Hats off to mother, on her Special Day

It’s Mother’s Day! What special thing can you do for your mother today?

Almost 50 countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day at some time during the year. We give our mothers cards, candy or flowers, serve them breakfast in bed, take them out for dinner – anything to show our love and appreciation for everything they do.
Different kinds of Mother’s Days have been celebrated for ages. The Ancient Greeks honoured all mothers every spring through festivities in honour of Rhea, the Mother of the Greek Gods.
In the 1600s, the people of England celebrated “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter) with a special cake called “mothering cake.” Poor servants of rich aristocrats were given the day off to go home to visit their mothers.

The Mother’s Day we know began in 1907. That was when Anna M. Jarvis began a letter-writing campaign for a national Mother’s Day, partly to pay special tribute to her own deceased mother, who had organized charity work for women in the Civil War and had always wanted a Mother’s Day. In 1914 it became an official national holiday in the United States. Now, in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries, Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of May every year, the anniversary of Anna’s mother’s death.

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about buying gifts. Anna M. Jarvis wanted it to be a day for expressing our love and gratitude to our mothers, and sometimes making your own gift or doing something special can show that love better than a box of chocolates.

You can celebrate Mother’s Day by:
- Making your mother a card that tells her why you’re so glad she’s your mom.
- Drawing her a picture or writing her a story about the two of you.
- Creating a booklet of “tickets” she can use for things like “one hour of silence,” “one breakfast-in-bed,” “one Saturday morning sleep-in,” “one day of truce with my sister” or “one hour of quality time together.”
- Putting together a scrapbook of photos and mementos (like ticket stubs from a family skiing trip, or from a day at the CNE) to capture your memories for the future.
- Making a list of all the “hats” your mother wears -- like teacher, friend, cook, nurse, maid, chauffeur, editor, seamstress, referee, judge and cheerleader -- to give to your mother to show your appreciation for her
- Cooking all her favourite things for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and serving it to her. (Get your other parent or older siblings to help with the stove or knife.) If you want to go the extra mile, you can make menus and place settings, and even pick flowers to put in a vase.

- Giving her a hug.

- Telling her you love her.

But why celebrate only once a year? Mothers are special – let yours know how much you love her every day of the year!

And remember that Father’s Day is in June and Grandparents Day is in September...

Toronto Star, May 2005

Love thy self

In the Netherlands it’s your gevoel van eigenwaarde, in Greece it’s your αυτοσεβασμός in Canada it’s your self esteem. No matter what you call it, it’s something that you need to have – to try new things, keep up friendships and relationships, and just feel good about yourself.
Self-esteem is not the same as thinking you’re perfect, because nobody’s perfect. It’s not about feeling like you’re better than other people, either. It’s about knowing, inside yourself, that no matter what your strengths and weaknesses, you’re valuable and important in your own way, and you deserve to be loved and respected. Unfortunately, people with lower self-esteem often don’t realize this, so they think more negatively about themselves and their abilities, and they’re more afraid of failure.
How do people get low or high self-esteem? Self-esteem is based on self-image – how you see yourself, on the inside and outside – and it’s affected by how you’re treated by family, friends, teachers, and other people in your life. For example, if your parents usually listen to you, support you, and show their love for you, your self-esteem is probably higher than that of a friend whose parents tease or ignore him, or tell him that a “failure” in an activity (like getting a bad mark) means that he is a failure.
That doesn’t mean your friend will constantly talk about how worried he is about his marks, though. Not all people with low self-esteem act the way you might think they do. What’s on the inside is often similar (people say it’s like there’s a little “voice” or “feeling” always criticizing and belittling them), but on the outside, everyone with low self-esteem acts in their own way. Here are three possibilities, according to psychologists.
One person with low self-esteem might act happy and seem to be doing well, but she might actually need that success all the time to feel good about herself. Anything less would be a horrible disappointment. Unfortunately, because of this, she might have problems with perfectionism and competition, and she might have a habit of not starting or finishing her work on time (procrastinating) out of the fear that it won’t turn out well.
Someone else with low self-esteem might be a rebel, acting like everyone else’s opinions don’t matter, especially not those of teachers or parents. He might feel angry that he’ll never be “good enough” (in his mind) for others, and so he’ll deliberately do what he knows won’t live up to their expectations, and then he’ll blame them for making him act that way. He might have problems later because of this “blame game,” and unfortunately he might even go from fighting authority to breaking the law.
A third person with low self-esteem might act completely helpless all the time, not wanting to take responsibility for anything because she feels like a failure. She might spend a lot of time feeling sorry for herself, and she might have trouble making decisions, or setting goals, or asking for what she wants. She might also rely too much on others.
As well, people with lower self-esteem might have problems keeping up friendships and relationships, or working hard and taking chances on new things (or old things, too) – because they feel like they won’t succeed at any of these things.
Those who do have healthy self-esteem, on the other hand, believe they’re capable of succeeding – so they’re more likely to!

