This had been the longest three days of my life. I wasn't sure why the trial had been dragged out so long. All of the facts were covered on the first day. Now it was just a bunch of psychologists and child specialists fighting over why I stole the earrings.

"Who do you live with?" One of them had asked me.

"My mom," I responded, a pit forming in my stomach. I did not want to bring her into this.

"What is her name?"

"K-Karen."

The interrogator continued, "What is life like at home?"

I hadn't said anything about Mom asking me to shoplift in response. She would have killed me for getting her involved.

"Miss Smith just stole the earrings for a thrill." The prosecuting attorney pointed a finger at me. "This childish behavior will continue if left unchecked, and it will only escalate!"

The crowd murmured at this. I rolled my eyes. Why couldn't they just bang the gavel and send me to juvie already?

Finally, the jury deliberated. They came back in only an hour.

A middle aged woman stood. "We the jury find the defendant, Rosie Smith, guilty."

I sighed and sank lower in my chair, the sliver of hope I'd had dashed. Great.

There was a little more deliberation and then the Judge called me to his podium.

Here it is, I thought, juvie here I come.

"Rosie Smith," he looked sternly over at me. "I sentence you to six months of community service."

I groaned. I'd almost rather be thrown in juvie.

"You will be performing your service at Wistlewood Studios, assisting the crew in their new television show."

The crowd gasped.

"What kind of punishment is that?" One woman demanded.

"You're rewarding her bad behavior!" Another hissed.

I could only stare. A TV show? I pictured myself surrounded by celebrities, walking the Red Carpet in a designer gown.

Then I scowled. I would be doing the grunt work. I probably wouldn't even see any stars.

"Look grateful!" My lawyer hissed.

I rolled my eyes. If I looked too grateful, people might think I was happy about this sentence.

A team of two police officers gave me a ride home in the back of their squad car. I grimaced, not liking the attention they drew.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the front door and stepped into the dark house.

Please don't be home. Please don't be--

"I can't believe it."

I groaned and turned toward my mom.

"In all my years I have never been more disappointed." A light flicked on, illuminating Mom's frown.

"Mom, it's not like I meant to get caught--"

"No, but you did. Gosh, how did my kid end up so stupid?"

My face grew hot. I swallowed a couple retorts, knowing it would be pointless to argue.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

As quickly as I could I fled to my room. My room wasn't really a room. It was a corner of the cramped living room that had been separated by a sheet hung from the ceiling. I plopped down on my bed--a pile of boxes topped with a slab of plywood--and tried to hold my tears in.

Mom was never pleased as it is, but now that I had a criminal record it would be much harder for me to do her work. It wasn't like I wanted to steal. I just wanted to please her. This was the only way for us to survive.

I sat back against the wall. Why did things have to be this way? No one else had to shoplift to get by. I sighed. I would give anything to just be normal.