puddle for a drink of water. Although it was a hot summer's day, the many trees had blocked the light from reaching the puddle, preventing it from evaporating into the hazy air, so the ground was still rather moist. The rabbit sat by the puddle for several minutes, taking occasional sips of water, watching the world go by, the flies that flew, the creepy crawlies crawling, and leaves waving in the gentle breeze. Nothing at all could be heard, nothing but distant sounds of life outside the woods, and the tiny movements of other life forms nearby.
All of a sudden, the peace and tranquility of this normal, natural day was disturbed by a group of youths rushing to get out. The rabbit, alerted by the sounds of the footsteps, leaped into the undergrowth, away from the apparent danger. Four people rushed past, and the rabbit watched in safety as they passed. They ran silently and said nothing. Slowly, the rabbit emerged from its hiding place and returned to the puddle. It then looked towards the distance and continued watching the four people running as fast as they could in between the trees.
The year is 1992. The week after that strange occurrence, a group of friends gathered in Minot’s main housing project. This housing was fairly rundown, and many of the houses were boarded up due to the violence and drug dealing in the area. However, this did not stop a group of seventeen-year olds from leaving their homes during the day or night. Five boys and two girls stood outside one of the boy’s homes, standing around, doing very little, like teenagers do. Four of the boys – Josh, Steven, Daniel and Richard – were the best of friends. They had always been together since childhood, and they were always seen together whenever they left the house. Monica and Laura, the two girls, were good friends, but not best friends. In fact, the only thing that connected them was the other boy, John. He lived down the street, and he was standing outside his house, wondering what on Earth he was doing, talking to the other boys. Monica was John's cousin, and Laura was a friend, or a potential love interest.
"So, are you going out with your girlfriend today, John?" asked Steven, mocking John and Laura for being such good friends.
"Shut up, Steven!" Laura cried, determined not to let him get to her.
"Don't start on me!" shouted Steven, not wanting to be shown up in front of his friends.
"Alright, alright," Monica said, trying to calm everyone down before yet another fight started.
"My mother would not like you saying those things," said John, who was scarcely able to control himself.
There was silence, and both Monica and Laura began staring at John. The four other boys burst into laughter.
"That's not funny," said Laura. "You're all sick for laughing at such a thing!"
"He's such a weirdo!" cried Richard.
"No, he's not, said Laura, moving closer to John.
"Are you two together forever?" laughed Daniel.
Laura was outraged by now. She did not want anyone to hurt John. She was in love with him. Monica saw this, but she cared about other things too much, so she let it slip from her mind.
"Why are you standing there doing nothing, John?" Monica cried, trying to get her cousin to fight back.
John just stood there, motionless. He did not know what to do in this situation. He had never once considered or planned what to do should this situation arise in life, so he had to be spontaneous, and he stood and thought, doing nothing else.
"For once in your life, just stand up to them! And Richard, you should be ashamed of yourself!" Monica added, looking at Richard. "I thought we were friends!"
Richard continued to laugh. "I'm sure you'll get over it by tomorrow!" he said, winking at her.
The boys then decided to leave, because they were getting bored with messing around with a social outcast. When they left, Monica knew she had to do something to calm John down, so she started a new conversation.
"Anyway," said Monica, "are you thinking of
All of a sudden, the peace and tranquility of this normal, natural day was disturbed by a group of youths rushing to get out. The rabbit, alerted by the sounds of the footsteps, leaped into the undergrowth, away from the apparent danger. Four people rushed past, and the rabbit watched in safety as they passed. They ran silently and said nothing. Slowly, the rabbit emerged from its hiding place and returned to the puddle. It then looked towards the distance and continued watching the four people running as fast as they could in between the trees.
The year is 1992. The week after that strange occurrence, a group of friends gathered in Minot’s main housing project. This housing was fairly rundown, and many of the houses were boarded up due to the violence and drug dealing in the area. However, this did not stop a group of seventeen-year olds from leaving their homes during the day or night. Five boys and two girls stood outside one of the boy’s homes, standing around, doing very little, like teenagers do. Four of the boys – Josh, Steven, Daniel and Richard – were the best of friends. They had always been together since childhood, and they were always seen together whenever they left the house. Monica and Laura, the two girls, were good friends, but not best friends. In fact, the only thing that connected them was the other boy, John. He lived down the street, and he was standing outside his house, wondering what on Earth he was doing, talking to the other boys. Monica was John's cousin, and Laura was a friend, or a potential love interest.
"So, are you going out with your girlfriend today, John?" asked Steven, mocking John and Laura for being such good friends.
"Shut up, Steven!" Laura cried, determined not to let him get to her.
"Don't start on me!" shouted Steven, not wanting to be shown up in front of his friends.
"Alright, alright," Monica said, trying to calm everyone down before yet another fight started.
"My mother would not like you saying those things," said John, who was scarcely able to control himself.
There was silence, and both Monica and Laura began staring at John. The four other boys burst into laughter.
"That's not funny," said Laura. "You're all sick for laughing at such a thing!"
"He's such a weirdo!" cried Richard.
"No, he's not, said Laura, moving closer to John.
"Are you two together forever?" laughed Daniel.
Laura was outraged by now. She did not want anyone to hurt John. She was in love with him. Monica saw this, but she cared about other things too much, so she let it slip from her mind.
"Why are you standing there doing nothing, John?" Monica cried, trying to get her cousin to fight back.
John just stood there, motionless. He did not know what to do in this situation. He had never once considered or planned what to do should this situation arise in life, so he had to be spontaneous, and he stood and thought, doing nothing else.
"For once in your life, just stand up to them! And Richard, you should be ashamed of yourself!" Monica added, looking at Richard. "I thought we were friends!"
Richard continued to laugh. "I'm sure you'll get over it by tomorrow!" he said, winking at her.
The boys then decided to leave, because they were getting bored with messing around with a social outcast. When they left, Monica knew she had to do something to calm John down, so she started a new conversation.
"Anyway," said Monica, "are you thinking of
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