The Bound Between Us

When the nanny came back from grocery shopping, arms full of bags and a little out of breath, she happened to run into Layna and her little gang right in the courtyard.

Layna, leading a pack of neighborhood kids, was loudly announcing that she was about to go "teach Pattie a lesson." The nanny, catching the tail end of their chatter as she hurried past, rushed home as fast as she could to tell Anastasia.

Just half an hour earlier, Pattie had set out alone to do some sketching. Liana had the day off, and Pattie was old enough to go out by herself, so Anastasia wasn't really worried. But the moment she heard the nanny's story, she grabbed her phone and called Pattie-twice. No answer.

Monica asked, "Ana, where does Pattie usually go to draw? Let's go look for her."

"She's usually at the park across the street," Anastasia said, her voice tight with worry. "Let's go. Now."

At the park, Pattie sat by herself on a big rock, her sketchbook balanced on her knees. The weather was perfect—clear skies, birds chirping, the world around her calm and bright.

By the pond, a colorful little bird perched on a bare branch sticking out of the water. Pattie was lost in her drawing, trying to capture the bird's colors, when suddenly a chubby little boy-maybe five or six, with a mischievous grin-came barreling over. He snatched her sketchbook and jeered, "What the heck is this? Some kind of worm? Layna, you gotta see this-her drawing's a joke!"

and rowdy, and the rest followed her around like her personal fan club. After losing face last time, Layna wasn't about to let it go,

got up and walked straight

Oh, right -you don't talk at all. Poor mute girl can't even stand up for

in, circling Pattie and chanting, “Mute girl, can't talk! Mute girl, so

tightening with anger. She glared at them, but didn't back

her eyes. “Not a chance. Want it? Come and get it." Then, grinning wickedly, she ripped the sketchbook in half, scattering the torn pages on

her mind: next time Layna messed with her, she wouldn't just stand there. Pattie grabbed Layna's hair and yanked; both girls crashed to the grass, rolling and

Help me! Get

was four against one, but Pattie didn't care-she kicked,

"Enough! Stop it!"

through the chaos. A boy in a crisp navy blazer-maybe ten or