Sarah walked down the street to Joey Rodgers' house carrying a box of pizza in her hands. She was going to the regular Saturday night game of Demons and Dragons with Joey and his friends.
Although there were plenty of computer "role-playing" games around, Demons and Dragons was a role-playing game that was played simply with dice, a game board, a set of instructions, and a lot of imagination.
At the start, each player took on a different role and built up his or her character throughout the game. And the game really never ended, because something new was happening all the time. In fact, they had all started playing it a month ago and it was still going strong. Every Saturday they would pick up where they had left off the Saturday before.
At first they didn't want to let Sarah into the game, but when she bribed them by saying that she would bring the pizza every week, they gave in.
Boys, she thought to herself, did you have to pay to be accepted as an equal? But she'll show them! Yes, someday Sarah Plunkett will show them what girls are made of! And it wasn't just sugar and spice and everything nice!
That included Mary Lou Barnet. She was the other girl in the game. But she got in just because she was good-looking. She didn't have to buy pizza!
Pretty isn't everything, Sarah thought. What about courage and knowing what to do in times of crisis? That counted for a lot too.
Her thoughts were suddenly cut off as she realized she had reached the house.
"Hey!" cried Joey as she walked into the living room. "The Pizza Girl is here!"
Sarah held back her anger. She couldn't afford to say anything that might get Joey mad at her and maybe kick her out of the game. She had spent too much time and effort getting her character, Star Girl, into shape. And wouldn't it be great if Star Girl ended up being the strongest and bravest of all? She thought
"Okay, let's get started," Joey said as he smiled at Mary Lou.
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