Sleepyhead

Childish

Felicite Lehel ‘26

I was inspired by feelings of nostalgia and living in the past, which to me has always felt more colorful. This piece is a bit of a love letter to all the art, shows, movies, music, characters, and things of that nature that inspire me and that shape the person I am. It’s also a message that although some things from our past will never be experienced the same in present time, the future is still bright and life is beautiful.

The first child, the first daughter.

So sweet, so tiny, but she wishes for

a sibling. Someone to play with,

someone to hang out with. But little

does she know this wish, will actually

be a death wish.

The oldest means being a leader.

The oldest means being an example.

The oldest means being the third parent.

The oldest means taking the fall.

The oldest means it is and always 

will be her fault. 

The oldest means growing up too

fast, faster than she should be growing up.

The oldest means she can’t act 

childish.

“You are setting a bad example,” her mother

sighs,“They look up to you, don’t

act childish.” So, she tries to sit up

or to put away her dishes, but eventually

gives up. Her siblings no longer look up to her,

for they have reached a higher level.

Better grades, they always their chores,

they always suck up. 

Oh, the stupid stupid baby voice. She

is told to grow up by parents and coaches,

while here they sit, talking like babies, acting

like babies, and they never hear those two

horrible words—

Grow up.

So, she dresses like an adult and puts a smile on her face, trying to prove that she is the perfect

daugher, proving to her parents that they 

are raising her perfectly. That she is okay and

that she won’t act childish. 

She hides who she actually is, puts 

on a mask for her parents. She takes

The mask off only for the trusted, her

friends. But her arm gets tired of holding

up this mask as if it's the heaviest thing 

in the world, and it slowly slips— 

only showing a little of her true self. 

Trying to plead with her parents, yelling 

“Help!” until her throat is raw.

But, eventually, it doesn’t matter

because all that matters is to

make sure she never acts

childish.

BellaDonna Petersen ‘28

I wrote this piece because, as an older sister, I have always been told that I need to act like an example, to act like a role model for my younger sibling to look up to, but all that really matters is that I don't act childish. I also grew up doing gymnastics and matured very quickly, so my piece is inspired by the feeling of having to grow up too fast.