
“You need to hide me because I’m running away from home,” Julie whispered as she reached the front steps of my porch. Her golden curls disheveled, she’d arrived pulling a red Radio Flyer wagon containing packaged cookies, several donuts and a bag of candy stolen from her mother’s kitchen just over a block away. Julie was my best friend throughout elementary school, but given we were only in the 4th grade at the time, I knew my mom wouldn’t go for it. I was more puzzled that Julie’s wagon didn’t contain anything else – no toys, pajamas, her backpack, or even a toothbrush. Only food…