Having no friends had gotten somewhat easier for 13-year-old Carnie Ann Madison. No matter where she went, or what she did, it seemed as if she was sitting in front of a big t.v screen and watching those people who never seemed to notice her. At home she would keep to herself, in her bedroom.

She sometimes wondered what she would be like if her parents would have had more children, whether or not she would be more outgoing, or able to meet people easier.

But since she was an only child she made do of what she had, and to her, Hanson, well rather their c.d., ‘Middle of Nowhere,’ was her friend… and her comfort from the harsh facts of life she sometimes had to face.

In fact, "Weird" seemed to fit her perfectly. So each night she would close her eyes and get lost in the sound of the 3 most amazing voices she had ever heard.

Her schedule each day seemed to stay pretty much the same, she would get up, grab a bite to eat for breakfast, go to school, come home, eat dinner, then close herself up in her bedroom. Her shelter from everything that went on in the sometimes cold world, and then she would fall asleep to the harmonizing voices that streamed through the speakers on her stereo.

It may seem strange that she didn't seem to be with her parents a lot, but it wasn't her fault, they were the ones who were always away on one business trip or another. And actually Carnie was able to get many things she wanted.

But what she wanted most was people to notice her, someone willing to get to know her for who she was.

Carnie had been lonely most of her life, once she was able to take care of herself, her parents had gotten rid of her baby sitter, the one person she was able to get along with. And once she was gone, Carnie didn't know whom she could turn to.

One spring day, while she was home alone, she had her radio playing and she heard "Mmmbop." Not knowing anything about the people who sang it, except for their name, Hanson, she knew she wanted to hear more.

That same day she headed for "Sam Goody" and was able to find the sunset colored c.d. Once she got home she popped the c.d. in and found the sound to be so amazing that she dreaded the thought of having to turn it off for school the next morning.

After listening to the c.d. through and through she decided that "Weird" was her favorite song, and it seemed as if the three guys who sang the lyrics were relating to what she felt through the song.

Then after she studied the lyrics and found out the names of the members of the group, she jumped on the internet to see if she could find any information at all about her new favorite music group.

By the time she went to bed, she had found out that they were brothers from Tulsa, Ok who had started singing before they became really popular. And that Isaac and Taylor went by their middle names instead of their first.

She also saw that there were six children in their family... with one on the way, and she wished she knew what it felt like to have a big family.

She had been listening to the c.d. since the first time she had put it in her stereo. Since then she had grown to very much like the music and she had grown some sort of an attraction to the three boys.

They had a pure look, and she wondered how many people appreciated them for who they were. She was hoping that maybe listening to the c.d. over and over would inspire her to become more of a "people" person. But she found out that the only thing that could do that was herself… and she wasn't in a hurry to overcome her shyness, although she did want friends.

After an exhausting and rather depressing day at school, Carnie went home and found the house empty yet again. She went into her room and filled it with the sounds of ‘Middle of Nowhere’ and then she lay back on her bed to stare up at the ceiling.

When she looked through her window she saw a small blue jay perched on the tree limb… as she saw it fly away, she knew how she was going to spend the rest of her evening.

Carnie went to her desk and pulled out a notebook and a pen and started to write a letter, she wanted to write Isaac, Taylor, and Zac and tell them how much their music meant to her.

Dear Isaac, Taylor, and Zachary,

I'm writing this letter as a thank you. Before I heard your music... I was actually quite sad a lot, and from the first time I heard "Mmmbop" I knew that you were one music group who had something that not many others have.

Your amazing talent has brought me to greatly appreciate real music. I'm not one to fit it in with many people, actually I don't really have many friends, and I spend most of my spare time by myself in my room, and now I have your voices to keep me company.

Growing up my parents have always been away, and it sometimes seems as if they are strangers to me... my one friend was my baby sitter, and now that I'm old enough to take care of myself, even she is gone.

But I guess the main reason I'm writing this letter is because I feel as though you three are my friends, all of your songs have touched my heart in someway or another... "Weird" seems to fit me perfectly, and unfortunately my grandparents all passed way before I got to know them.

But I'm sure if I did "With you in your Dreams" is one song I would of liked to dedicate to them.

"Mmmbop" makes me happy whenever I'm feeling really down, and well I can't describe how all the songs have brightened up my day, all I can say is that they have in some shape, way, or form. I never once would of thought that I would be writing a letter to a musical group like yours.

Actually, I'm not even sure if you will get this. Whether or not you do, it does make me feel better writing down all these things that I want to tell the three of you.

I hope that everyone appreciates you guys for who you are and not what you are. I, myself knows what it feels like to be judged, I am every day by everyone. Maybe that is the reason I don't have any friends.

My parents have given me anything I've wanted... but the thing I want most is love from others, and yes they do love me, but I'm not sure if it is because they have to or if they want to, that's one mystery I'm still trying to find out.

I'm sorry to seem like a depressing bum, who can only lie my problems on others. So to close this letter; I would like to say, I'm glad the three of you are out doing what you are doing, because now not only are you making yourselves happy, but I'm sure your making many people, like myself, happy that you are out their overcoming the obstacles and bringing great music into many, many lives. Again, thank you.

She reread the letter, she wasn't real happy about the way it had all been put together, but she felt for now that was the best she could do.

She looked down at the necklace she had around her neck, with the three music note charms on it. She was now very glad her old baby-sitter had given her this gift before she left, because now she knew that maybe there were three musical note charms on the chain for a reason.

She stuck the necklace and the letter into an envelope and sealed it shut… and wrote down the address to where Hanson would hopefully receive the letter. She wasn't expecting to get anything back, she just hoped that the letter would find them, and they could read what they meant to her.

A few weeks had passed by since she had sent the letter… and she hoped that they enjoyed the charms on the necklace, because she missed the rubbing of the chain on her neck.

Luckily school had ended, so she didn't have to worry about harsh stares or mean words for a few months… well if she didn't get around those people who had done those things to her.

After she had made a quick run to the grocery store, she went by the post office to grab the mail. She found a letter stamped with Tulsa, Ok. Addressed to her. And she couldn't figure out who would be sending her a letter from there. When she got home she sat down at the kitchen table and opened up the letter.

Dear Carnie Ann,

We would like to thank you for the letter and awesome necklace. It was a very cool gift and we greatly appreciate it. We are very glad people enjoy our music, and we are also glad that you wrote us a letter. We hope that you can find your "place in the sun."

Carnie's eyes had filled with tears. She couldn't believe they had responded to her letter. She was very thankful. As she reread over the letter a couple more times, she felt as though it was now time for her to come out of her shell and try to make friends.

She stood up and went outside, to see if this day would be the day her life would change for the better… Hanson had done something for her and the letter meant the world to Carnie, the girl who had always stood in the shadows.