When I was a little girl, I wanted a unicorn for a pet. I didn’t tell my daddy, for he told me unicorns don’t exist. So I drew a unicorn on my brand new drawing paper block and named him Sharpie.
When I was a little girl, I wanted a best friend. When I went to school I said hi to everyone but they already had their own best friends. My new teacher had said that dogs are Man’s best friends so I decided that I wanted a dog. But Mummy had said that they are smelly and that I could not have one. So I took out my brand new drawing block and drew a brown puppy dog with big eyes like me and named him Brownie.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to run on fields and meadows. Mummy bought me Enid Blyton’s books and the little girls and boys always had lots of fun, sometimes even with their doggies. I asked Mummy why we did not have a dog like them, and she said that the house was too small. And so on my brand new drawing block I drew a big meadow with yellow blobs of daffodils, where Brownie and I can run and dance.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher. My teacher was a very nice and pretty lady and I wanted to be like her. When she asked us about our dreams, I said I wanted to be a teacher. She smiled and said I have to study hard, and I liked that she gave me a good mark. When I went home Daddy and Mummy were out, so I took out my drawing block and taught Brownie two times two.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to fly. I saw birds in the sky and I could not understand why we were not like them. If we could fly Daddy wouldn’t have to drive. Daddy and Mummy would come home early every day and we would all be happy like the birds in the sky. So I took out my drawing block and drew a smiling me, Daddy and Mummy. Then I gave us wings so that we could all fly and be happy.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up. Grown-ups seem to have more fun and studying made me tired. I wanted to be like the big girl next door who had lots of friends and who always wore beautiful colours on her face and body. I told Mummy when she came home and she told me being a grown-up is not fun at all and went to bed. So alone I took out my drawing block and drew myself with a pretty dress and lots of friends and we were all happy.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to sit on an airplane and fly in the sky. I told Daddy but he said he had to work and couldn’t bring us flying. I told Mummy but she said it was expensive and that I would get the chance to when I grow up. So I took out my used drawing block and drew an airplane in the sky, with Brownie, Sharpie and me looking out of the windows.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a policewoman. I saw one outside school today and all the children were scared. I thought that if I were a policewoman, everyone would not dare to bully me anymore. I went back home to tell Daddy but he was not home yet. Mummy was in the kitchen and said to not bother her, so I took out my drawing block and drew myself as a policewoman and no one dared to kick her or call her names.
When I was a little girl, I learnt about God. We all had to give thanks after recess and go to church sometimes. They told us that God loves everyone and that we are all His Children. But I did not understand why there were still people sitting in the streets with no money and why Grandpa died so early. I went back home and spoke to Aunty on the phone and she said that it was because of karma. I didn’t understand so I took out my drawing block and drew the poor people and God shining happily amongst them and they never went hungry again.
When I was a little girl, I liked to read. I spent my time after school in the library and the nice librarian always smiled and said hi to me. I decided that I liked books a lot because they always answered my questions and talked to me. I didn’t know why the children always had to call me names when all the grown-ups said that reading is good. Brownie told me to ignore them and said he still loved me. And so I took out my thin drawing block and drew a library where dogs were allowed so that Brownie and I could visit it together.
When I was a little girl, I saw a man kiss a woman on television. I asked Daddy and he said that that was what grown men and women do when they are in love. I thought boys were gross and told him I didn’t want to be in love with a boy. Daddy laughed and said that I would understand love one day. I didn’t believe him and took out my last piece of drawing paper. And after thinking for a little bit, I drew myself and Brownie and Sharpie. Then I put Mummy and Daddy in, one on each side and smiled to myself. Daddy was wrong. I understood love. Love is love.
