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What Happened

When do we stop believing that we could become anything? Remember the time in third grade when Mrs. Anderson asked us what we wanted to be when we had grown up? How Susie said she wanted to be a ballerina. She took classes since she could take her first few steps. She said she faintly remembers the Barbie movie on princess ballerinas she saw when she was about two years old. Susie said she loved the way how they looked and captivated her mind and how she mimicked their movements continuously, rewinding to her favorite parts. She was in 19 recitals by the time she was 7 years old and Daddy was smack in the middle of the first row seeing his sweet, innocent, precious only daughter performing Côté des and courus. Or how Micheal said he wanted to be Spiderman? He had costumes and all the collectibles and lunchboxes and merchandise for a whole school of kids. Even though all the other kids laughed and said he couldn't because there was already one he said his mom told him he could be anything he wanted. Fast-forwarding 10 years to high school when everyone is now either 17 or 18, Susie is now studying to be a lawyer because Daddy said it was cute that she did her little twirls in expensive costumes on stages and theaters that could fit the whole school and their parents and their parents and their parents. Daddy said she had to be realistic because failure in their respective family line was unacceptable. So Susie took up any classes that made the family look good. Captain of the Cheerleading Team, Student Counsel President, leader of the Celibacy Club, Lacrosse captain, Speech and Debate, Science Olympiads, Math Olympiads, Big Sister Program and most importantly, four year Homecoming and Prom Queen. Micheal dropped out of school because tuition was pricey, the economy was shitty and his family needed more support. Over the years he picked up the acoustic and electric guitar, the drums and tenor saxophone for hobbies because it was free within the school. He also took some martial art and stunt classes because although he couldn't be the next Spiderman, he would love to work alongside him as a villain or an extra. He loved what he did yet his dream was never reached because of the harsh reality with what life hits you. Now he works in a bakery, part-time garbage man, part-time worker at the local auto shop because he saw the pain and struggle his family is going through and made the decision to do what's best for them. So, what happened? Life.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013




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Book: Shattered Sighs