Red and Orange Polka Dots

I walked around with red and orange polka dots for the first 7 years of my life. I could not go anywhere without it. It was my world. I took it to gymnastics; I took it to soccer; I took it to school; and I took it out to dinner. It became a part of the family. I felt as if it was a part of me.

People said that I was obsessed. They would always say things like, why does she still have that ancient thing? And she is way too old for that thing, anyway!.

But I was just attached to it. Plus, it is normal to have a trinket around all the time as a child, right? All of my friends had bunnies, or pacifiers, or bears that they carried. I just had something different and more meaningful.

When I was 4 days old, I had been given this object . This was not just some “item” that you could buy at a toy store or replace. No. This was a piece of my childhood. It was the reason I woke up in the morning.

I had a sister, Stella, and a brother, Spencer. They were both old enough that they were able to mock and tease me and my mom would not notice.

Even when she would notice, the only punishment they got was a scolding and a small talking too, “That was quite impertinent Stella,” or “That was a very astringent comment, Spencer,. Don’t make it again.” But, I knew they always would. Spencer and Stella were just able to slip in an insult me in the most covert way. Even a glare from them could make me run into the arms of my most prized possession. It could hold and love me as long as I wanted it too. I knew that nothing would ever happen to it, it could never hurt me.

Stella and Spencer loved me, in their own special way. I abstained from tattling or trying to get in the spotlight. I was never noticed by my mother, if only to tell me to let go of my love for it. It was my shield from reality. It was all the comfort that I never got from my family.

As I was walking downstairs for my first day of second grade, something was off, like a picture was out of place or a cup had been broken. I felt different, but not in a good way.

I figured out that I had just left it upstairs. That was peculiar.

As an innocent child, I ran upstairs suspecting nothing. But then my world came crashing down.

I had left my blanket in my room, on my bed, as I always do...Where was it? This is not ok, I have never in my entire life misplaced it. Ok, calm down, what did you do with it last. Ok so I ate dinner with it and then left it on my bed before I showered, I then took it with me in the bathroom to brush my hair; Ah ah I don’t know! This cannot be happening, where is it. Where is it. WHERE IS IT?! My universe is spinning, all that I ever loved is gone.

I screamed, “Have you seen my blanket?!!”

No response. So I run downstairs and find my mom just sitting in the kitchen.

“Mom, where is it?”

“Where’s what?”

“WHERE’S MY BLANKET!!” I wail as loudly as I can, already bursting into tears.

“Sit down, sweetheart, just eat your breakfast, you don’t want to be late.”

I stood frozen in shock; she ignored me, like a hurricane hadn’t just struck on the house.

~ Nicole G.