7 The community bulletin board had a new poster up . It was for the " Family of the Year " award . I saw it every day when I went down to take out the trash . One morning , I saw Mrs. Gable standing in front of it , gossiping with a few other neighbors . They were talki- ng about Joshua and me . " ... such a tragedy . A widow so young , and they say she's ... well , not quite right in the head . " " I heard that . Spends all day smashing things and talking to a dollhouse . It's just creepy ." " And Dr. Cross was such a wonderful man , how could this ... " They saw me and immediately fell silent , their faces a mixture of pity and fear . I ignored them and walked straight to the bulletin board . From my teddy bear backpack , I took out my Bad Kid Record Book . I flipped to the page with my " Stolen Strawberry " drawing and tore it out . Then , I took out a small glue stick and carefully coated the back of the paper . I pressed the drawing firmly onto the " Family of the Year " poster , right over a smiling , happy family photo . My drawing stood out . The crying girl , the cake with the missing piece , and the couple with red stains on their lips . The gossiping neighbors were silent . They looked at the drawing , then at me . Mrs. Gable stepped forward , reaching to tear it down . " Tricia , stop this foolishness ! Take that down right now ! " I looked her straight in the eye and said , my voice steady and clear , " He's not a hero . He's a thief . " My voice wasn't loud , but everyone heard . " He stole my strawberry . " My gaze drifted over the other women . " And she helped him . " No one said another word . A breeze rustled the corner of the poster , making a soft , flapping sound . Clutching my record book , I turned and walked home . I knew I'd given them a brand new story to tell that night . That was fine . The story was just getting started . I wanted everyone to see it . I wanted them to see the ugly truth hiding . behind the hero's halo . Vivian stormed into my apartment the next day . She didn't knock ; she used the spare key she'd insisted on having after Joshua " died , " so she could " take care of me . " She burst in while I was cleaning my dollhouse . Her face was a mess , her eyes shot with red . 1/17 111 Chapter 2 11.19 " Tricia ! What the hell do you think you're doing ? " She threw a photo on the table in front of me . Someone had taken a picture of my drawing on the bulletin board . " Why would you do that ? Do you have any idea the trouble you could cause ? " Her voi Her voice was shaking . I looked at her , then calmly picked up my girl doll and pointed to the red dot on its mouth . " Dirty , " I said . " You're insane ! You're actually insane ! " Vivian clutched her hair . " It was just a cake ! One strawberry ! Are you really going to ruin our lives over that ? " " It was mine , " I said , looking her directly in the eyes . " My strawberry . " My voice was so calm it seemed to frighten her . She took a step back . " Joshua did it for you ! He faked his death to get out of some trouble ! We were going to wait until things coo- led down and then tell you everything , bring you to live with us ! " she blurted out , the words tumbling over each other like she'd rehearsed them . " We didn't abandon you , Tricia , We were trying to protect you . " Protect me ? With lies ? With betrayal ? I laughed , a small , cold sound . I pointed at her . " Liar . " Then I pointed at the boy doll in the house . " Thief . " Finally , I pointed to myself . " Judge . " Vivian stared at me , her face a mask of horror . " You ... you're not Tricia ... Who are you ? " Who was I ? I was still Tricia , of course . " Get out . And leave my key . " Her hands trembled as she fumbled in her purse , placing the key on the table . " Tricia , listen to me , it's not what you think ... " " Get out , " I repeated . She looked at my cold , unblinking eyes , and finally , true fear set in . She turned and ran . I picked up her key , walked to the window , and tossed it out . It made a faint , tinkling sound as it hit the pav- ement below . My house was for my teammates now . Not for bad kids .