Chapter 1: The Anger That Changed Everything

The opening chapter introduces Ventre’s frustration. The tools and support develop in later chapters; this scene does not model a complete response.

The bedroom door slammed shut behind Ventre as she stomped inside, her face red with anger. What she saw made her blood boil even more. Toys were scattered everywhere like a tornado had hit. Her favorite stuffed animals lay on the floor, thrown from their special spots on her dresser. Crumbs from someone's snack were ground into her carpet, making dark spots that would probably never come out.

"I HATE YOU ALL!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, not caring who heard her. Her whole body shook with rage. This wasn't the first time her brothers had destroyed her room, and she knew it wouldn't be the last.

Hot tears started to fill her eyes as anger mixed with sadness. "I hate my home, I hate my family, I hate my life," she thought to herself. "Why can't everyone just leave me alone?"

The house felt too small, too loud, too full of people who didn't care about her things. All she wanted was one place that was hers, one space where she could feel safe and happy. But even that had been taken from her.

She kicked at a pile of broken crayons, sending them skittering across the floor. Her chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing her heart. The anger was so big inside her that it felt like it might explode out of her skin.

"It's not fair!" she whispered, sinking down onto her bed. "I clean my room, I put everything where it belongs, and they just come in and wreck it all!"

From down the hall, she heard her mother's voice calling her name. "Ventre!"

Great. Now she was in trouble for being upset about something that wasn't even her fault. Life was so unfair.

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