Judith trying her hardest to stay in control of her feelings puts on a I don't care- I hate my parents no matter what they say approach smirk on her face. Judith then looks at Joan one last time as though she was sure once Joan hears her mom's typically impact letter Joan would be gone like so many potential life friends. What bothers Judith most is Joan may be the first person she would have liked as a friend and soon she felt it would no longer be up to her in deciding if the friendship will continue. Judith unfolds the letter and takes a deep breath and begins.

Judith reading-"Dear Judith, We are very worried about the destructive behavior you have been portraying, which makes it impossible to help you when you are so defiant, and rebel against every rule we make to try to keep you safe. Both I and your father are concerned that the decisions you make now are impacting your lack of quality friend choices, poor grades, and low self-esteem towards life. Wow, I would thank God actually if that was all it was that was impacting you. From the outside you appear to be independent and not care but really you do care and yet you won't allow anyone particular us your parents the opportunity to help you. In reality your actions make me and your father feel you need stricter and more firm boundaries to keep you safe. Judith you are making these choices and need to realize we are not thrilled in the least with the results. We had no choice to send you to Gentle Acres this summer again because honestly it is the only place me and your father feel can control you and will keep you safe and alive this whole summer. Honestly, what do you expect us to do trust you to be left home alone when our summer is full of psychological conferences throughout Europe from time to time? Judith, that kind of trust you need to earn and by the actions we have seen from you lately, you are a long way away from such trust. To be honest I know I wouldn't even think of considering leaving you with a qualified baby sitter because you will just be out the front door doing something illegal by the time we drive more than 30 minutes away. All of your friends do drugs Judith, to most people this would be a flashing warning sign they are endangering their lives, yet you found friends who not only do drugs but are involved in gangs and selling drugs. It doesn't matter to me that you say they are the only friends you can find that like you, I would rather you had no friends at all then the ones you pick. Also, me and your dad are not reassured at all by the fact that you say "Well it is not like I sell drugs personally Mom so what is the big deal who my friends are"…BIG DEAL you want to know the Big Deal well how about this every time I hear on the news of a drug war or fight, I think I hope my daughter is still alive, and when I try to call you to make sure you are safe., oh big surprise your phone is off, or you don't care to answer it if you know it is your mother. Judith also it is very clear when you are at home which is like never these days, you don't care about me or your father at all, and every effort we try to help you appears to be another chance for you to fight back in your own way. For Example when we said your internet privileges were removed because you would stay up all night on AIM, you went to school the next day which in and of itself would be a miracle I would have loved but what did you do it wasn't go to class and learn something no you posted a strip tease video of your self on U-Tube and Facebook. Judith, if you put something on the internet like that you need to know it will be around forever on the internet. Judith, how do you think it makes me feel to know my baby girl put a video freely online where she struts her stuff half naked. I would love to think you care about your self image, and have some pride in your self but that seems out of your grasps. I can only hope you live long enough to do something in your future say try to run for office, or something. I feel I will be supporting you your whole life because well honestly, you don't think that video and a million other skeletons in your closet won't hold you back in your future? Oh however, all I hear from you about this is, you are annoyed your facebook account has been canceled permanently. Judith, I had to fight legally with Facebook, so they wouldn't sue you for violating their terms. Oh and If that wasn't bad enough Judith, we have spent days if not weeks crying in the hospital watching you detox from tripping on various recreational drugs, your stomach has been pumped from alcohol abuse 3 times already, It is like you are trying to kill yourself with your actions and now you are getting into legal trouble on top of it. Your decision to drive drunk could have resulted in you killing or severely hurting someone. Sure all you did was flip over your own SUV getting on the highway but you are just lucky you didn't get hurt in the process. Oh and what makes matters worse is we can see very well by your violation of your driving suspension and getting another driving violation on top of the DUI for getting caught going 87 MPH , you don't care, about hurting anyone for driving drunk or reckless. It is even sadder to think all you care about is the fact your license got suspended and we had to take away all your driving privileges till you are 18 years old. Judith, wake up! First off it was the State of Maryland that took away your driving license, and Second I don't blame them one bit, and there was no way I was going to try to fight back to allow you to keep your license. We are sick of hearing poor me stories, when you are tearing our family apart every second of every day. What about your poor parents, do you ever even consider our feelings, and efforts. Judith you need to start thinking about the severity of your actions, I can't stress this enough. In the last few months I and your father now have had to spend over 6 days out of our busy life schedules to help you avoid going to jail again. Honestly, Judith no 16 year old should have been through the court system 3 times already. Most of the Judges and attorneys even know you by name and you don't care. Think Judith; Think really hard about why we sent you to Gentle Acres again this summer, before you even consider writing us one of your bogus letters full of pity from you losing your summer to a place trying to help you. Because when it comes down to it Judith you need to think and remember it was either Gentle Acres again or Jail. Overall, Judith you wear me out just having to write this stupid letter again, so yeah stay safe this summer, explore your life choices, and find a new passion in life which doesn't involve nights in the E.R. or you ending up in jail. Since me and your father had a long talk again about you and well we feel if you keep it up one of these days we may choose not to bail you out again. Have a great summer Judith and remember this is your last chance, get better or don't be surprised if you end up in a therapeutic boarding school next fall. Sincerely, Mom and Dad.

