True Beauty, page 5

The next morning, Erikah asked, “Aunt Kay, would it be alright if Daina and I went to the animal shelter with Amberly after school?” Daina grinned from ear to ear at her. “Yes dear, that would be fine.” Aunt Kay answered. To their delight, the lady at the animal shelter put them in charge of feeding the baby animals. “I never knew helping could be so fun.” Erikah said as she bottle-fed a newborn kitten.

Later, while the girls were walking back to the house, they saw a teenaged boy picking on his little sister. She screamed and cried as her brother chased her around with a hose, spraying her in the face. “We should do something.” Daina said. “Oh God, please help me.” Erikah prayed silently as she walked into the yard. “Hey!” She yelled. The boy stopped and looked at her. “Leave your sister alone!” Erikah hoped she sounded firm, even though she was shaking. He dropped the hose and marched up to her. “Why should I?” He asked irritatedly. Erikah gulped. This boy was much bigger and stronger than her. “B-because the Bible says to treat others how you want to be treated, and you wouldn’t want someone getting you all wet.” The boy sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever.” He put the hose away and went inside his house. “Wow, that was pretty brave.” Daina said. “Yeah… I never would have done something like that before.” Erikah told her. “But I think it’s high time I started caring more about what’s right.” “Right on!” Daina said happily.