# data[].attributes.body
In the morning, Kim and Jerome are getting reading to leave for school. Ma is reminding Jerome to come straight home like every morning. Jerome's mom is a receptionist at a hotel, and his father is a sanitation officer. His grandma keeps the house in order. They are just like any other family.

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Jerome and Kim are walking to school. Jerome describes his neighborhood. Kim meets up with her friends. Jerome is scared that Mike, Eddie, and Snap will beat him up again. Jerome is often teased and bullied at school. He often has to hide in the bathroom, locker room, or supply closet during lunchtime, hoping that the bullies will forget about him and target someone else.

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At school, Mr. Myers introduces a boy named Carlos. Carlos and Jerome become good friends. Carlos and Jerome are beaten by the bullies.

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PERSONAL - ALIVE (DECEMBER 8) pg. 44, 57-59

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PERSONAL - ALIVE (DECEMBER 8) pg. 44, 57-59

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Carlos pulls out a fake, toy gun to scare away the bullies. Bullies leave Carlos and Jerome alone. Jerome is scared that he'll get in trouble if his parents found out. Carlos tells Jerome that the gun is fake, and Jerome feels relieved to know.

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As Jerome is watching his family mourning over his death, Grandma makes a comparison between Jerome and Emmett Till, a black boy who was a victim of racism in Mississippi, 1955.

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After school, Carlos, Jerome, and Kim stand outside of school. Carlos asks Jerome if he wants to play zombies with the toy gun. Jerome is hesitant because he wants to play, but also knows that he might get in trouble. Kim doesn't want Jerome is do it.

"Her eyes are telling me 'no.' Don't do it."

Jerome reassures Kim that it's just a toy and that it won't do anything bad. Jerome accepts the toy gun.

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PERSONAL - DECEMBER NEAR CHRISTMAS (JEROME'S DEATH) pg. 195-

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PERSONAL - DECEMBER NEAR CHRISTMAS (JEROME'S DEATH) pg. 195-

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Jerome is playing in the streets with the toy gun, running, dodging, and fighting the imaginary bad guys. He's about to go home, but he sees a car driving towards him, and Jerome tries to run away. But then, he's shot twice in the back, and he falls to the ground.

" 'Toy,' I gurgle, stutter."

Jerome wishes to see and hold his family. Then, he dies.

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Jerome is shot by a police officer at Green Street lot.

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Pop makes a comparison between Jerome and Tamir Rice, a black boy who was also a victim of racism and police brutality in Cleveland in 2014.

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER DEATH) pg. 26

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER DEATH) pg. 26

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Jerome meets a brown boy in the kitchen who is also a ghost.

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Ma says, "An open casket. 'I want the world to see what they did to my boy.' Isn't that what Mrs. Till said? Isn't it?" Mrs. Till, Emmett Till's mother, states that she wanted her son's casket to be open during the funeral, so that the world can see what racism has done.

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Four months after Jerome died, he watches his family in the courthouse. Officer Moore, the police officer who shot Jerome, is there along with his family and Jerome's family. Officer Moore's daughter can see Jerome.

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Judge is interrogating Officer Moore. Jerome notices that Officer Moore is lying. Jerome realizes that Sarah can see both him and Ghost boy.

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Judge is interrogating the 9-1-1 operator. Jerome describes the operator as a college student. 9-1-1 operator says that the caller stated that "A man was in the park with a gun." The judge says that the transcript said "toy gun". The 9-1-1 operator says that she did not know why she didn't tell the reporting officers that it was a toy gun, not a real gun.

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The prosecutor is interrogating Officer Moore. Defense lawyer yells "objection" several times, but judge replies with "sustained". The court room erupts into chaos.

"Three good things can't be said. Can't fix what's wrong."

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The prosecutor asks Officer Moore why Jerome was shot in the back. The video of Jerome being shot is played, which shows him being shot in the back while he is running away. The prosecutor asks Officer Moore why he shot. Officer Moore replies, "I was in fear for my life."

"Officer Moore speaks..a truth he believes. When truth's a feeling, can it be both? Both true and untrue? ..In truth: I feared for my life."

