When We Were Kids
by Barbara Lynn Terry

I remember a long, long time ago
that I would draw a block diagram
with chalk on the sidewalk and throw
a stone in one of the squares then
hop to pick it up without losing my balance.

I remember playing double dutch during recess
while the boys ran around and acted like monkeys.
I remember the little stars and the rubber ball in a
game called jacks while the boys played marbles
from their heads, I think.

I remember the sleepovers with the girls and how
we would laugh at the silly boys and what they did
that day that made us shun them but not really. I
remember playing with makeup and painting our
nails all the colors of the rainbow.

I remember the fashion shows we put on for mom
and the pizza we had on Saturday nights. I remember
giggling in class whenever the teacher would yell at
one of the boys and getting yelled at for giggling
because good girls didn't do such things.

I remember wanting to be cool like the big girls
because they were cool for their beaus. I remember
my first poodle skirt and saddle shoes, I remember
my hair in a high fashion pony tail, and I remember being
ignored by the boys because I was too young.

I remember the shopping centers we went to (they
didn't have malls like they do today). I remember trying
on everything I liked but
couldn't afford just for a few minutes.
I remember listening to the Wolfman as he brought
rock and roll to me over the radio.

I remember bobby sox, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, pony tails,
chewing gum, and Sunday afternoons at the bowling alley. I remember
the Edsel, the Ford Galaxy 500, the '57 chevrolet and the '57 Buick.
the age between 5 years old and ten years old are the golden years
when girls come into ourselves and become who we are today.

I remember smoking Camel cigarettes behind the garage, and using
mint chewing gum to cover the stale breath it left, so mom wouldn't know.
I still remember, after all these years, the things we did
when we were kids.

© 2011 by Barbara Lynn Terry