Grade Six’s Biggest Bytches -By Dawn Farrell

While growing up, I was always very competitive (always trying to do my best and be the best). I can remember a time in Grade Six when I was in a club called The Always Friends Club. The club was mad at me. Samantha Red invited me to her birthday party and the club told me that if I went I was out of the club.

I remember talking to my parents about the situation and asked them what they would do. They told me to do what I thought was best. Grade Six was a very confusing time. HORMONES!!!

Anyways, I felt threatened that I would get kicked out of the club, but for some reason it didn’t bother me. I knew Samantha from class and cross-country running. And even though, The Always Friends Club labeled her as a loser. I didn’t feel the same way. I like getting along with everyone. Yes, I had a few nemeses and still have some to this day, but that has nothing to do with this.

I went to Samantha’s birthday. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with her house. There were garbage bags of clothes all over the house. I can even remember the big can of peaches on the counter with fruit flies surrounding it. I though to myself, "There is no way I’m sleeping here for a night." Samantha’s mom brought me into her room and everything I was uncomfortable with just went away when I saw the look on her face. She was so happy that I didn’t lie, when I said I was coming and loved that I wrapped up her birthday gift in comics from the newspaper.

In grade school, I was the one always making people laugh. Ask me now and I wouldn’t be able to tell you what I was talking about, but I know I made them giggle. I was the life of the Samantha’s party. I entertained everyone all night long. I felt like myself. No judgments. No rules or disagreements (just my school friends and I having a great time). Still, to this day, it means so much to me that I went to her party.

The Always Friends Club didn’t kick me out. And by Grade Seven, we ended up getting rid of the girl that started it all. I don’t know if at that time, I went to Samantha’s because I wouldn’t be able to face her at school that following Monday. However, I know in my heart that I went because I never wanted to judge people based on other people’s judgments. I love people and I took her party as an opportunity to make and meet more friends.

It’s weird and crazy that as a child you grow to learn all these things and it sticks with you for the rest of your life. I thank my parents more than anyone for allowing me to make my own judgments. For letting me do what I thought was best. Even though, I could have lost the friendship from the club, it almost didn’t seem worth their companionship. You get lost sometimes in the power of other’s words. I just had to remember that’s it was other people’s words I was listening to.

The Journals of…. D.

Bytchy Poems
Dawn Farrell

Confessions

We can’t deny in them.
Suffer the consequences and look at the big picture to see the lesson learned.
One step at a time –each day.
Sacrificing to be true to yourself and the ones you love most –family.
Realizations only make you a stronger person in the world.
Shame and regret are ways of feeling sorry for yourself.
Denial only makes you weaker.
Change is inevitable –Realize that.
You can’t predict change nor can you make it happen.
Don’t wait for it –just accept it.
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Utterance

Among the world list of quotes
are all the great words of great men.

Whether their words change us or heal us.
The tone and rhythm of their voices continue to ring in our ears.

Whenever in doubt of oneself
great words of wisdom
whisper and shout.

They stay locked in our minds
and remain there for eternity.