Hello. So you must be my reader. Here's a few rules before we start. You get to decide certain parts of who I am. My gender. My height. My race. Finally, my favorite color. This, and only this. We are born together, you and I. We are the same age. We have never been apart once.
Now that that's out of the way, let's start my life. I open my eyes, and look around, for the first time. I am in the arms of my mother. I can't see far, only up to her face. My first meal fills my mouth, and I am content. I am warm and safe and happy. I close my eyes. It is time to sleep.
Now I am awake. I don't like it. It is loud. It is bright. I am not with my mother. I start to cry. Where are you? Perhaps if I do not have my mother with me, you can stay beside me? Thank you, for stroking my hair. I am calmer now, but I am still hungry. Where is my mother? Mother! She is here. She is holding me now. Oh, what a pretty pretty color I am wrapped up in. I think it's my favorite. Of course, I have so many more colors to see, so perhaps it will change. But I really like this color. I am fed now, and I am tired. Stay with me as I sleep, please, in case I have a bad dream.
It has been some time. You have been with me for every day of it. Thank you, my best friend. It's my first birthday. Look at the cake! It's my favorite color. So many people. I am a little overwhelmed. But it's ok, you're here. I will take comfort in this. The candles! Mother is telling me to blow on them, but how? I don't know how to blow. Will you help me? I see. I will make my lips into that circle shape and breathe. It's not working! I'm starting to cry now, and now they went out! Mother makes a knowing little smile to another lady, who smiles back.
.What does that mean? I am getting impatient. Let's eat now, mother! I am trying so hard to speak, but no words are coming. You understand them, at least. Mother gets the point well enough though. She is slicing me a big piece! Mother served everyone, why did she not give you any? That's ok, you can have some of mine.
It's been 4 years, and we have always stayed together. I am 5 now. I am starting school. I have figured out by now that no one else knows you are there, so at least maybe the other kids won't make fun of me like that big kid at the playground. Mommy stopped him, but it still hurts. He said I was weird, and that nobody had a person following them everywhere, remember? You held my hand and wiped my tears. Can you do that now? I am scared. There are so many people here. I can tell the teacher isn't nice and kind like Mommy said she would be. Mommy is leaving now! No mommy stay stay! The other kids seem to be fine, but I can't stop crying. Make the teacher let go of my hand! She is hurting me and tugging to hard. I guess, if you say so, I will tell her to let go please. She isn't letting go! The kids are looking at me now. I will stop crying, I think. I can do it now. We are to sit on the rug. She says her name is Mrs. Ruby, and since she is the teacher we will do what she says. Story time? I love stories! Oh no. She is reading my least favorite book. The one where the little pigs are being chased my a wolf. It's scary. Will mommy ever make me leave like the little piggies? I don't want to. We get to draw now! I will draw you. Mrs. Ruby is coming. She is asking who I'm drawing! What do I say?! My best friend I answer. Lovely.
Mrs. Ruby says lovely. But how she said it didn't seem lovely. We are done drawing, now. I don't want to stop. Mrs. Ruby says she is going to teach us a song. She will sing and we will echo. I don't want to sing in front of all these people. Will you whisper the words, so I won't sing alone? Thank you, my best friend. I really like it having you. The other kids are sitting together on the rug. They are looking at me. I don't think they like me very much.
Little bird little bird sitting in the tree Mrs. Ruby is singing. She sounds like a drowning cat.
Little bird little bird sitting in the tree the kids are echoing. I don't think they sound much better. But I am singing along.
How many places have you seen Mrs. Ruby is saying.
the echoing and horrible singing keeps going on. I am tired. So tired. All I want is to go home.
I'm 8 now. I know something isn't right about me. I get these days where doing anything seems impossible. I don't know why, because no one else seems to get this way. Mommy says I am being lazy. I don't think she understands. I'm not mad at her, though. She is only trying to help. So I will shape up. Get it together, as she often says. I will not be sad all the time. Yesterday mommy said we would go to the zoo today. I was very happy, and we danced around the room. Remember? But now it is today. I don't want to go. Except to see the tigers. They are so beautiful. But even that doesn't make me want to leave my bed. I'm only 8. I thought real problems weren't supposed to come until you got big. I guess not.
