It was a summer day. The hot sidewalk was burning my feet as I walked along it, barefoot, but too young to care or worry about the sensitive bottoms of my feet.

Today was my eleventh birthday. I was a preteen! I looked down at my legs as they were walking, a smile forming along my lips. They were freshly shaven and I felt like I could conquer the world.

As I walked by Ms. Jennings house, her chi...