One
night, when I was about five or so, I asked my mom as she
helped me dry off after a shower:
"Mommy, when will I lose a
tooth?"
I felt as if almost everyone in my kindergarten class had
already lost at least one tooth - some had already lost two or
three, even. My teacher kept a big chart up on the wall to keep
track. Whenever someone lost one, a picture of a smiling tooth
was affixed next to their name. My row remained empty. But my
mother only told me,
"It will happen when it's supposed
to."
Sure enough, I lost my first tooth a few weeks later. Mom took
me to the beach that day. We found an interesting-looking rock
with little bubbles in it, and when we got home she marked the
date on the rock in red
Sharpie ink.
A few months later, on another night, I asked:
"Mommy, will you buy me a Game
Boy?"
I felt as if almost everyone in my summer camp owned one. A
bunch of kids would take theirs out on the playground and play
with them together. One boy showed me his Mario game, and it
looked like lots of fun. But my mother only told me,
"You'll get a Game Boy eventually. Don't
worry."
Sure enough, we went to Target with one of her friends a few
weeks later. As I was helping load packages into the car I
stumbled upon a Powerpuff Girls game. "Why'd you buy
me a game when I don't have anything to play it on," I
inquired? "You do now!" she exclaimed as she
excitedly pulled out a box with a picture of a hot pink Game Boy on it. For the years
to come it remained one of my favorite toys.
Now, at 17, I have a lot of questions about my life.
Where will I go to college? When will I get a boyfriend? What
will he be like? When will I get my driver's license? Will
I ever get to go on a cruise? Or travel out of the country?
When will I get a new iPhone? How come I still haven't
gotten my first kiss?
But with each question I remember my mother's words of
wisdom, and rest assured that everything that's
supposed to happen will happen in its due time.
I guess I'll just have to wait until then.