Judith-finishes the letter and rolls it up in a ball and throws it on the floor as she is Screams pissed off "Therapeutic Boarding School, God I hate my parents" "I'll kill myself before I go to some stupid Boarding School" After saying that Judith didn't care about being in a circle of girls she had just received the harshest impact letter of her life and all she wanted to do was get away as quickly as possible.

Judith just walked out of the room and headed towards her bedroom not even caring about anyone but herself. Once Judith jumped on the top bunk of her and Joan's bed she lost it completely, and started to cry hysterically and silently screamed to herself why does my life suck so bad? Judith, felt she needed to get away quick but realized her choice of going to her bedroom prevented her the time she would need to run away successfully, because any second now the counselors would be coming to try to calm her down. Judith didn't want to calm down, she knew her life sucked, she knew she fucked up a lot, she may have been happy her mom spared a lot of really dirty details, but even this hurt because it was just another sign her mom couldn't even write her a lengthy impact letter at the moment because it might interfere with her busy life and make her feel like a mess up for raising her. Judith however, more than anything else was pissed that not once during her impact letter did her parents say anything positive to her. Judith, thought yeah maybe I did want Joan as a friend, but Hell, I would have given anything to have the love and positive ness that her family allowed her in her impact letter. My parents don't love me at all anymore. I'm just one big fuck up that needs to be sent away so they don't have to deal with me.

Back in the Circle everyone is just dumb founded at Judith's impact letter and her response to it. All the group clients look at each other and are not sure weather to feel sorry for Judith or just wonder how anyone could be that dumb.

Joan, thinks wow, no wonder Judith didn't want me to know about what she did before. Yet, what really pissed Joan off was she thought about Kevin, and how Andy's choices brought about Kevin's accident and all the pain her family has been going through ever sense the accident. Watching Kevin lie in the hospital, Joan remembers wondering if he would ever walk again or immediately afterwards if he would even live at all. The whole idea that Judith was sent her because she got a DUI and willingly broke her driving suspension, and all the other stupid choices she made really pissed Joan off. Joan hated knowing Judith willing put her self in Andy's spot by her own choices. Joan couldn't even comprehend willingly putting yourself naked online. Last year a picture of her mostly clothed made her feel violated when the school saw it. Joan's thoughts were interrupted by her counselors saying something-which brought her back into the present moment.

Amy-"Alright, well impact letters are the only chance we get to hear your parents reasons for you all coming here" "We have seen that it can be a huge impact as in Judith's case but in many ways we at Gentle Acres feel it is important part of your stay here to go through this experience together." "Lastly, you are done for the night, and can all go to your bedrooms now… Circle is over"

Immediately after closing the circle Amy goes in the corner of the room and gets on her radio to report to all staff about Judith's departure from circle. Christy immediately takes off to track down Judith location.

