And suddenly life changes
in ways you never thought
could happen
when you're an
eight year old girl…
wondrous events,
scary ones,
memories
merge,
flow
one day you're playing mommy
and before you know it
two more siblings come
a baby boy, then a girl
beautiful, red-haired
real babies to love,
and I did…
the night a neighbor
came beating on the back door
yelling that our garage
was on fire
an arsonist
huddling under the covers
with my closest sibling
frightened and listening as
sirens and radios blared…
visiting all of the elderly ones
like a 1960's version of
red-riding hood is what
my mom used to say
I loved the stories they shared
spilling India ink on my favorite dress
in fourth grade as I helped my
favorite teacher Miss Sullivan
crying because I thought my
folks would be mad
she wrote a note
to explain
the Irish teacher who taught me to love art
she taught me to love performing
chose me and two friends to sing
'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling'
and dance a folk reel in the
St. Patrick's Day assembly
seeing her beaming, proud face was the best
sadly saying goodbye, changing schools
three times before I was ten
always being the new girl
was so hard
but it made me strong
watching my grandparents
whom I loved so much
drive away to their
home in Maine
at retirement…
missing them before they
were even out of sight
just settling in to a new life
new home, new school and
experiencing the
stark terror of
fire again
when my brother was burned
putting on our bathing suits
and dancing in the summer rain
running through puddles
with the uninhibited
silliness and joy
of vibrant, unencumbered youth
taking my first dance lessons
little brother in tow
shuffle ball change
kick ball change
can't wait for
the recital
smiling, heart pounding up on the stage
then came the moment when,
just like every little girl does,
I met a cute boy in school
and when he kissed me
it made my insides do flip-flops
how swiftly that first decade was over
filled with so many more memories
than I can recount gracefully
wishing to be a grown up
as mom cautioned me
not to wish the
time away...
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