a class filled with naive 8 year olds whose biggest issues
consisted of what they were going to have for lunch
and she said; “Oh Children, what I would do to be 8 again!”
I looked back at her, so confused, startled by her reply
and began to think, why would she ever want to be 8 again?
To me, adulthood, even adolescence, sounded magical
Who would I have to respond to? Myself
Who would boss me around? Me
I could drive, I could go places alone, I wouldn’t have to go to school
So then, walking into the trap, I asked,
“Oh, Miss Light, why would you ever want to be 8 again?”
She looked back at me, so confused, startled by my question
and she began to think, why would she ever want to be 38?
To her, childhood, even adolescence, sounded magical
Who would take care of her? Her parents
Who would cook her food and do her laundry? Her parents
She could sleep all day, never have to be alone, learn again, or better yet not learn what she had.
So then, Miss Light smiled, and said
“Oh Children, there’s so much thats wrong with this world
so much that I hope you never see.”
I’m so sorry Miss Light, the world has shown all
everything that I thought it was, every hope I ever had
thrown out the window
because there’s people who are bad, really bad
and because of these really bad people
others are too afraid to walk down the street
because of their race
or sexuality
or gender
But it’s okay Miss Light, because it’s getting better
slowly, very slowly, but it’s getting better
because I care, and there are many like me
who care and want to make this world
equal and safe
So don’t worry Miss Light
I’m going to make sure that it keeps getting better
so that when I’m 38
I don’t want to be 8 again
Words by Ana Sandoval
Cover photo by Ilana Newman