So how can you improve your self-esteem?
1. Don’t keep your feelings and fears bottled up inside. Talk to somebody if you realize you have low self-esteem. Just having them listen might really help.
2. As silly as this sounds, whenever you hear that inner voice and start feeling negative about yourself, try to argue with it. If you don’t win a game, and then you get the feeling it’s all your fault and you’ll never win anything – just use logic and tell yourself that one game doesn’t mean everything, and there’ll always be next time.
3. If your “inner voice” is actually an outer voice – a parent, teacher, or friend who’s always putting you down – ask them to offer constructive advice instead of harsh criticism. It might take them awhile, but if they care about you, they’ll make the effort.
4. Take the time every day to remind yourself of your own special strengths. Are you a great juggler or an amazing artist? Do you do kind things for other people, or make them laugh with your jokes? These are the things that make you you, and the way you look or the game you lost or the mark you got doesn’t change the fact that you are an amazing person.
5. When you do succeed at something, reward yourself. You deserve it!

Toronto Star, March 2005

Snooze or You Lose

Ever begged your parents to let you stay up all night? It’s not as fun as it might seem.

Lack of sleep could make you grouchy and irritable. You’d find it harder remembering things, or concentrating on schoolwork. And not getting enough sleep makes the immune system weaker, so you’d be more likely to get sick.

Even worse things would happen if you actually didn’t sleep at all. Sleep deprivation experiments, where adults have been forced to stay up for days, have given us some scary results. The first and second nights without sleep were pretty tiring, but it was the third night that made the people in the experiments begin acting strange. They got tense and short-tempered, and some had huge mood swings (they’d be very sad one minute, and then very happy the next), while others didn’t seem to care about anything at all. When they were given test questions, many of them fell asleep without realizing it, and then denied it. The scientists also noticed some people staring off into space for several seconds, every now and then; their brain wave patterns showed they were taking ten-second naps, called “micro-sleep.” By the fourth night, the people in the experiment saw things that weren’t there, heard imaginary voices, and believed the experimenters were evil enemies plotting against them.

***

Sleep is one of those things that absolutely every animal needs. Some species, like the Indus dolphin, only have very short naps throughout the day, while others, like humans, need to sleep for several hours at a time. For humans, lots of naps don’t work because it takes around nine to ten hours (more for younger children, less for adults) for us to go through the full sleep cycle. If you wake up before this cycle finishes, you might feel lousy all morning.

Going through the whole sleep cycle is important because bedtime is when your body stocks up on energy, repairs damaged body parts and gets rid of wastes. It’s also when your brain reviews the things you learned, thinks about events that happened, and solves problems you faced during the day. They say a good night’s sleep is what finally showed Albert Einstein how all his different ideas fit together. The answer might have come to him in a dream. That’s what dreams are for – your brain uses them to try to make sense of the things you saw and heard and thought about that day.

Not getting enough sleep and not having the chance to dream is a serious problem nowadays. Whether it’s staying up for homework, computer games, or television, we’re all getting much less sleep and a lot more stress. It’s okay to stay up a little bit every now and then, like for New Year’s Eve, but it’s not a good idea to get into the habit of not getting enough sleep.

