Day 22

“Run, Forrest, run!” — Jenny, Forrest Gump

Our teacher today is wearing sweatpants one size too big. As she moves, the fabric ripples. Her hair is piled on her head.

“Now we walk.”

As we walk clockwise, our steps converge on the same boring, monotonous rhythm.

Not on this teacher’s watch!

As soon as she hears our footfalls synchronize, she says, “Break the circle.”

It’s mass confusion as we try not to run into each other. I try not to think about running into someone because when I think I might, I almost do.

“Change up your speed. Be unpredictable. Connect to your silliness.”

I find myself running with broad steps. My arms swing loose and wild, with no efficiency whatsoever.

Like how Forrest Gump runs.

I’m back in sixth grade. It’s the last day of elementary school. I’m racing across a grassy playground. Summer vacation is a few hours away.

I taste something good in my mouth.

It’s freshly-churned ice cream. With Hershey’s chocolate sauce. As part of our elementary school tradition, we make ice cream from hand-cranked machines.

The school bell rings, signaling the end of school.

A whoop of joy echoes through the halls of our red brick school.

Summer is here.

Gaga is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.