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PERSONAL - DEAD (APRIL 19TH) pg. 137-138

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PERSONAL - DEAD (APRIL 19TH) pg. 137-138

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The judge states that there is still not enough evidence to charge Officer Moore for excessive force, manslaughter, or murder.

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Judge asks the 9-1-1 operator if she knew that "In Cleveland, Tamir Rice also died because officers thought his toy was real." Tamir Rice was also shot and killed by officers because they thought his toy gun was real.

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 66-67

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 66-67

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Jerome is at Sarah's house. Sarah and Jerome talk. Sarah and Officer Moore argue

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 92-94

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 92-94

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Jerome talks about wanting to grow up and not stay a kid. He talks about wanting to be a basketball player. Ghost boy talks about how he wanted to be a baseball player. Ghost boy says he's been dead since 1955. Jerome starts to blame Sarah and doesn't accept her help.

"I feel like the bullies I hate."

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PERSONAL - DEAD ( SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 95-96

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PERSONAL - DEAD ( SHORTLY AFTER COURT) pg. 95-96

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Ghost boy shows Sarah and Jerome all the thousands of ghost boys who had died the same way they did.

"All children, except one, grow up."

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Jerome asks who Ghost boy is, and Ghost boy replies saying his name is Emmett Till, the boy who was shot in 1955, Mississippi.

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PERSONAL - DEAD (LATER AFTER COURT) pg. 105-110

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PERSONAL - DEAD (LATER AFTER COURT) pg. 105-110

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Sarah chooses to watch the video of Jerome's death despite Jerome telling her not to. Sarah is shocked how her father did not warn before shooting. Sarah feels sorry for Jerome, and Sarah and Jerome's connection begins to grow.

"I wish I could be hugged. Hug Sarah, too."

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Jerome enters Sarah's school. He compares his school to Sarah's, how her school is mainly white while his was black and Hispanic. Her school was nicer than his.

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Sarah's school librarian notices that Sarah is sad. The librarian comforts Sarah, and Jerome tells Sarah to ask her about Emmett Till. The librarian is hesitant to tell Sarah about all the details. Sarah wanted to see the picture of Emmett Till's casket. The librarian shows her a picture, and Sarah cries.

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"Maybe if I waited, I'd see my family becoming happier without me. I don't want to wait that long....I don't want Ma, Pop, Grandma, and Kim to be unhappy forever because of me."

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Life after Jerome's death is difficult. Grandma now walks Kim to school, and Carlos is like an older brother to Kim, walking Grandma and her back home after school. Grandma and Kim have lost a lot of weight, and Kim smiles a lot less now. Carlos tells Kim about his home in Texas and how different it was. Carlos is like Kim's older brother now. Jerome wishes he were there.

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Jerome talks about how Chicago is beautiful, maybe because he never got the chance to look at all of Chicago.

The Rogers family are not the same anymore. It hurts for Jerome to watch them, as Ma and Pop began to act like robots, trying not to show any emotions. Grandma and Kim talk about Jerome and cry during dinner.

"I worry Ma and Pop will get used to trying not to feel. So used to it, one day they don't feel anything anymore. That'd be worse than me dying."

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In the morning before school, Carlos meets up with Kim and Grandma. This time, it's different because Mike, Eddie, and Snap are at the top of the stairs, and Jerome and Grandma are scared they will now bully Kim. However, Carlos reassures that Kim is safe. Carlos says to the bully,

" 'Kim es mi familia.' " (Kim is my family)

Eddie replies loudly, " ' Bueno. Con respeto.' " (Okay. With respect)

Eddie feels sorry for Kim and her brother, and Kim thanks him. Carlos, Eddie, Mike, and Snap all walk Kim to class.

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Jerome cries on the school steps happily. He's happy that the bullies are no longer bullies. He's happy that Carlos is helping his family move on.

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After school, Carlos creates drumsticks out of sticks and plays a rhythm on metal trashcans and a trashed tv. Kim skips and dances, and people and kids around them clap and dance. Kim stops smiling and Carlos stops making rhythms. Kim tells Carlos that he has to tell Grandma about the gun.

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"Everybody's got a story: ...Me, how I died?"

