Insistent not so little girls and not so little boys…

barely outgrown their ‘that's so stupid’ baby toys…

In dresses, skirts, belts, jeans and neckties…

mischievous, devilish grins tell little white lies…

Muddy bare feet...smudged jeans…skinned knees…

fearlessly climbing up high …hiding in trees…

Damsels in distress, little girls dare dream to be…

braving uncharted waters; ”Cowboy... rescue me!”…

Running…playing...jumping…laughing…singing…

contented to be outdoors…fresh air clinging…

Sunshine…breeze, wind, rain, sleet or snow...

there's no stopping them…they're on the go…

Friendship foundations over cookies and comics...

not even girls can trump blood brother promise…

Arguments settled by way of rock, paper, scissors…

laughter minutes later about hating each other…

Giggles…cute boys…passing notes…popularity

banana splits with whipped cream, peanuts and cherries …

Everyday milk moustache without so much as a coax…

knock knock, who’s there?…the best thing going in jokes…

Food fights, rubber bands and hide and seek guards…

welts and bruises… the boasting of battlefield scars…

Stick fishing poles rigged with kite string, worm and hook…

ponds, brooks and frogs…”I caught a fish, mom!…look!”

Races through woods on agile feet… swift, determined and sure…

dirt...sweat…flushed cheeks…hum drums…boredom…thoroughly cured… 

Boy meets girl…girl meets boy…sideways glance…really, really quick…look away…

cuz forever pinky swear and blood brother promise meant automatic…

“unh-uh…no way!”

By Sharain Clark

December 22, 2009