Dear Sir: 

My name is Amy Magon and I am 16 years
old. I am a runaway and presently staying 
at the Oasis Runaway Shelter.  The poem 
I am submitting,  entitled  "The Time" 
means a great deal to me.  I wrote it for 
my family before  I left them.  I want to 
express to families of runaways that their 
child most likely does not want to leave 
but feels compelled to  go.  I feel  "The 
Time" best expresses my message. 
Thank you for your time and I look for-
ward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely yours, 
Amy Magon 

Amber 

P.S. I'm 19 now and a "successful" runaway. 
I ran away at 16, after being institutionalized by
my mother, and the State of Louisiana. (Wrongly, 
of course) (As usual) 

I had another one of those nightmares, Mommy. 
You know,  the ones where I'm in the Quiet Room, 
blinded by the white. I hear the door click shut be-
hind me and I run to it, (and I run to you).  But 
there's no doorknob on my side, (and  you're on
the other side). And later the other come and I tell 
them, My Mommy wouldn't leave me here, there's
some mistake.  They shake their heads and say
they never thought their Mommies would leave 
them here either. I usually wake  up when They 
start putting me in The Bed (you know  the one 
with the straps.)  And I always wake up crying and
I know I can't forgive you, until the nightmare stop 
forever...!

He's scowling just like He was the day the nurse 
told him I wet the bed.  But I realize trying, trying 
to defend myself to Them was useless.  Useless, 
because I am crazy and They are not.  But, I know 
(and that's what counts), that I wasn't being child-
ish or coercive or manipulative or hateful, ungrateful, 
or crass.  I know that I called for Nurse to bring 
me the pan.  She didn't come.

Stacie Allison, 13

                    Mary Hulsebosh 16 year old runaway

                              also by Mary Hulsebosh