This is a piece my daughter Noelle wrote at 12 or 13.In it, she shares some of her innermost upon us moving North... It tells of her, while a 10 yr old child, confused and a bit apprehensive. It is a provocative piece that captures these feelings poignantly... I think you'll like it too ...
The ChildThe truck lurched and rumbled gruffly as the wheels cringed into the small entrance of the gas station. The child stared out the window soberly. It was dreary and muddy, and dusk was very slowly happening upon the little family in the Penske truck. They were in Wisconsin. They were almost there. They were almost home.
And yet, what really was home? Had they not just left ‘home’? Or were they on their way ‘home’? As the child stepped out of the huge truck, holding her daddy’s hand, her heart leapt at the thought of their destination. Yet somehow, deep, deep inside of her, she knew there was something she had left behind that she could never recapture. Her roots had been yanked out of her native soil, and brought to a foreign land…for what? For the sake of life and hope. Yet what was really in store?
Her mama squeezed her shoulder as they walked side by side into the convenience store. Fluorescent lights glared inside, steady and strong; the outside breeze, dizzy and unsteady, swirled and churned, kneading the air. The child smiled softly and tucked a wisp of sunny hair behind her ear.
With bright eyes she peered around the store as they stepped inside, curious to know what it was about this strange area that so intrigued her. Suddenly her eyes fastened on some objects hanging on the far wall, and she felt herself moving toward them slowly. “Wait for me,” she heard her mother say. Suddenly forgetting her former distraction, the child winced as the strained, tired voice of her mother pierced her heart. Oh, what lay ahead? And would it be worth it?
They made their purchases and walked outside. Their legs were cramped from the tight cab of the truck, and they so wanted to get a bit of exercise; but they had to keep going. Pressing on, ever onward…would it never end?
So the child walked on between her parents, slowly, heavily, tiredly toward the huge truck that would take her away from all familiarity, and slam her down into a garden with soil she was unaccustomed to. Almost tearfully, she plodded on. Suddenly lifting her head to look at the sky; so grey, so bleak; she gasped and stopped in her tracks. Big as life, colorful as hope, beautiful and heart-wrenching as a rose being tramped upon by the feet of men, was a rainbow in the sky…
Oh, what was the meaning of life?
--Noelle Mathison, 2008--
And yet, what really was home? Had they not just left ‘home’? Or were they on their way ‘home’? As the child stepped out of the huge truck, holding her daddy’s hand, her heart leapt at the thought of their destination. Yet somehow, deep, deep inside of her, she knew there was something she had left behind that she could never recapture. Her roots had been yanked out of her native soil, and brought to a foreign land…for what? For the sake of life and hope. Yet what was really in store?
Her mama squeezed her shoulder as they walked side by side into the convenience store. Fluorescent lights glared inside, steady and strong; the outside breeze, dizzy and unsteady, swirled and churned, kneading the air. The child smiled softly and tucked a wisp of sunny hair behind her ear.
With bright eyes she peered around the store as they stepped inside, curious to know what it was about this strange area that so intrigued her. Suddenly her eyes fastened on some objects hanging on the far wall, and she felt herself moving toward them slowly. “Wait for me,” she heard her mother say. Suddenly forgetting her former distraction, the child winced as the strained, tired voice of her mother pierced her heart. Oh, what lay ahead? And would it be worth it?
They made their purchases and walked outside. Their legs were cramped from the tight cab of the truck, and they so wanted to get a bit of exercise; but they had to keep going. Pressing on, ever onward…would it never end?
So the child walked on between her parents, slowly, heavily, tiredly toward the huge truck that would take her away from all familiarity, and slam her down into a garden with soil she was unaccustomed to. Almost tearfully, she plodded on. Suddenly lifting her head to look at the sky; so grey, so bleak; she gasped and stopped in her tracks. Big as life, colorful as hope, beautiful and heart-wrenching as a rose being tramped upon by the feet of men, was a rainbow in the sky…
Oh, what was the meaning of life?
--Noelle Mathison, 2008--