Joan-decides she is unsure if she wants to go directly back to her room as that is most likely were Judith and the counselors would be so decides to go to the bath room for a bit. Joan walks towards the bathroom she watches as Amy takes note of Joan's direction closely as she continues to talk on the radio. As Joan walks into the bathroom she notices a few new staff she has never noticed before looking around-most likely searching for Judith was Joan's reaction to the staff. Joan thinks as she takes an empty stale, how the bath rooms and showers are really the only place at Gentle Acres where you can have true privacy. Joan just sits on the toilet not even having to go—thinking about her whole night and her impact letter and Judith's impact letter.

Inside of Judith and Joan's bedroom, Christy finds Judith in her bed crying. Christy hits the ON bottom on her radio and says Judith has been found in her bedroom.

Judith takes note of Christy and thinks yeap I blew my chance to run away big time.

Christy-cautiously approaches and says,"Hey Judith, you know you shouldn't leave like that it makes everyone here worry about you."

Judith-"Yeah right, you only worry I might hurt myself and you will be at blame"

Christy-"Judith, be reasonable of course everyone her worries about your safety all the time." "Yet, do you honestly think any counselor here is only here to help you stay safe all day long?" "I personally believe every counselor here wants to help you and every other client here as much as possible." "Actually I would like to rephrase that slightly I personally know as I'm friends outside of Gentle Acres with most of the counselors here we all care about Judith." "Judith hmm and you know what else I think however I could be wrong with how you handled your impact letter tonight you may have found a good friend in your roommate Joan ."

Judith-"Yeah fucken right, If my parents loved me the way Joans seem to I wouldn't have been sent here again. I probable would be a completely normal teenager. My parents know I hate Gentle Acres and that is why my parents send me here." "and well if… if Joan… if Joan cared about me she would be back in her bed by now talking to me and you wouldn't need to be here in her place."

Christy-"Be fair Judith, Joan is going through a lot at the moment you just heard her impact letter and well Joan probable is just a tad afraid of you right now. Yet, think Judith you are here at Gentle Acres right now, you can still change your life, but you have to live one day at a time and stay present in the now. Your parents didn't say they were for sure sending you to a boarding school yet did they?" "No! It is still only an option"

Judith-"Option my ass, they don't care about me, I probable won't even get a chance to go home, they will send me directly from here to a therapeutic boarding school at the end of this summer. So really I don't want you to give me that fucken speech on options, choices and living in the present again crap"

Christy-"Well Judith, the way I see it, you know all the speeches, you know all the stories, you know all the ins and outs of being in therapy." "However, you continually choose to ignore and blow off anything that might help you change for the better." "Your parents are at wits ends with you at the present I kind of sense that, but if you were in their shoes how would you react to your past actions?"

Judith-"Well thank you Christy, for making me feel oh so much better…Now will you please just leave me the fuck alone for now."

Christy-"Sure Judith, however you will have a counselor outside your door for the night to make sure you stay safe…just letting you know you are on safety watch till your therapist takes you off."

Judith-"Whatever, as long as the counselor stays outside the door and leaves me the fuck alone I don't care."

Christy-"Oh Judith, I think we may relocate your room mates tonight to another bed room as well" "I'm going to go chat with Joan and Darlene right now" "Amy is outside your door for now if you need to talk let her know ok?"

Judith just looks pissed at Christy and says "What part of leave me the Fuck Alone did you not understand" Judith just lay in bed as Christy left and thought no way in hell am I speaking to anyone right now. I'm actually glad to get my own bedroom tonight.

Christy walks out of the room and tells Amy to stay put for now and watch Judith as she is exhibiting signs of danger, and may try to hurt her self or others at the moment.

Amy-"Sure thing Christy, my radio is On if you need me." "Oh Christy can you get me a temporary staff member to help keep eyes on Judith as well" "Good thinking, yeah I'll radio one in right now"

Christy-Then walks down the hall about 30 feet to where the restrooms are and asks "Hello, who is in the stales at the moment?" knowing very well it is Joan and Joan alone ahead of time.

