It was a pleasant Saturday morning. I was the first in my family to wake up and I wondered why I felt so excited. Then it sprang to my mind that it was my friend’s birthday party that day. When I remembered this, I jumped with joy and rushed to wake my parents up.

When my parents finally woke up, I told them about the party. To my horror, they declined to let me attend it. I was overwhelmed with grief and felt as if I might die from disappointment. I argued with them desperately, begging to be allowed to go. It felt as if, if they didn’t let me go, the........

© Dawn Young Magazine