In a Child’s Place

(series)

“Get out grown folk’s business and stay in a child’s place,” scolded my mother. I didn’t realized the weight behind this expression but I knew it meant for me to disappear, shrink back into my make-believe world and remain invisible until I was needed.

Now as an adult, I reflect on these memories. Everyone was just as I remembered. Their choice of clothing, disposition, and expression made sense to who they were, except when I look at my younger self I only see a child. Nothing more or nothing less. I was told to smile on photos, respect authority, do good in school and speak when spoken to. Beyond those limitations was a world that did not belong to me. I was just a child.