You look like you just stepped out of a blender!
Posted by | Filed under Writing
Today I'm going to share another of the stories that I found in my giant window seat of notebooks. This next piece is fairly short, about three-quarters of a page on notebook paper. The reason I'm going to share it with you is in part because of how it betrayed my faltering emotions as a twelve-year-old girl. I wrote this short story in the sixth grade, during the age when you start to notice what you wear and how you look. Sixth grade was when I truly began to feel insecure. I think these feelings are shown in this story.
--------------------
“Aimee, what are you wearing today? You look like you just stepped out of a blender!”
I look up at the sound of Tamelle's teasing voice and then down at my outfit. Blue shirt, light pink cargo pants, green shoes... I like colors. I thought this outfit was cute... until now. (Lots and lots of dot-dot-dots, aren't there?)
“No, I'm just kidding. You're awesome, despite your rainbow of clothes,” Tamelle grins. (Her name is seriously Tamelle?) “However, you might want to use this.” She tosses me a hairbrush.
I stare at the hairbrush, trying to keep a grimace from showing on my face. “Funny,” I manage to say, plastering a smile across my lips. Why does Tamelle have to be so mean?
Why does everyone have to be so mean? I'm always getting teased for how I look, whether it's my hair, my clothes, my nose, my face... anything that I can be teased about, I'm made fun of for it. I've even been mocked for being too skinny!
I've always been fairly self-confident about how I look, but now I'm starting to wonder. How ugly am I really? I mean, Tamelle is my best friend. She wouldn't say these things unless I really did look a mess. I wonder how long people have been thinking these things about me... Have I been ugly all my life? (I think these last two paragraphs really show the frustration of a twelve-year-old girl trying to survive middle school.)
“It's okay, Aimee. I'll always love you. Maybe we can go to the mall later and get you a manicure. We'll find something to help you,” Tamelle tells me before starting off down the hall.
I follow her, trying to smile as I reach up my hand to smooth down my hair. Maybe Tamelle is right. What is wrong with me?
-------------------
Honestly, I don't even remember writing this short story. I wish I did. It reminds me of how insecure so many young girls are.
If you're reading this right now and you're in middle school, I wish I could give you a hug. You may be dealing with insecurities and low self esteem like I once did, and if you are, I'm so sorry. You truly are a beautiful creation of God. That's not just something people say. It's true.
Tags: bad writing, be yourself, insecurity, low self esteem, middle school, self confidence
At risk of sounding somewhat dumb, what age is middle school for you guys?
Haha, you don't sound dumb!
Middle school where I come from is 6th grade through 8th grade. What about for you?
Well, I'm in the UK, so where I am, we do Infant, Years R-2 [about 4-7 years] then Junior with years 3-6 [7-11 years] and then High school, years 7-11 [11-16 years] and then people go on to Sixth form if they want, which is another 2 years, 12 and 13.. not everyone has to do 6th form, although that's changing, and I'll have to be in some form of education, either 6th form or a college until I'm 18 :)
Wow, that's a lot different from here! We have preschool, which is basically up to about 4 yrs, then kindergarten at 5 yrs, then elementary school, which goes up to 11 yrs, middle school from 11-14 yrs, high school from 14-18 yrs, and then college.