***

Having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep? Here are some general tips.

- Always go to sleep at the same time every night and try to wake up at the same time every morning.

- Don’t keep a TV or computer in your room, and try not to study or do homework on your bed. Think of your bedroom and your bed as just a place to sleep.

- Try not to go to bed upset. Talk about your problems and fears before settling down, so you won’t worry as much about them for the rest of the night.

- Avoid exercising, eating, or having caffeinated drinks, like pop, tea or coffee, right before going to bed. Try drinking a cup of warm milk instead.

- Set up a “bedtime ritual,” like reading a bedtime story every night, or taking a bubble bath. That way, your brain knows it’s time to think about sleep.

Toronto Star, October 2004

Fighting for the final slice of cake

Somewhere in Alaska, a baby bald eagle hatches out of his egg. The eaglet shakes out his light grey feathers and looks around. He sees the brown walls of the nest, the broken pieces of the egg he just came out of… and two very annoyed-looking big sisters.

You see, bald eagles lay their eggs several days apart, so there is definitely one older sibling, one middle sibling, and one younger sibling -- all fighting for food, space, and their parents’ attention. When Mom’s not looking, the oldest birds might scratch and bite the younger ones. Sometimes, they even push their brothers or sisters out of the nest!

Sound familiar? While human siblings, thankfully, don’t usually push each other out of tall trees, they can get very competitive in other ways. Siblings fight for all kinds of reasons, but usually it all boils down to jealousy. A cooler birthday present, better math abilities, the last piece of chocolate cake, more of Mom’s or Dad’s attention... any of it can lead to mean words being said, favourite toys being hidden, and even threats of terrifying haircuts in the night.

Sibling rivalry has become such a common part of growing up that nobody seems all that surprised about it anymore. But why is fighting between siblings considered so different from fighting between friends? How can we be so casual about being so cruel to those who are closest to us? Maybe it’s because we know that no matter how terribly we act towards our siblings, afterwards we’ll still be siblings -- and probably still friends. We can say and do horrible things to each other, but an hour later we’ll be playing again -- right?

The problem is, even if we do make up, those words and threats hurt. And fights in the house can turn to fights in the school yards too. Also, childhood sibling rivalry can turn into adulthood sibling rivalry -- a silly fight can turn into years of not speaking. The better thing to do is to avoid the fights in the first place. How do we do that? We have to think about what really causes sibling rivalry. Yes, it’s usually jealousy. But what exactly is this jealousy really about?

Psychologists and child experts agree that it’s about love. While baby bald eagles fight because they know there is not enough food to go around, human siblings (whether they realize it or not) fight because they think there is not enough love to go around. That special birthday present for an older brother is proof they love him more. A younger sister’s math skills will make them love her more. And in the end, nothing is left... right?

That’s where so many of us go wrong. Though our parents may only have a certain number of hours to spend with each of us, love is not limited like that. One extra gift to a brother does not mean Mom and Dad like him more. And just because they’re happy about one sister’s special talent doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate the talents of her siblings. Worrying about this by ourselves, and taking it out on our siblings, is not the best way to deal with the problem. Instead, we need to talk with our parents about how we feel.

The little flights that start because we’re afraid of losing our parents’ love may not seem like much now, but siblings are too important to risk losing in the long run. Brothers and sisters may seem like pains sometimes, but other times they can be funny, kind, and fun to be around. They’re who we can count on when we really need it. Is it worth losing all that over a slice of chocolate cake? Cake tastes so much sweeter when it’s shared.

Toronto Star, August 2004

Glued To the Tube

Don’t you think television is incredible? You can sit in front of that little box and get transported away… You can see beautiful forests and visit far-off kingdoms, travel through time or go into outer space, meet interesting people, learn new things, and have fun! It’s the invention that has changed our lives.

According to www.tvturnoff.com, a typical child aged 2-17 spends 19 hours and 40 minutes a week in front of the television set, and only 38.5 minutes per week having meaningful conversation with their parents. In fact, 54% of 4-6-year-olds would rather watch TV than spend time with their dads!