Ghost boys begin to appear again. Some of all different ages wearing different clothes.

"Ghosts fill the street... Two worlds. Grandma is right. 'Dead, living... both worlds are close. Every goodbye ain't gone.' "

Jerome now realizes that Emmett is the leader of the Ghost boys, "An unnatural alliance–young, but dead". He now realizes that everything isn't all about him.

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"Afterwards, Pop said the KKK began lynching."

The KKK were a terrorist group who mainly targeted black people. After slavery, they began lynching.

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The Ghost boys disappear. Jerome asks about Emmett's story. Emmett brings him to his home, about to tell his tale.

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HISTORICAL - 1955 (Emmett's Family) pg. 150-151

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HISTORICAL - 1955 (Emmett's Family) pg. 150-151

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Emmett lived in a two-story brick house with squat, deep steps, and an awning. He and his mother lived on the top floor of the building.

Emmett's great-uncle and wife lived in Money, Mississippi. He and his cousins, Curtis and Wheeler, wanted to visit them and play with Simeon, Robert, and Maurice. They wanted to play soccer and go fishing at the four rivers and seven deep lakes by Maurice's house.

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24,  1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 151-153

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24,  1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 151-153

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Emmett arrived in Money, Mississippi on August 21, 1955. Emmett and his cousins were playing and laughing. Emmett liked Maurice the best, who was the oldest. Simeon was the youngest. Emmett and Wheeler dunk Simeon into the river (Simeon didn't mind), and they laughed. They went to the town, and Maurice told Emmett to say "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir" to white people and to not make any eye contact. Emmett showed that he was not afraid of white people. Emmett boasts to his cousins, saying that life in Chicago was different and that he talked to white people all the time. They didn't believe him, but Emmett wanted to prove himself. His cousins warn him not to do it, but Emmett doesn't listen.

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24, 1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 154-157

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24, 1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 154-157

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Emmett entered the store. A woman, Mrs. Bryant, stood behind the counter. Emmett put a penny in Mrs. Bryant's hand and walked away while smiling and saying "Goodbye". He didn't realize that had angered Mrs. Bryant. Emmett's cousins are afraid and nervous. They tell him that they have to go now. Emmett is scared and stumbles on his words. The W's sound like whistles to Mrs. Bryant. She thinks he is mocking her. Mrs. Bryant chases Emmett.

Emmett tells Jerome that he begged his cousins not to tell his uncle and aunt. He didn't want to be sent back to Chicago. Emmett says that he was young and embarrassed and didn't understand the trouble he was in.

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24, 1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 157-159

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HISTORICAL - BETWEEN AUGUST 24, 1955 (EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 157-159

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Two white men broke into the house at night and told Emmett to get up and get dressed. Simeon grabbed Emmett's leg to keep him from getting dragged away by the men. One of the men kicked Simeon in the stomach. Emmett screamed "Mama." Emmett got pushed into a truck's cab. He was in between two men, one who drove, and one who kept on punching Emmett (Mrs. Bryant's husband) until his face was swollen.

The men drove Emmett to the Tallahatchie River. Mrs. Bryant's husband choked Emmett. Blood filled Emmett's mouth, and he's thrown to the ground.

Mrs. Bryant's husband fires a gun. "With barbed wire, the men lash Emmett's body to a large wheel. They drag, shove the wheel into the river. Watch it sink. Blood stains the riverbank. Emmett's hat rests. Amazingly, it's clean. off to the side, brim up."

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PERSONAL - DEAD (During Emmett's Story) pg. 159

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PERSONAL - DEAD (During Emmett's Story) pg. 159

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"Seeing his body on the ground, I see myself."

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PERSONAL - DEAD (AFTER EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 160-161

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PERSONAL - DEAD (AFTER EMMETT'S STORY) pg. 160-161

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After Emmett's tale, the Ghost boys reappear. Jerome is sorry for Emmett. Emmett says that they're all sorry for each other.

"Somebody decided they didn't like us.... We were a threat, a danger. A menace."

The Ghost boys became family to Jerome. "Injustice. Tragedy." They all cry together.

"Not fair. Died too young. Too soon."

