I need to write this down. I need to vent a little. To protect my own interests and the interests of others, though, I'll just write a hypothetical situation. Let's say four kids are out picking blueberries. Two of the kids are older, about 13 or so. One of the kids is 8. The fourth kid is the youngest at age 5. The four kids arrive at the blueberry patch, and everything is great. It's a beautiful day, and their buckets are shiny and new. Suddenly, the two oldest kids start bickering about whose "turf" is whose, battling over who'll get to pick from the best bushes. They are rude to each other, and they each run and tell the two younger kids how awful the other big kid is, and how mean and spiteful he/she is. Each big kid makes sure to point out the other's mistakes. The two younger kids just sigh and walk over to the less-impressive bushes because they don't want to have a part in the fight. When they get home that night, the youngest kid goes and tells his mom how mean the oldest kids were to each other. The mom sits the two oldest kids down and gives them a talking-to, and the next morning the kids all go out to pick blueberries again. The youngest kid is really happy because everyone is getting along... and that's what he wants most - for everyone to get along and work together happily. While taking a break from berry-picking, the 8-year-old kid pulls the youngest kid aside and says, "Hey, I don't know what the problem is between us... but somebody told me that you don't want to be my friend anymore. What's wrong?" The youngest kid gets really upset and starts crying. Who could have told his friend this? He loves his friend, and someone (be it the oldest kids or some of the 8-year-old's friends) has lied about this whole situation. The youngest kid gives the 8-year-old a hug and assures him that he cares about him. After all, he just wants everyone to get along and be happy because he truly, honestly cares about his berry-picking buddies. After getting home that night, the youngest kid cries himself to sleep. He doesn't understand what he's done wrong, but he doesn't think he can find a way to make everything right again. Would the same thing happen with his other friends - would they start fighting amongst themselves or spreading rumors? Feeling scared and quite along, the 5-year-old wonders whether he'll ever be able to pick blueberries happily again. | 
