"What happened?!" I said when Gracie, Shirui and Mom walked in the door. Gracie and Shirui just got home from school and Gracie had bruises all over her body.

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it." Gracie replied with her head down.

She walked up to her room and shut the door. 

"What happened?" I asked mom.

"She said two fifth graders beat her up. I'm going down to the school tomorrow morning to see what I can do."

"What the heck! What's wrong with people nowadays?" I raged. I soon managed to calm myself and went up to Gracie and Shirui's room and knocked on the door.

"Go away." said a seemingly hurt voice from behind the door.

Opening the door anyway, I walk in and sit down on the bed next to Gracie. Shirui was on her other side, trying to understand the situation, but not saying anything. I wrap my arms around Gracie and try to comfort her. She's the baby of the family and I'd do anything to keep her safe. I would with all of my siblings. 

"Do you wanna tell me what happened?" I asked gently.

As she told me what went on, I became more and more mad. What right did those kids have to beat her up? She did nothing to them and yet they still did what they did. All Gracie was doing was swinging and staring off into space from what I understand.

"I don't know what I did wrong." She sobbed. "I didn't even touch them!" She continued crying while me and Shirui tried to calm her.

"Shh. It's alright. You can get through it." I said hugging her protectively.

~ ~ ~

"Mom, I'm coming with you." I said at breakfast Tuesday morning. 

"No, you have to go to school. I can handle this." She said as she shot me a stern look.

"But-"

"No. This discussion is over." She handed Anna the keys she was looking for and the four of us older kids got our stuff and went to Seminary (a church class that we go to everyday before school).

~ ~ ~

"Hey, what're you thinkin' 'bout?" Anna asked at lunch.

"Just worried."

"About what?" she pressed.

"Gracie. I've never seen her so lost and confused before. I just wish I could be there with her right now so that I could protect her." I huffed.

"She'll be alright. Mom went down there today to try to help. Besides, it could just be a one time thing. You never know." She said, trying to cheer me up.

"You're right" I said with a hard tone. "We'll never know, until it's too late."

"And that's why Mom went down there today to make sure it didn't happen again." Anna shot back. "She'll be fine, Ali. Just calm down so you're mood doesn't end up ruining your day."

"She's right you know," Ref jumped in. "Having that attitude all day doesn't help anyone."

"You're right." I said as we sat down for lunch. As people started filing in around me, I put back on my happy person face. No one needs to know about my problems. Especially not half my grade.