"You played like a boy." My mother said. It's how she "always knew."
Yet, family gave me dolls. Each I hid in a large storage container under my wardrobe. I dreamt they built a colony there, a small democratic society of Barbies, preparing for war against the giant that lived beyond their borders. I dreamt they stormed my ankles, stabbing my toes as I swung my legs to the floor. These Lilliputians scaled my calves with spiked shoes and tiny hooks, overwhelming me. They declared my room part of their sovereign territory, and I became a mountain to summit daily.
****
Thank you, Shirley!
About the Creator
kp
I am a non-binary, trans-masc writer. I work to dismantle internalized structures of oppression, such as the gender binary, class, and race. My writing is personal but anecdotally points to a larger political picture of systemic injustice.
Comments (6)
part I loved the best: the uncomfortable depth of description used to understand the pain that "unacceptance" caused a child to endure. So thought-provoking, intelligent, and heartbreaking. And all so masterfully done within a hundred words! kp's picture is perfect...especially with the "pink" shirt. Loved the brave, defiant spirit of this child!
You certainly had a great imagination. And those dolls sound awful!
This is vivid and engaging. I want to hear you read this out loud!
I loved this, kp! Like Small Soldiers! What would you have wanted toy-wise instead, out of curiosity?
You had such a huge imagination as a kid. Loved this so much!
Fabulous writing KP! What a delightfully fun read!