I was 8-years-old,
with crooked teeth and a bright smile,
when alcohol was for nail polish,
and nail polish only.
That was the year
my best friend’s sister died
and the kids at school told me
why nice girls wore makeup.
That was what the big kids were doing.
I was 12-years-old,
with braces and a shy smile,
when alcohol was for talking about,
and talking about only.


That was the year
my best friend stopped talking to me
and the kids at school told me
why people kissed.
That was what the big kids were doing.
I’m 16-years-old now,
with perfect teeth and no smile.
Now alcohol’s for forgetting,
and forgetting only.
This year
my best friend is a stranger
and the kids at school don’t have anything to tell me...

...because we’re the big kids now.