the first day

I remember my first day at Street Spirits. I went into it thinking, "These are nice people, but I don't belong here." Here were these talented individuals, telling a story I had no experience in. I've never had to watch somebody I love lose a battle with drugs and booze. I've never had to feel what it was like to watch the universe make every bad decision for you. I've never felt oppression the way these people have felt it.

I liked all of the theatre games we played at the beginning. I remember laughing a lot. Then, the serious stuff happened.

They were practicing for a show they were creating. It involved bullying and drugs and fear. The performers were directing it.

There was this one part; I was watching from the audience. The main director paused the play, and asked me to come forward. I did. I was told to be a bully, and yell and curse at the girl who was the main character.

That was the first time I was allowed to curse so openly.

That was when I learned that on stage, we play characters who need to have their stories told. Off stage was for real people, and ideas, and emotions. And through these characters, we can learn so much.

When it came to closing circle, I felt like I could belong somewhere, but not as a person who have felt and experienced the same things they have, but as a listener and a shoulder to cry on. These people were apart of my life, though I met them that day.

And I'm so glad I didn't give up. And that they never gave up on me.