And that’s the problem. You’ve probably heard about how too much TV is not good for you. Just think… the average American youth spends 900 hours a year in school, and 1023 hours watching TV. Every week a child watching TV sees 213 acts of violence (including 17 murders), views 384 commercials, and spends less time talking with family, or studying, or going outside.

All the hours that we spend “glued to the tube” are hours that are taken away from things that really matter – things we will wish we had done more of when we get older.

Seeing beautiful forests… Spending time with our parents is important, and it can be really fun. Going camping in Rouge Park, or going on a walk or bike ride with your parents on one of Toronto’s nature trails can show you those beautiful forests from television – except this time you’ll be able to smell and touch and really experience the forest. And you can get closer to your family at the same time – you might even learn some embarrassing stories about your parents. Check out www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/recreation_facilities.htm for a trail or park near you.

Visiting far-off kingdoms… Books, books, books. There are so many books to choose from, filled with adventure, mystery and fairy spells, and also real problems with friendships, bullying and family issues. They can take you anywhere – and you can take them anywhere! Read on the bus to school, on a bench in the park, or even on your living room couch. When you read, you actually have to think and imagine instead of having images given to you. As an added bonus, the more you read, the better your writing will get. Tell your librarian what you’d like to read so you can get some suggestions, or go to www.tpl.toronto.on.ca and search the library catalogue.

Travelling through time or going into outer space… Playing a game about time travel, or space travel, is way cooler than watching someone else have all the fun. Hanging out with your friends and siblings and playing make-believe games is the best part of childhood. Of course, games don’t have to be make-believe to be fun. How about playing a sport, or Tag, Four Square, Capture the Flag, or Cops and Robbers? All of these games keep you active and healthy. Obesity is a growing problem. It’s important to keep fit and have fun! Some cool games are listed on www.gameskidsplay.net.

Meeting interesting people, learning new things, and having fun… You can do all of this, and more, by playing for a local sports team, taking cool classes at a nearby community centre, volunteering in your neighbourhood, joining Scouts

(www.scouts.ca) or Guides (www.guides.ca), or anything else you can think of. And, best of all, when you do all these things, you can actually interact with others instead of just listening and watching.

I’m not saying to cut TV out of your life completely. Sometime a little bit of television is good. But we all have to be able to draw the line somewhere. Decide what your priorities are, and then get out and enjoy yourself!

Toronto Star, March 2004

Do You Have Brains Here? My experience on a special tour of the U of T Anatomy Museum

Tonight I saw my first dead body...s. Hands, feet, lungs and tiny foetuses sat in orderly rows on spotless shelves, drowning in formaldehyde. Faces from another time stared, unseeing, through the glass walls of the tanks that held them prisoner. Their eyelashes and eyebrow hairs were still intact, looking fragile and beautiful, like shards of glass. I felt as though I was in a dream, like I was gliding through a Bizarro wax museum.

I looked at one man, beheaded and sliced. His lips were slightly parted, his eye sockets gaped. He had no eyeballs. A sign on his tank read: “Left hemisphere, anterior view.” His brain looked awkward, peering out of his skull like that. What were the thoughts it once held? What ideas did this man once have, that would never be revealed? Where had he travelled? What had he done? Who had he hated? Who had he loved? He had been preserved in the 1950s. What had his world been like? What would he think of everything that has happened since then?

Suddenly, I felt awful. This person was real, not a diagram or a wax sculpture. He had been stared at and studied for the past fifty years in this “Anatomy Museum” by thousands of U of T students. His diseases and irregularities had been pointed at, drawn, “duly noted.” He would never be at rest.

And nobody around me seemed to care. The sound of someone asking, “Do you have any brains here?” -- God, like we were in a grocery store -- made me feel sick. I turned away and fled into another “aisle”... only to be faced with a row of hands. Hands. I don’t know why the sight of them affected me so much -- more than even the disembodied heads. Some of the skin had been peeled away to reveal sinewy muscles and branching veins. But the skin and nails still lay on a few fingers and I could just feel them reaching, clasping my hand in greeting. Standing in that sea of hands, I felt horribly alone.

