Tom Boy

As a child I was called a Tom Boy, following my twin brother like a shadow, wherever he went I would tag along, hanging out with school boys to belong. Backyard kickball kept us out of trouble, playing for hours during the summer, I learned to play rough like the others, being the only girl I considered them brothers. The neighborhood park was our hangout, this was where we would meet and greet, toss a ball and climb a sturdy shade tree, as an initiation the boys encouraged me. Being the shortest member of the gang, they hoisted me up the tall and leafy tree, the sun was setting and I yelled to get down, no one answered me as I cried with a frown. What seemed like forever, my brother arrived, he and a neighbor carried a wooden ladder, placed it against the tall and rough trunk, climbing down slowly I landed with a kerplunk.