Hey, I'm Caitlynn. My parents aren't together, and I never see my dad. Oh, did I mention I have eight siblings and most of them hate me? Maybe I should start at the beginning.

Before we begin, I must tell you the beginning is a couple years before I ever existed. If I get a few things wrong, it's 'cause I'm going by my memory of the story. I have a photographic memory like my dad, though, so I doubt I'll leave anything out. Alright, here we go.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara. It's so sad you had to leave so soon. Next time. Alright." Shawn Spencer hung up the phone and looked at his partner in crime. "They didn't suspect a thing."

Juliet O'Hara let out a sigh of relief. "You just bought me a few more years at least. Thanks for pretending to be my boyfriend, Shawn."

"No problem!" He gave her a hug. "Alright I have to go. My dad is expecting me for dinner, and I really can't be late again."

"Wow, Shawn, you're really growing up! Hey, maybe we can do this again sometime. Next time for real."

He winked. "Yeah, maybe we can."

That's not the story of how they met or anything. Actually, they met at a diner back in California where my dad lives. I know, I know, your asking why does Dad live in another state? I'll get to that, I promise. First, I gotta tell you about the big fight. This happened when I was two, so it's just a little bit foggy.

"C'mon, Jules!" Dad yelled, following her into the kitchen.

"No, Shawn, no!" Mom yelled back.

"But I love you!"

"I love you too, but this just isn't working. Sorry."

They're back with me in the living room.

"Can we at least stay in the same house? For Cattie's sake?"

"Fine, but you're not staying in the same room as me."

"I'll just move into Cattie's room."

"Fine!"

Okay,that wasn't the biggest fight, There are plenty, but that was the last fight before they broke up. No, they weren't married. Anyway, from then on Dad stayed in a little bed in my room. I didn't mind; I got to play with Daddy every night before bed! Of course, things didn't stay perfect for long. About a month later, Mom went on a date.

"Do you have to get ready in front of me?"

"I'm just fixing my lipstick, Shawn, calm down!"

Everything's a fight these days. You get used to it, though it's never fun to listen to. Here's a tip: pillows make great earplugs when necessary.

With a final slam, Mom's gone.

"So what shall we do tonight, Squirt?"

I shrug. Dad picks me up and carries me to our room to find a game to play.

Now I might as well get on with it, but I really don't want to. I probably need to, though, so here's the story of the worst day of my life.

I jump out of bed and run downstairs as fast as my six-year-old legs will take me, and manage to get the paper just as Daddy's waking up.

I run up the stairs to my room, but Daddy picks me up and throws me in the air once I reach the hall. I giggle as he makes monster noises at me, then we sit down and I hand him the paper.

This is our morning routine, and I love it. We look at the comics together. Daddy taught me how to read using the comics, so it's a special tradition. After we finish, I get up from his lap to go give Mom the rest of the paper.

When I get to her room, I'm confused. The door's never locked, so why is it now?

Mom opens the door and there's a man behind her. It's Richard, I can already tell.

"Where's the kids?" I ask.

"At my house with a sitter," he replies.

Richard's Mom's new husband. I don't like him.

Mom leaves the room, so Richard drops the act.

"Listen, Snot, we're gonna be moving. You're gonna play by my rules, or I'll make sure you never see your Daddy again."

I know not to cry. I've made that mistake before.

As I head back to Daddy, I hear yelling.

"She's my daughter, too, Jules!"

"You can see her; you just have to fly to South Dakota."

South Dakota? What's she talking about?

"I'll fight you with every last cent I have. You can't just take my daughter from me."

"Watch me."

Horrible, right? Now you know why I hate my mom. Daddy tries to come see me, but I have to sneak out. Richard made up some lies and even Mom believed him, so now Dad can't come within 500 feet of Richard. That's why I'm sitting in the Andersons' tent to write this. They're nice enough to let me meet Daddy here, but they also believe Richard. Most people do. Nobody believes me. I'm just the family slave. A typical day in my life happens like this:

"Caitlynn, can you get Melanie a drink?"

I roll my eyes as I take my half-sister's hand. She's five, she can do it herself.

"Don't give me that, young lady!"

I don't even turn around, just keep walking.

This is our morning routine, and I hate it.

When I reach the kitchen, Martin is blocking the doorway. "Where ya goin' UglyDuckling?"

That's his nickname for me.

Martin is three years older than me, so he easily blocks my way. I can hear the twins - Robert and Emily - howling in the background. They're only ten, but they can still cause plenty of pain together if they choose.

I can hear Mel laughing beside me. I've been nothing but nice to her, but she's been trained to hate me anyway.

Carol - 14 - and Bradley - 15 - come to see what all the laughing is about, and my oldest brother Simon - almost 17 - tells them.

I for one don't know why Marty blocking the door is so funny, and obviously Timmy doesn't either.

"Leave her alone," commands the family outcast. Timothy is 9 like me, and he's treated almost as badly. He's my one and only friend, and he's currently pouring the juice into a cup for me.

After Melanie skips away with her drink, Timmy and I go to our favorite spot - my closet - to play.

Now you're pretty much up to speed. That was two years ago. The only job left is to plan my escape. The only problem is I can't seem to find my phone. Looks like I'll have to ask Mom.

Cattie closed her journal and headed into the building where she lived, then knocked on the door to her house. Access to the houses all lay indoors like an apartment, only far larger and multiple floors.

Richard opened the door with a scowl. "What did I say about leaving, Snot?"

Cattie rolled her eyes and continued in. "Mom, have you seen my phone?"

"Why?"

"I need to make a call."

"To?"

"My classmate Nick. I forgot to write down the summer reading, and I'd like to get started."

She hands Cattie the phone and Cattie hurries outside.

"It's snowing," Juliet calls.

"I know," Cattie calls back.

I'm back. I'm calling my dad right now.

"Cattie? Is that really you? Gus, shut up!"

"Daddy! Timmy and I are flying out to you. We're running away. We're ready."

Daddy knows Timmy from his visits out here.

"Be careful."

"Is everything in place?"

"Yes, and a few of my friends are helping. Just please be careful. If we do this right, we can fix everything."

The only thing left to do is get Timmy and get to the airport. Here comes the challenging part.