Kimberly breathed cold air as she cautiously opened the door to the pantry. Silent and vacant. Just as she wanted. She had been locked in the pantry for days without any food. The only thing that she had was water. Her mother, Gina, had locked her in there, swiping all the food out of it, and planned for her to rot in the pantry, and she would never again open the door. But a few days after she was locked in there, she found a paper clip. How convenient. She had bent one of the sides into a straight line to form a pick. She tried to work on it when no one was in the kitchen, but it was a rare thing to happen. She discovered that the day before her family left for a 2 week vacation. Now she could smuggle as much food as she wanted into the pantry, grab pillows and her MP3 player and a few stuffed animals, and a blanket to put in there, not to mention more comfortable clothes and slippers. She felt excited. Not only would she feel more comfortable in her new home, but she would also foil Gina's plan. Kimberly bet on it that Gina wouldn't recognize the lack of food. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing for her, and she might as well make the best of it. She grabbed everything she needed- food, water, blankets, nightgowns, pillows, stuffed animals, her gameboy and DS Lite (games and all) and her CD and MP3 player with CD's and everything. She even managed to dig out her older brother's laptop that he didn't use anymore, and it had a DVD player in it. But the sound button was broken, so she set it to captions. What a convenient life. Even though an abused child, she was having a great time now. The Locked-Out Girl just earned a life.

Her hair was up in a pony tail,

her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school,

and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,

that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,

if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,

for her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again,

she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school

eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees;

a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently,

anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,

every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching,

for a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"

she heard a boy call out.

"She probably doesn't have one,"

another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,

she heard a daddy say,

"Looks like another deadbeat dad,

too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,

as she smiled up at her Mom.

And looked back at her teacher,

who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,

slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,

came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,

because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be,

since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,

I wanted you to know.

All about my daddy,

and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories

he taught me to ride my bike.

He surprised me with pink roses,

and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,

and ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him.

I'm not standin