Joan-"Oh sorry it is me, Joan, I will be right out." Joan gets up off the seat of the toilet and was about to exit the stale when she thought, to make things less suspicious she should flush the clear water of the toilet down.

Christy-"Ok well take your time, but I want to talk to you when you are done about Judith and your new bedroom for tonight"

Joan-opens the stale and says "Sure but can we talk somewhere besides the bathroom?"

Christy-"Sure thing Joan, in fact I think for just tonight it would be wise for you to sleep in a different bedroom to give Judith a chance to cool down some."

Joan-follows Christy to a room down the hall that is identical to her current room and Christy plops down in the seat of the only chair in the room, and Joan lays down on the bed.

Christy-"So what is on your mind at the moment Joan?"

Joan-"Well lets see I hate it here now more than ever, I just learned someone I thought could be normal and a decent friend is completely a juvenile delinquent nut case, oh and yeah I feel maybe I too am more crazy than what I thought 3 days ago when I arrived here."

Christy-tapping her finger slowly on the table says, "Interesting summery, but why do you think you are crazy Joan?"

Joan-"Well, I don't know, I didn't think so before, but hearing and rereading my impact letter a little bit ago, my family did have a few good examples that make me think I'm not really normal."

Christy-Pulls off her locked backpack off her back, and says "Well, I need to give your medicine for the night" "Can you please take it now?"

Joan-"Sure I'll take the medicine, I have some water right here" "Yet, Christy, do you think I'm crazy?"

Christy-"Joan, only you can decide if you are crazy?" "Why do you care what I think in the matter?"

Joan-"Well you are one of my counselors first off, and second you tend to spend all day with me and other children here, I guess I just wanted another opinion on the matter."

Christy-Pondering what Joan just said before responding waits a while then says, "Hmmm Joan, if it means that much to you, I will say when I first saw you a few days ago, I did think you appeared more normal than most clients here." "Yet, Joan I strongly feel every client here has something's they can work on and improve in their lives, and in some ways it don't matter if you are in here or in the real world everyone is crazy in some form." "I guess it depends on how you want to view the world and it comes down to the choices you make that determine if and how you and other people view."

Joan-"True, but I see things that are not there at all" "And it seems everyone else is here because they did something wrong or made bad choices." "I feel like everyone else has had more control over if they are crazy or not, and I'm just stuck with lyme disease."

Christy-"Joan, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to, because I'm sure Dr. Dan is drilling you on these sort of questions but honestly I'm curious what is it you see that makes you feel you are crazy?"

Joan-"Well I have seen different things at different times, like one time I had a girl talking to me, then she split in to twins and two identical girls walked away."

Christy-"Hmmmm, wow that is kind of weird" "But you haven't seen anything since you have been on your meds have you?"

Joan-"Ok, now I don't want to answer anymore questions, this is getting to personal."

Christy-"Sure, yet what I really came to talk to you about is I am curious what you plan to do when you see Judith again?" "You two seemed to be becoming decent friends the last few days. Do you think you will still try to be her friend after tonight?"

Joan-Throws her arms up in the air to cover her face, but bangs them on the top part of the bed above her. "Owhh" and then lowers her hands to her face like she planned before.

Christy-"Owhh yeah, I have done that before, which is why I always choose to sit in chairs now." "Yet, seriously Joan… what do you plan to do about Judith?"

Joan-"Well I have been thinking about that non-stop for the last half hour"" and the only conclusion I have come up with is I am not sure yet?" "I think I'm going to sleep on it and decide tomorrow after talking to Judith actually."

Christy-"That is a wonderful idea, Joan, it is that kind of thinking that makes me feel you are not crazy" "Well the Group Echo is done with Impact letters now, I am going to go inform Darlene about tonight's new sleeping arrangements. I'll be back in a few minutes Joan."

