Kid Writers

Tomorrow I have to drive over to Roxbury and get my box of bones back. They’re not my family’s bones or anything, though we are from there. They’re more my “I’m-in-love-with-human-anatomy” bones that I bought to puzzle over when I was working as a massage therapist. I loaned them to 826 Boston,  the awesome after-school writing center to which I brought seven of my favorite people every week this spring in order to tutor.  826 did a kind of Fantasy Forensics camp this summer and asked who had clean bones and. well, I raised my hand.The kids who come here write some amazing stuff, which gets published in real books. How’s this by Ellie Nguyen as she looks back at First Grade?  “I ran my mouth as if I had shoes for teeth. People just always seemed to be interested by what I had to say. But when the teacher told me to stand in front and introduce myself, I froze. Was I afraid to show them who I was? Did I look stupid just standing there? ‘Elizabeth,’ I finally said. ‘I was named after the queen!” Mrs. Bae chuckled a bit and bowed. ‘Well, it’s an honor to meet you, your highness.’ I knew I was going to like here.’Or this, by Cole Cartwright? “The robot’s name is Rex. He smashes cities and people. He eats cars. Police are scared of him so they go home. Rex is so giant and handsome. He even has a girlfriend. Her name is Mary. She is a robot too. The robots play together and they are happy.” Cole is a bit years younger than Ellie.All I know is when I bring my seven favorite people here the children look at them with shiny eyes as they tackle homework sheets or read stories or do a bit of writing together. Sometimes they touch their hands, or their long muscular arms. “You are my future!” I believe each one is thinking. As for me, I just watch, And smile. And take the occasional picture. :-)

though I can't claim credit for this one!

This one I snapped: Josh Winchester High 2011, with the kids: