Author's note: I've worked for 32 years in the field of Mental Health. I've worked with children from broken homes, and those homes where you'd think everything was right. I worked with 4 year olds, and I worked with teenagers. I worked with adults who'd resorted to criminal activity. My head is filled with so many stories, and my heart is filled with compassion for each one of them.

I feel sorry for Ricky, and Tracie, and Stacie, and J.C. ...all of them, and I understand quite a bit of what they've gone through.  Ricky could have been prosecuted ...and forever, could have been listed as a pedifile, having restrictions upon his living conditions.  He would have lost many of his freedoms, and we would feel sorry for him ...but he'd have to lose those freedoms to protect the freedoms of others he may infringe upon. Tracie was raped ...if she would have had an abortion, I certainly would have understood the entrapment she would have found herself within ...but I applaud her for thinking of her helpless baby.  Neither she, nor her baby had anything to do with the crime ...but I can't say the same thing for her family and church, as they were encouraging her to commit a crime against the innocent and defenseless.  I also don't blame Tracie for not wanting to be around guys, considering the five who had encircled her before the rape, then also those men in her church circle, who were more concerned with their agenda than what she was going through.  Tracie would probably have deepened her friendship with Ricky, but everyone around her would have probably discouraged it.