Joan-lays on her bed, thinking surprisingly Christy had brought up a good point, what was she going to do about Judith? How lame would it be ditch someone just because of their past. Yet, seriously Joan didn't know if she had the strength and desire to be friends with Judith now that she knew her past. Joan also wondered if Judith's Mom left parts out of her letter and if so what else could Judith have experienced in life which could explain who she is now?

In a few minutes Darlene walks in and plops on the bunk bed across from Joan. Joan could see that Darlene had been crying as her eyes were all puffy, and her face was all red.

Christy-"So are you both alright for now?"

Joan-"Yah, I think so, Thanks"

Darlene-just kind shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head.

Christy- left the room for the night and soon the lights in the whole building were off.

Joan-"Hey, Darlene, I know we didn't get off on the best start a few days ago, but are you alright? Or would you like to talk about anything? I see that you were crying, is everything ok?"

Darlene-irritated slightly now says, "Joan, I hate talking, I hate therapy, and right now I hate the fact that I'm not asleep because you art trying to talk to me." "Yet maybe some other time we can talk, but right now I just want to go to sleep."

Joan-realizing yeah I think I agree with Darlene, I had an exhausting day too. Yet, Joan, felt it was only polite to offer to let people talk if they needed too. However, with Darlene she didn't know her well enough to even feel comfortable enough to talk to her, herself so she wondered why she even attempted to start a conversation with her just now. Joan knew if Darlene asked her the same question about life right now she to would just say she was sleepy as a form to avoid another awkward conversation.

Joan then says, "Sounds good, I'm pretty tired too, Good Night Darlene."

Darlene didn't say another word not even a good night response in return, and within a few minutes was snoring away in her bed.

Joan-After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, as her mind wouldn't stop racing through a million thoughts, and Darlene's snoring wasn't helping either Joan finally feel asleep too.

Joan Dreaming Now- Joan sees herself on a tiny wooden platform in a circus tent about to step on a tightrope high above a pool of firing flames below. She then notices Homeless Guy God standing in the middle of the tightrope effortless juggling. Upon closer examination Joan realizes God is juggling not round balls but miniature people in his hands. God, says "Hey Joan like my juggling? Why don't you come out here and give me a helping hand." Joan scared at the sight, says "You are not real, just a hallucination or in this case a bad dream" God says, "Joan, you are having a crises of faith at the moment, it is normal when your beliefs are questioned to wonder about the truth." Joan responds "and what if I don't ever believe in you again? Then what?" God then says "We have been over this before Joan, Freewill" God then throws all the miniature people he was juggling into the air and only catches, what appears to be a tiny version of her mom, Lily the ex-nun, and lastly Kevin. Joan saw God wasn't going or was choosing not to catch the rest of her family or friends and Joan immediately by instinct tried to grab all the falling people. Frantically she managed to catch a Luke/Grace who were coupled together for some reason, Adam, and her dad Will. Joan realizing she missed one yells NOOOOO.

Joan- Joan wakes up shaking and crying as she remembered but was trying very hard to refuse to watch the last part of her nightmare which was a tiny Judith hit the flames below. Joan hated all nightmares, but this one was just too scary for her to deal with on top of everything else going on in her life at the moment.

Joan still shaking and crying decided to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water from the drinking fountain before attempting to go back to bed again. As Joan stepped into the hall she saw Amy in the far corner of the hallway in a sleeping bag outside the door to her own bedroom.

Amy-Sleepily notices Joan, "Joan is that you?"

Joan-trying to hide her shaking and crying says, "Yeah I just want to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water"

Amy-"Sure, go ahead, but why are you shaking and crying?"

Joan-"Just a bad dream, I'll be fine in a few minutes don't worry"

Amy watches Joan get a drink of water, and walk into the bathroom, and then Joan walked back into her room again.

Joan-couldn't sleep at all the rest of the night as she was so shaken up, and was thankful to see the sun was starting to come up outside. Joan, wasn't sure but felt the dream was a warning and even if it wasn't a warning, she realized she couldn't and didn't want to responsible for dropping Judith as a friend just because of her past.