What's A Perfect Life, Anyway?

1 | Age 6

*Children laughing and screaming and running on the playground*

"Tag, Tefaaya, you're IT! hahahahaaa!"

I feel myself running. I feel closer to the Earth. Why do I feel so...small? and lightweight?

I run to the jungle gym with my friends and see myself in a puddle.

WOW. Look at me! Tefaaya, you're....a child!

God, how did this happen? What in the world is going on? What kind of...?

Oh. The Prayer. That prayer. Huh. Believing in God is the time machine humanity seeks. What are the odds? 

I hear the bell ringing in the background as my little friend comes and takes my hand. Grubby as it may be, it's sweet and endearing. This child is absolutely, ridiculously adorable. 

---

We made our way inside and the day came back to me as it unfolded in front of me.

"Tefaaya, your mom is in the front office. She is here to speak to you and your guidance counselor so hurry up and wash your hands so you can meet her, okay?"

Yes, Ms. Queen. My favorite teacher. I see her smile in my mind's eye as I see her smile in front of me.

I get cleaned up and head with my hall monitor to the front office. I see my mommy and she grabs me into a hug.

"Hi, Mommy baby, how are you?" 

"I'm fine Mommy, how are you?"

"Great, Mommy can't complain. Come, let's see what your counselor has to say that's important enough for me to miss sleep."

Mommy worked as a seamstress and a stay-at-home mom. I lived with my mom and dad, older brothers, and my older sister in a 4/2 with a pool in Myomar. 

The absolute life, yhearme?

We go into the office and sit in front of the woman before me. 

"Hello, Ms. Phelps I am the counselor for gifted and advanced students here at Sunset Elementary School. Tefaaya is an extremely gifted child. We would like to undergo the next two school years of testing to see how she fares with some advanced curriculum. At the conclusion, we will assess if she is intelligent and capable enough to matriculate to a higher grade."

"Do you all have any questions?"

I do. WHY WOULD THE ROOM BE SO DAGGONE COLD?!?! I'm speaking up this time.

"Yes ma'am. Will the room not be freezing this time but a comfortable temperature?"

"...I'm sorry, Tefaaya, what do you mean by 'this time'?"

Yikes. Rewind, Ms. Selecta.

"I mean, is it possible for the room temperature to be warm? During the testing sessions?"

"Of course, Tefaaya, just let your testing coordinator know and they will adjust the temperature as necessary. This will not affect your current speech classes so there shouldn't be any changes really in your day-to-day minus the 2 hours or so per week we'll have you testing during your first  few hours of class."

SPEAKING OF SPEECH....Ma'am, I'm going to need this accent!

"Yes Ms. Brandee, in regards to speech, is it possible to take fewer sessions? I realize that I am losing my accent and I don't want to remove that part of my heritage from my personhood."

*Crickets*

"Well, I must say this is the first time I've heard a six-year-old correctly use personhood in a sentence. Ms. Phelps, what is your secret?"

Mommy smiles, gold tooth flashing as her hearty chuckle reverberates through the space

"Good genes, mums. Boil food and lots of callaloo. Come, baby, let's go."

I hop out of the chair, smile at Ms. B, and hold my Mommy's hand, heading back to my classroom to take in this new/old information.

--

God, I actually get to do this again. The pressure...

The angst...

The thrill! Six again, baby! From the top, Director! Cue scene:

ACTION!