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Hi listeners, I'm Sharon Hader and I have a story I want to tell you.

A story about a girl who had so much help to give, but kept none of it for herself.

So, gather round and listen.

Close.

Anna wanted to change the world, but even the most accomplished middle schooler, which

she was, had to settle for small victories, like getting her family to recycle, standing

up to a bully, and reminding a grown-up that people don't use that term anymore.

Once, Anna organised a dozen classmates to make posters supporting the Black Lives Matter

movement, even though she didn't quite understand the history of it all, or why we needed

to protest for basic human kindness anyway.

Her mum was especially proud of that one.

Anna remembered the big kiss she planted on her forehead.

It was the first time her mother called her, a helper.

Her teacher just criticised her handwriting.

Anna was the one who brought a garbage bag whenever she and the others played soccer

in the park.

For a while, her friend Kendall would help out too, picking up litter before and after

every game, but even she grew bored of it, and after a while she and the others spent

less and less time helping with Anna, and consequently, less and less time around Anna.

Now, they mostly hung out in the matchershop, trading gossip and painting fantasy dating

...