Nightlight

nightlight

age four,  you have your nightlight, when the crickets sing the nightlight is turned on

age five, you still have tubs the teddy bear, and daddy is still scaring the monsters out of the closet

age six, you have a new trendy nightlight, and a new trendy bike with no training wheels

age seven, you are trying to be brave and turn off your nightlight but you slip out of your covers after mom kisses you goodnight and flip the switch, to chase away the lingering shadows leftover from childhood

age eight, you think your BIG but your still small with alot of growing to do, you have friends and dont think you need supervision but you still slip under the covers with your parents after a particularly vivid nighmare

age nine, you are making new friends because you grew out of the old ones, just like you grew out of your favorite shoes, just like you're growing out of that ugly nightlight, and your mom's kisses goodnight

age ten, you are through with all the 'adults' patting your cheek, done with them telling you how big you were last time they came to visit, done with themed parties and little kid games

age eleven, you have packed up your nightlight in a box in the back of your closet with tubs the teddy and all your childhood momentos that your simply to Big for now

age twelve, you have your first crush you think you're big enough to handle love, you have your first heartbreak because he likes the prettier girl, you start to lose your innocence and conform to what they tell you, you are

age thirteen, you have an all new group of friends, you go to the movies, you redecorate your room with more teenageresque things

age fourteen, you have a 'style' now or what you thought was style, you are finding out who you are, building yourself back up after those crushing years of adolescence

age fifteen, you are trying to blend with the crowd, you like that kid in english class and hope he notices you, you have good friends now, you tell secrets to half knowing they are not secrets after you leave that room

age sixteen, you act crazy because why not, everything revolves around you, you dont need mom and dad anymore, they are just the people that keep a roof over your head

age seventeen, you have your first Real heartbreak, you lose your first Real friend, have your first Real experience with the cruel unfairness of life     you pull out the dusty box
               take out tubs the teddy, reread the musty childhood stories, and plug in your nightlight just to chase the new and Real shadows out from the crannies of your life.
your mom kisses you goodnight, you finally realize what she knew all along,                                                                        you never really grew up.