny . Last was the music box . I opened it , and the delicate melody began to play . Twinkle , twinkle , little star ... I found a small hammer . Just as the music reached its highest note , I lifted the hammer high and brought it down with all my strength . SMASH . The music stopped . The world went quiet . I looked at Mr. Peterson . " See ? Broken things need to be fixed . " Or destroyed . 11/11