Act I “Trash. Move that chair out of my way.” The words exploded across the crowded interstate bus terminal just before a fifteen-year-old boy hit the floor. Passengers turned toward the sound. A…

Act I “Trash. Your sidewalk art is garbage.” The words cut through the afternoon noise of the arts district just as a sixteen-year-old girl hit the pavement. Her name was Evelyn Brooks. She…

Act I The boy was still holding the hand pump when the wealthy cyclist kicked him in the chest. Thirteen-year-old Ethan Brooks crashed onto the narrow sidewalk beside the bicycle wheel, his gray…

Act I The first cookie box had barely stopped shaking when the wealthy woman kicked thirteen-year-old Lily Carter in the chest. Lily fell beside the little folding table, her blue jacket scraping against…

Act I The boy was still holding the cleaning rag when the wealthy man kicked him in the chest. One second, fourteen-year-old Noah Bennett was standing beside a folding table at a crowded…

Act I The violin was still ringing when the woman in the cream coat kicked the girl to the ground. Fifteen-year-old Emily Hayes fell beside her open violin case, her old black coat…

Act I The delivery boy was still trying to protect his food bag when the man in the navy suit kicked him again. Sixteen-year-old Ethan Cole lay on the sidewalk beside his battered…

Act I The cans were still rattling when the woman in the red coat kicked the girl again. Sixteen-year-old Lily Carter fell beside her recycling bag, one knee scraping against the pavement. Aluminum…

Act I The boy was still trying to save the charity sign when the businessman kicked him again. A paper cup rolled across the sidewalk, spilling lemonade between the cracks. The little folding…