Hi guys! Today is going to be a pretty short story, but first I wanted to share a quote. “Those who wish to sing always find a song” -Swedish Proverb.
My eyes are burning. My hands are aching. My back is in so much pain it’s about to crack. My ears are pressed against my head. My head is splitting in two. Water doesn’t help. All day everyday, this is my life.
Starting at 8:30 and ending at 3:30, I go through this torture. 3 other kids and I talk about something, and then it’s back with everyone else. I scribble a note in my notepad. I sneakily read a chapter of my book when I’ve finished doing something.
The bright blue chat bubble is at the side of my vision. Whenever I visit a website, I always do a double take, even on my personal device.
Children should be chatting at lunch tables, running outside, giggling and passing notes, not sitting in front of these torture devices that slowly cause health problems. Not watching for the hateful blue chat bubbles that I think are spy devices.
My notebooks are rarely used, I haven’t touched a folder in months. The clock on the torture device reads 3:21. Just 9 more minutes. I massage my temples and smack my cheeks. It’s Friday. And then I get the weekend off.
The 9 minutes drag by. “Goodbye” my teacher says. I shut my ChromeBook so fast it makes a *SMACK* sound. Thank Gosh, e-learning is over for the week.
The Abby Report 
This is a really great time capsule of a story Abby! It reads like a prose poem and I think you should consider trying to submit to a kids publication like Highlights or something. So many kids know exactly how you feel and would appreciate you putting words to the feelings.
This is such a difficult time and I know that it feels like the longest thing that had gone on in your life maybe, but hopefully we’ll have some return to normalcy gradually over this year and this will be something you have to go through only once in your life. You’ll look back and it will be something like the shortest longest time!
One thing that has helped me get through the frustrations and monotony of it all is to think how cool it is that we are all getting to live through one giant science experiment together. Think how much you’ve learned about Public Health and Epidemiology that no 11 year old (almost 12) year old before you ever know about that age. Expert virologists are learning in real time with the rest of us. Think of all the skills we’ve all learned communicating through technology. I for one didn’t know Grammy and Doughdaddy could zoom before or that playdates could be virtual (Anderson is playing with a friend that lives in Alabama as I write this)! In those ways we’ve all been able to get closer, but I agree with you it’s best to slam that Chromebook shut and take a break from blue chat bubbles and electronics as soon and as much as you can. If it’s too cold to go outside (which I’m guessing it is) at least stare out the window some! Put on your favorite song and have a dance party, read a book and most certainly KEEP WRITING!!! (with a pencil and paper sometimes)
I find your work and thoughts inspiring.
Love Always,
Aunt Kiki
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