I happen to think my daughter is an insanely good writer. Some if you have enjoyed her past stories. I wanted to share her latest creation. The first line had to begin with Locate me in a swing. Amy Baumgarten Cory Karpf September 12th, 2014 Short Stories Kindness “Locate me in a swing” (Sanford 271). A big one, one that goes round and round and round. And when it gets dark and I can see the stars, the swing lights up. And I go round and round and round some more. And I look over it all; the carousel, the Ferris wheel, the roller coaster. I go round and round and round. It’s like I can see the whole world from up here, but then I look down and see Linda waving up at me and I remember I’m really not far off the ground at all. “Honey! Smile!” Linda calls up to me. I know that the camera doesn’t capture a picture fast enough for it to matter if I’m smiling or not. I also know that as soon as I got off the ride, Linda would shove the camera in my face and say, “Look at this adorable picture of you!” I guess that is a mother’s job. Then, Jack would probably get upset because Linda didn’t bother to take a picture of him, and she would respond by shoving the camera in his face as proof that she did, in fact, take pictures of both of her children. I think Linda loves us both. Jack and I, I mean. I can tell because every night she makes a meal and places it on the table as our dinner. Well, some nights, she orders pizza because “work was just too hectic today and I don’t have the energy to make you dinner.” For the most part, though, Linda does her best to make sure Jack and I are happy and fed. But sometimes, she makes green beans, which I refuse to eat. They’re slimy and long and gross and I do not like slimy and long and gross. Linda is married to Billy, who is my dad. They live at the end of the hall in a big room with a big bed and a big window. Linda and Billy make a nice couple, I’d say. Sometimes they argue, but for the most part, they seem to make each other smile. I think what frustrates them the most is that I don’t call them Mom and Dad. Why would I? I’m a grown, mature, six-year-old woman and I see no need in referring to Billy and Linda as Mom and Dad. “Mary!” They always say. “Why can’t you call me Mom? Mommy? Just this once?” I shake my head. No way! “Linda, I appreciate your request, but please respect my choices.” Linda would laugh and I’d walk away in some sort of “sassy manner.” Linda and Billy and Jack and I live with a dog. His name is Max. He’s huge! Sometimes, when I want to take a nap, I use Max as my pillow and we fall asleep on top of each other. That usually ends with him barking as the mailman comes by, which, in turn, wakes me up. It’s alright though, I know Max is just a puppy and doesn’t know that barking at the mailman isn’t kind! Kindness is a strange thing. My first grade teacher, Miss. DiCappio, has posters all around her room with sayings like, “Be nice to others!” I spend a lot of time reading these posters. They confuse me. Being nice is a choice, and having it written on a poster isn’t going to make the mean people any nicer. Big Bully Benjamin is probably the meanest person in my class. He always picks on Smelly Samantha and Too Fat Felicia. Big Bully Benjamin came up with those names. Smelly Samantha doesn’t even smell that bad and Too Fat Felicia really isn’t that fat. Linda says that Big Bully Benjamin is only mean because it makes him feel better about himself. I want to point out that this logic makes absolutely no sense to me. How can hurting others make anyone feel better about themselves? I don’t point this out though, because I’m tired and I’ve had a long day at school and I’m not ready to have that conversation with Linda. I feel the swing start to slow down. Jack lowers his hands and the happy, giggly screams come to an end. We’re sent back to reality. Down, down, down, and my feet touch the ground. I’m not ready yet. Not ready to head back to real life with Linda and Billy and Smelly Samantha and Big Bully Benjamin. I guess that’s what’s so great about being a six-year-olds. I’m not ready yet, so I get back on line.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:46:58 +0000
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