A curly headed little thing she was. br Brown skinned sunshine lover br big eyed and freckled; br a tomboy who could climb higher, br bat harder and swing the ropes br braver than any of the boys. br She hadn't yet kissed one br missed one br had her heart broken by one br been leered or whistled at. br She was just one of the group, br one of the gang br one of the guys br no different than the rest. br That was before time stole the innocence br before time muddied the swimming hole br and rotted the swing; br before life got so complicated br and buddies of youth meant everything.