Our middle school reconfigured our teams, and the older students would not let go of the old system. This is a play on the original five stages, with the words of eighth grader and their tragic drama substituted.

1. Five Stages of Grief Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

2. DENIAL

3. "I feel fine.“"This can't be happening, not to me."

4. “We’ll always be Infinity.“"They won’t change things right away.."

5. ANGER

6. "Why me? It's not fair!“"How can this happen to me?“"Who is to blame?"

7. “But last year was so fun!““But this is our 8th grade year!“"Why are they doing it now?““This sucks!”

8. BARGAINING

9. "Just let me live to see my children graduate.“"I'll do anything for a few more years.“"I will give my life savings if..."

10. “Why don’t they wait a year….““Keep the old teams and kind of change.““Instead, we could…”“I want to be on the other team/class/teacher"

11. DEPRESSION

12. "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?”"I'm going to die . . . What's the point?”"I miss my loved one, why go on?"

13. “This year sucks; why bother.”“I can’t do anything right.”“(insert teacher name) hates me.”“Let’s just be Team X… whatever.”

14. ACCEPTANCE

15. "It's going to be okay.“"I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."

16. "It's going to be okay.““Hey, this is kind of fun.”“In a year, I’ll be at CVU.”“It’s different, but not bad."