I’ve never thought much about donating my body to science. I always assumed I’d be an organ donor but in the end I knew I’d be cremated. The idea of lying for years in a cushioned coffin while maggots made adventurous treks into my eye sockets never really appealed to me. But was this a better alternative? Being on display like that seems even more morbid. Is that selfish of me? After all, I’d be dead by then, so what would it matter?

Using that logic, I should feel no qualms about gazing nonchalantly at the “specimens” here. Yet I do. How do medical students bear to actually dissect humans? Consumed with this question, I turned to one of the smiling guides. “How do you stand it?” I asked. “Isn’t it awful?”

It was a relief to see her hesitate; it meant I wasn’t alone in my confusion and repulsion and sadness.

“We stress respect,” she said softly, describing the special ceremony at the end of the year for all the families, when the bodies were cremated. “And eventually you -- you come to see that this is what they truly wanted...”

She turned to gaze at the wall of jars with a serene expression on her face and I realized that she had come to peace with the whole thing. Maybe someday I’ll have that look of calm. Maybe it’s only shock that made me feel this way. The others on the tour were mostly elderly couples. They had probably seen death, and come to terms with it... but I hadn’t. And I hope I don’t have to for a long time.

I left the others to continue their questioning and gesturing.

I still have a lifetime to deal with death. I don’t need to start now.

Tamils’ Information, February 2004

Swiper No swiping!

A couple of months ago, my sisters and I waited in line for an hour and a half so we could get up close to a huge television celebrity. The line snaked endlessly through the hallway outside the special room set up for this rising star, and when she left for her breaks every half-hour she was surrounded by three people who can only be described as body guards, plus a managerial figure who made sure her legions of fans wouldn’t trample her as she fled. The fans, wearing her T-shirts and her backpacks, and carrying dolls and stuffed toys dedicated to her show, stretched their arms pleadingly towards her. “Dora! Dora!” they screamed. But she turned away, her face fixed in a permanent, almost cruel smile.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, I was waiting in line to see an adult dressed up as Dora the Explorer, complete with her friend Boots the monkey. My three-year-old sister, Shangi, had been waiting for this day with a kind of palpable excitement Dora, a cartoon character who walks across a landscape on a new mission every day, and talks to singing maps, backpacks and trolls on a regular basis, has become the ultimate toddler celebrity. Celebrities really have invaded every part of our lives. They are entertainers, criminals, and even politicians. But most of all they are idols, and every age group has one. Where did this come from? Since when do toddlers have idols outside of their families?

I’ll be the first to admit that Dora’s sweet yet courageous character makes her perfect for the role of heroine, if my sister wants one. But I can’t get over the fact that she does want one, and one created by media conglomerates. I can’t believe she has already bought into the heroine-worshipping, brand-name consumerist craze that I once thought belonged solely to the preteens I pity and despise, or even to my own generation.

My three-year-old sister wants a Dora backpack. And it scares me.

Cuspidor, February 2004

An Ugly Saturday Subway Ride

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and you are riding on the subway. It’s pretty quiet; everyone seems to be happy and relaxed.

Suddenly, one person stands up and starts shouting at someone else in the middle of the car. The first person’s voice gets louder, and then they start shoving the other person and throwing punches.

Around them, all the riders have different reactions. Some people quickly move away. Some move closer. One individual starts to get up to stop the bully, but then sits back down. A few people ignore everything and continue reading their newspapers. Some riders simply stare, horrified but unable to turn away. Someone covers their eyes and shrinks into a corner. A few watch the fight with smiles on their faces. Others just gaze at the scene disinterestedly. A couple of people shout, “Yeah! Get him!” while others say, “Come on! Fight back!” and a few yell, “Hey! Stop it!”

Finally, somebody presses the yellow emergency line to sound the alarm, while two or three other people get together to break up the fight. Someone kneels next to the victim to offer aid, and two others control the bully until the authorities arrive.