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Jerome visits Carlos. On Carlos's dresser is a memory alter for him (pg. 165).

Carlos tells his father his story. His father is angry, but understanding. Carlos and his father plan on honoring Jerome for Día de los Muertos.

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Carlos comes to the Roger's house. Carlos tells Grandma the truth, how he gave him the toy gun. Jerome is proud of Carlos, as his story was not easy to tell. Grandma understands and pulls the three of them into a hug, all crying. Kim reveals that she also knew that Jerome had the toy gun. Grandma forgives, forgives both of them. And the three of them sit eating cookings while Jerome watches over.

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Sarah is no longer speaking to her father. Her room is no longer pink with fluffy pillows and pigs anymore. Sarah is on the computer  for hours, creating a website to end racism and injustice. Sarah wants to help Jerome and the rest of the Ghost boys. It bothers Jerome, and Jerome tells Sarah to talk to her father even though she hates him.

" 'No, I don't have your dad. You shouldn't either.' ... 'He made a mistake. A bad one.' "

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" 'It's wrong to be bullies for no reason. It's worse when someone has a reason.' "

pg. 181: Jerome realizes that Sarah was right, that it matters they can see each other. Sarah wants to help by sharing his and other boys' stories.

" 'If people know more about other people... maybe they won't be scared.' "

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SARAH'S STORY) pg. 181-183

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PERSONAL - DEAD (SARAH'S STORY) pg. 181-183

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Jerome tells Sarah to tell him 3 good things about her dad: " 'Dad loves me and Mom so much. He used to carry me on his shoulders... He takes me ice-skating.' "

Jerome tells Sarah to go talk to her dad.

pg. 182-183: "I was me. A good kid. Like Emmett, like hundred of others. Others, including Sarah's dad and Emmett's killers, lived life wrong. I barely got to live.' "

Jerome sees images of Sarah as an adult, writing books and protesting for change. He sees her teaching people how to see other people and teaching her kids to learn, not judge.

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Jerome Rogers, Tamir Rice, Lanquan McDonald, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Jordan Edwards, and more are kids who died for no reason.

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Jerome watches Sarah and her father. Sarah and Officer Moore hug, and he kisses the top of her head three times. Sarah asks her father to help her with her project. Officer Moore's face, "contorting with too many emotions." Officer Moore agrees.

" 'I love you.' ... That's what I needed to see. Hear. From both Sarah and her dad."

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PERSONAL - DEAD (NOVEMBER 1; DIA DE LOS MUERTOS) pg. 187-189

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PERSONAL - DEAD (NOVEMBER 1; DIA DE LOS MUERTOS) pg. 187-189

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Jerome watches over his family and Carlos's family. Ma and Pop are looking better, and Grandma, Carlos, and Kim are happy while decorating Jerome's tome. They talk to Jerome, and Kim tells him that Sarah sent her the book, Little Women. Carlos lays a basketball on Jerome's tomb. Carlos gives Grandma a paper with a drawing of Jerome as a skeleton (not frightening). The families eat food while talking.

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PERSONAL - DEAD (NOVEMBER 1; DIA DE LOS MUERTOS) pg. 190-191

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PERSONAL - DEAD (NOVEMBER 1; DIA DE LOS MUERTOS) pg. 190-191

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Emmett appears along with the rest of the Ghost boys.

" 'You're remembered. We all are.' "

Jerome realizes that thousands of Ghost boys are trying to change the world, which is why they haven't said goodbye. That's why they aren't really gone. Each of the Ghost boys has someone who sees them that they can talk to, to make change because only the living can make change. Thurgood Marshall saw Emmett, and Sarah saw Jerome.

The Ghost boys stick together.. " 'At least until there aren't any more murders. Until skin color doesn't matter. Only friendship. Kindness. Understanding... Peace.' "

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Emmett talks about Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. He was a lawyer at Emmett's killers' trial. He also won lots of civil right battles and became a judge.

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"Don't let me (Or anyone else) Tell this tale again." This means that the Ghost boy(s) don't want any more innocent lives taken. They don't want to have to tell their story again and again.

Only the world can make that happen. "Only the living can make the world better."