3 Vignettes:

Coffee

Me and my sister’s relationship is like coffee. Bittersweet— sometimes too sweet, sometimes

too bitter, sometimes just right. Adding too much sugar is like when we get along a little too

well, usually ending in a meaningless fight. Adding too little sugar is like when we shout

foolish words and avoid each other until we realize it was stupid. Adding just the right

amount is when we laugh together, have meaningful talks, and show our importance for each

other. Adding just the right amount, though, is something that needs to be perfected.

Outside

Going outside as a kid was magical. Immediately you’d see the vibrant green everything, the

feeling of the warm and refreshing wind, the smell, the earthly smell of what’s around you. It

was like drinking cold water, the refreshing feeling filling throughout your body as you walk

into the outside air. It was like the earth was wrapping you in a tight hug, showing you the

beauty of the world in children’s eyes.

Treasured Star

At 5 I learned to cut with safety scissors. Safety scissors that cut designs, if I was lucky. The

teacher would give us colored paper and a stencil to trace— a star. I could hear the laughter

and the talking of the people around me, but I was focused on cutting a star out on my yellow

piece of paper. A star that I would come home proud of and show to my mom, and she’d

smile and treasure it. A star that would soon be forgotten, to be found years later ripped and

dusty. My mom would show me the star and say, “Remember this?” Even though it was a
faint memory to me, it was clear to my mom. She showed the same smile she showed the day

I made it, big and gummy, and fixed it up to be treasured again.

2 Vignettes (Outside and treasured star):

Outside

Going outside as a kid was magical. Immediately you’d see the vibrant green everything, the

green trees rustling in the wind, the green fluffy grass. You could feel the feeling of the

warm and refreshing wind making your clothes flutter, the feeling of the slight moisture in

the air because it had rained the night before. The smell, the earthly smell of what’s around

you. The dirt, the cut grass, the smell of living. It was like drinking cold water, the refreshing

feeling filling throughout your body as you walk into the outside air. It was like the earth was

wrapping you in a tight hug, showing you the beauty of the world in a child’s eyes.

Treasured Star

At 5 I learned to cut with safety scissors. Safety scissors that cut designs, if I was lucky. The

teacher would give us colored paper and a stencil to trace— a star. I could hear the laughter

and the talking of the people around me, but I was focused on cutting a star out on my yellow

piece of rough paper. A star that I would come home proud of and show to my mom, and

she’d smile, take it and stare at it for a minute like it was a famous piece of artwork, and then

she’d treasure it. A star that would soon be forgotten, to be found years later ripped and

dusty. My mom would show me the star and say, “Remember this?” Even though it was a

faint memory to me, it was a clear memory to my mom. She showed the same smile she

showed the day I made it, big and gummy, and fixed it up to be treasured again.
1 Vignette (Outside):

Going outside as a kid was magical. Immediately you’d see the vibrant green everything, the

green trees rustling in the wind, the green fluffy grass. You could feel the feeling of the

warm and refreshing wind making your clothes flutter, the feeling of the slight moisture in

the air because it had rained the night before. As you’d walk and observe, the sounds of birds

chirping to each other filled your ears, and especially the cicadas. The screeching of the

cicadas that came out in August, and when you heard them you knew you were free— freely

exploring the earth which had endless possibilities. And the smell, the earthly smell of what’s

around you. The dirt, the cut grass, the smell of living. It was like drinking cold water, the

refreshing feeling filling throughout your body as you walk into the outside air. It was like

the earth was wrapping you in a tight hug, showing you the beauty of the world in a child’s

eyes. Those days are where I enjoyed the outside the most, and I never passed up any chance

I got, because being outside was like being in a unknown, magical universe.