* * *

Which of these people are you? Which of these people do you wish you could be? Does the situation change if the bully was only shouting, not hitting? Would you act differently if you were with someone you knew, or if you knew the people fighting? Or what if everyone involved was a kid? What if all this happened at recess in the playground, or after school in the parking lot, or even in the middle of a hallway, instead of on the subway?

* * *

Bullying is when someone keeps doing something to have power over someone else. It includes:

- name-calling

- saying or writing mean things about someone

- purposely leaving them out of games and activities (“freezing them out”)

- purposely ignoring them

- threatening them

- taking or damaging their things

- hitting, shoving or kicking them

- forcing someone do something they don’t want to do

Why do people bully? They may just want some attention. They may want other people to fear them. They may just want to seem tough. Sometimes they might be jealous of their victim. Sometimes they might be victims of another bully. Some bullies do not realize how wrong their behaviour is.

A major study in Toronto found that bullying happens once every seven minutes on the playground, and once every 25 minutes in class. It’s been called a “spectator sport” because so many of us just sit and watch while our classmates are made fun of or beaten up. The problem is that if we stand and watch, it’s like we’re silently supporting the bullying. It’s not that bystanders necessarily enjoy the scene – most of us are afraid that if we try to do something by ourselves, we will become the next target.

That is why many activists and organizations, including the Concerned Children’s Advertisers (CCA), are trying to encourage students to band together to work against bullies. One of the CCA’s television ads say: “Bullies aren’t bigger than all of us.” It’s true.

Get together with your friends and make a pact that if you see someone being bullied, you’ll all stand up to the bully together. Try to help the victim. Bullies are used to getting their own way – when a bunch of people confront a bully, the bully will usually back down. But at the same time, don’t put yourself in any danger. If you don’t feel safe, walk away and get help from a teacher or another adult!

But don’t just stand and watch, please.

Check out www.cca-kids.ca/life for more information about what to do if you see bullying, or if you are a victim, or a bully. Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 at anytime if you want to talk about any problems you’re having.

Toronto Star, February 2004

Water (free verse)

Water is good for you
But tap water is best

Sahara (acrostic)

Sahara is a desert in
Africa and has little rain and
High temperatures though
Animals, plants, and people get water from
Rivers that flow through
Africa's big desert.

Living in Nepal!

Check out Shangi's story about living in Nepal!
http://queensdream.ca/shangi-age-6

My moment

I saw whales in the Atlantic Ocean
I heard the whales spurt moist air
I smelled the whales’ burps
I felt the waves bumping the boat
I tasted the salt air

Ripe Royal Galas

It’s Saturday, and we’re on our way to the grocery store, a weekly tradition.

My mother has her black sundress on; I’m wearing my red T-shirt. We stroll under sugar maples and the occasional willow, the wind tickling our necks, our footsteps falling silently on the sidewalk. I missed this trip last week, when I was at camp, and I nearly forgot about all the feelings and movements associated with it. Our shoulders sometimes brush against each other, our legs swing in rhythm. There are no words but it is a comfortable silence, and I suddenly become acutely aware of how much I missed it last week. And how much I will miss it when I leave home for university.

“Mommy,” I say, “I don’t wanna grow up.”

“I know, honey,” she murmurs, putting her arm around my shoulders, and I see that she truly understands. After all, she was my age, once.

When we arrive at the store, she says, “You grab a cart, I’ll get some fruit.”

She always lets me get the cart because she remembers how, when I was younger, I used to run to get it, bouncing joyfully, quarter gripped in my hand. I would eagerly slide the coin in, push the funny “key,” pull out the cart, and carefully manoeuvre it back to my mother, beaming with childish pride. She would ruffle my hair and thank me. (She used to be tall enough to ruffle my hair. Or, I used to be short enough.)

But now getting the cart doesn’t seem as vitally important as it used to be, compared to the other things that now fill my life. This ritual is now as ordinary as the ritual of putting the ticket into the box in the subway… I guess I really am growing up, after all.

