Tossing and turning all night long is the fucking worst thing in the world to endure when you just wanna go to sleep. The ticking of the Mickey Mouse clock on the nightstand where I stash my goods wasn't helping either. All I could think about what Joey and that face he made wen he found out that I snatched his idols guitar. I bet that must have killed him. It's killing me just thinking about how I just made him feel. I feel like the shittiest person in the world right now. I must have broken Joey's heart. That kid looks up to me! I can't show him right from wrong and be a thief at the same time. What message does that send to a six year old? You can't be a good person and steal from a damn celebrity. Why did I have to be so stupid??? My heart beats for a beauty like the Teley underneath my bed but I have to do the right thing. At least for Joey. I owe him that much. As I still tried to shut my brain off to fall asleep my thoughts continued to fuck with me. My conscience was eating away at me about this guitar situation. Who was this Prince guy and how did he score that sweet six string gem? Joey said he was famous. So since I couldn't sleep I crept across my room and out to the hall. The overnight staff stay upstairs with us and listens out for the little ones. And since no one is ever downstairs I can sneak in the office and Google this Prince character. The office door was open and I made a mad dash inside from the bottom of the steps just in case someone decided to walk the halls and catch me. The computer was on but the screen was turned off. I turned it on clicked on the little e for the Internet and typed furiously on the keys. I typed in his name and there he was. A row of his pictures cascaded the center of the screen as well as links to fan pages, artwork, and his life story.

"Huh! Let's see if Prince is you're real name. He calls himself Prince. I bet it's a gimmick!"

I clicked his bio and to my surprise I was proven wrong. His name really is Prince. Prince Rogers Nelson born June 7,1958 age 48.
Hometown Minneapolis......Minnesota??? Resides in.......CHANHASSEN?!?!?!

"Well fuck me!" I shouted way too loudly for 2am.

As I kept reading about the jerk faced pretty boy I saw the movie that Joey had a huge poster of just above his bed.

"Purple Rain. So that's who you are!" I whispered.

The more I scrolled the more I learned about him. Then I was in for a shocker. A picture of him sitting alone at a table that paparazzi snapped at an after party. It looked like he was staring at his empty ring finger. The caption read. 'Love lost for Prince. Will he ever have a marriage that will last?' As I kept reading I felt bad for him in a way. The feeling of wanting a family showed on his face. I know that feeling. Pictures of him smiling happily with his now ex-wife were throughout the article until the very last picture where his sadness showed like the rising sun over the horizon. Now I really feel like shit. I know what it's like to want a family. That's the look a lot of us kids wear on our faces when we want a home. I read some more and found that he came close to being a father. Twice. His first wife carried to term but lost their baby after a week from a rare skull disorder. The second baby never made it that far.

"Poor guy. Life really didn't care that he's a star. It fucked him in the ass like it did to me. I better give him his guitar back ASAP."

I got up from the computer and exited the screen then turning it off. I felt really bad for him. I felt worse now that I'm the one that took his guitar from him. Now I just feel awful. That's it. If I ever needed to get a stamp on my good deed card this would be the time to get one. I left out of the office tip toeing the whole way back to my room and fell into bed closing my eyes on the way down. Finally I could go to sleep.

The sun shined in my face at 8am in the summer like it always did waking me out of my sleep as well as a knock from staff on my door.

"Time to get ready for the 10am mass Carlyn."

Yay.....nothing more fitting. A black girl going to a Catholic Church when you're not even catholic. I know nothing much about religion but it's not like the churches I would watch on BET. The gospel songs were way better anyway. They actually make you feel the spirit. The shit that they do at at St. Paul's cathedral ain't it. I got as dressed up as I could after my shower and headed downstairs for breakfast. I took a spot next to Joey but he wasn't all that pleased to see me. I was a little nervous but he was my buddy and I had to make up to him.

"Hey Joey!" I said in an attempt to get him to talk to me.

"Sticky fingers." He whispered.

The sting really hurt.

"Ouch kid that just broke my heart."

"Good. You deserved it."

"C'mon Joey don't be mad. I'm gonna make it up to you I swear."

"With what more candy?" He scoffed at me.

"No. Joey what I did was wrong and I'm going to make it right after mass. I promise."

"Yeah right."

"Come on buddy. Please don't be angry. It hurts that your mad at me."

"It should. You stole something from my hero. I wanna be just like him when I grow up. He's the best guitarist on the planet and to stole his Telecaster!"

"And I'm going to give it back."

"How? You know we're not aloud to leave the house unsupervised."

"I don't know kid but I will. Even if that means turning myself into the warden after mass. I'll find a way I promise just please stop being mad? Please?"

"When you give Prince his guitar back I'll stop being mad."

Damn. If I don't get that guitar back to The Avenue Joey will never forgive me. I gotta get away from here soon and get this plan in motion. I didn't know what to do but I knew getting back to First Avenue wast the goal.

After sitting through two hours of boredom and 'peace be with you' on repeat we piled into the van and drove back to the orphanage. The seat next to me was Joey's. It was empty because he was mad at me. He sat in the first row with the other little kids. His cold shoulder was really getting to me. It was almost making me sick to my stomach. When we pulled up to the orphanage the van was barely at a stand still when I climbed from the back and flung the doors open and jumped out.

"Carlyn!" One of the staffers called as I ran to the door waiting for someone to unlock it.

The staff got out and met me at the top of the steps putting the key in the door.

"You ok today?" The pretty brunette asked as he turned the lock and opened the door.

"Yeah I really don't feel good I think I'm gonna throw up." I said.

I wasn't lying this time because I really felt sick with all this guitar shit going on that I felt my breakfast slowly making its way to my throat. I bolted for my room and slammed the door as hard as I could. Pacing my floors I felt my frustration getting to me. Tears began to fall from my face. I was beginning to hate myself. I'm not a thief. I wouldn't steal from anyone. I may have had reason to sure but I knew better. I stopped pacing and laid in bed crying for at least an hour before passing out. When I woke up it was dark outside. I rubbed my eyes and turned on my metallic purple table lamp. The clock read 9:23. Well so much for dinner. Fuck it I wasn't all that hungry anyway. It was 7 minutes before bed check so I changed clothes and waited to hear that knock on my door from Joey. I waited but he never came. I really did a number on his feelings. I went to turn out the light when finally I heard a knock.

"Joey!" I said as the door came open.

"Lights out Carlyn." The staffer said.

My smile fades away and I let out a deep sigh.

"Yeah I know." I bruted.

She shut the door and I turned out the light. I laid in the bed with my iPod on when my door slowly opened and the hall light shines through with a shadow in the glow. In came Joey. My heart never felt so happy to see him.

"Hey kid! I thought you were still mad at me."

"I am." He said as he sat on my bed.

"I'm sorry buddy. I'm keeping my promise to you sprout. I'm giving that guitar back."

"When?" He asked confused.

I started smiling. Bed checks were over and everyone will be sleeping within the hour.

"Tonight."

"Carly you'll get in trouble!"

"Not if I'm back before sun up."

I pulled the guitar from under my bed and strapped it around myself.

"Where are you going?"

"To First Avenue."

Joey looked stunned.

"You can't go there you're not a grown up!"

"I know but that's where I took the guitar from. So that's where I'm returning it."

I climbed out of my window and carefully got my footing on the tree below.

"Carly you heard the warden of you get caught you'll be in even more trouble."

"I won't. I'll be back. Go in your room and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning at breakfast."

"Be careful Carly!" He said. He turned out my light and I heard the door close.

That was my cue to drop down from the tree and walk the twelve blocks to The Avenue.