I was TORTURED by teachers! You hear me, TORTURED!” I yelled, jerking the whole podium off the floor. "Hell, I flunked the third grade twice because-BECAUSE-” I was crying so hard that I had to wipe the tears out of my eyes with the back of my hand, but this wasn't going to stop me. I was all guts up front now. I was in that smooth-feeling, all-true place that I got into when I'd go to my room and start writing each morning before daybreak...with all my heart and soul.