“Nah,” I reply, “you get the cart. I know how much you hate choosing the apples.” It’s true; she can’t stand endlessly turning the ripe Royal Galas around, looking for the miniscule soft spots distributed unevenly under the red skins.

She looks at me with surprise: she knows I feel even greater irritation when I pick the fruit. Anyway, she’s always the one who makes self-sacrifices to ensure my comfort.

I remember, with a clarity that comes with hindsight, the yearly trips to Ontario Place. I went down the kiddie slides over and over again, screaming with laughter each time. I didn’t really notice her then, not consciously. But in my memories, she stands off to the side, smiling at my joy, towels in hand, sun scorching her black hair, waiting uncomplainingly for me to finish. She’s always been that way--impossibly patient and caring--and she still is.

“But--” My mother’s voice breaks through my reveries, “but you always get the cart.” Her voice fades as she realizes how silly that sounds. I understand; she doesn’t want me to grow up, either. Neither of us does, but I’m doing it anyway, against my will.

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling how inadequate an apology that is, for my sudden, awkward and infuriating adolescence.

She reaches a hand up to touch my cheek. “It’s just--” she murmurs softly, “you’ve changed so much.”

I look at her, this woman who has always offered me love I’m not sure I deserve but which I ground my life upon anyway. I tell her, with genuine appreciation,

“And you haven’t changed a bit.”

Toronto Star, July 2003, Winner in Starship Story Contest

A New World

The warm, stuffy capsule had been cosy at first but after more than eight months in it he had discovered that “cosy” was not necessarily the best word for such a small, round space. At first he had been enthusiastic about the self-feeding device and the mostly restful lifestyle that would require little thought or action on his part, but as time went on the cramped quarters weighed on his patience. Naturally active, he yearned to finish this monotonous phase, and begin exploring.

Sinking deeply into the stretchy walls of his transportation, a feature that had been enjoyed by others for centuries before he existed, he remembered a time when the walls had seemed so much bigger. Why did he feel so cramped now? Kicking angrily at the wall, he felt it give slightly, with a wheeze of protest to accompany it. Then, remembering the good conduct expected of him by the creatures he was to meet, he lay back again and attempted to snooze.

He was on a mission, one that many others had taken before him. It was his duty to explore the new world when he finally escaped this container, and he was to make the best of life before his time there ended. He was prepared to learn to speak a new language and learn to think in a new way; he was willing to eat strange foods and walk strange terrains. The only part of the mission he hadn’t expected was the conditions to undergo before arriving at his destination.

The walls around him suddenly moved on their own. Could it be that the long-awaited time was here? Yes, he decided excitedly as the groans and movements of the capsule slowly shifted him towards the exit. The journey was finally over; he was going to experience a new world. With much trouble and a slight pain after staying still for so long, he worked his way outside and took his first breath of the strange atmosphere. He felt a sting of pain on his rear end but only yelped for a few moments before curiously eyeing his surroundings.

The species around him were far stranger than imagined. Gigantic compared to him, they were green, blue or white. When they leaned over him, he could see that their faces were coloured differently than their bodies. There was an elderly-looking couple hovering near the back, and two younger ones nearer. As they watched curiously, he attempted to communicate his utmost pleasure at being in their presence, and his hopes that the mission would be a success for both sides. However, his language seemed to disturb them, for there was great excitement; speaking in their exotic language, the creatures moved to and fro with fervour. A few minutes of this passed, as his feeding tubes were disconnected and he was passed from creature to creature. This was probably in his honour; they wanted to give him a chance to observe them.

Finally, he was placed back on the area where he had arrived. He relaxed; here in the open, he could watch his strange admirers from afar. Unfortunately, he found that he could hardly move, but that would change as the stiffness of the voyage wore off. The elderly couple hesitantly moved forward and his mode of transportation moved unexpectedly, picking him up with a surprisingly comforting gesture. Making noises that were, remarkably, not unlike the mysterious tongue of the creatures around him, it communicated to the advancing older ones: “Mom, Dad… I’d like you to meet your new grandson.”

Toronto Star, August 2001, Winner in Starship Story Contest