You ignore Zoey and raise the cookie again. Then you pause again. Maybe Zoey's right. Whats going to happen to you if keep eating like [[this|not eat]]?
You push your hand into the air; you're the first person to do so, and you wait expectantly for your teacher to call on you. But your teacher is looking the other direction, and you hear her call on [[Billy|not]]
You have a mother and a father, a brother and a sister. Your parents put you in soft dresses and tie bows in your hair. One day they take you to the toy store with your brother; you sit tightly secured in your seat as patches of sky and flashes of trees flit by. Your father unbuckles you from your seat and you chase after your brother into the store. \n\nYou follow your brother as he careens around an aisle. He picks up an action figure, clad in dark greens and blacks, a shaded visor across his eyes. Your own eyes widen as you reach for it, but the bright pink from across the store catches your eye. You hesitate-- should you choose the [[action figure]] or [[pick a doll]]?
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You are born in late June. You are named Jane. You do not remember much from the early years of your [[life.|Early Years]]
Your small hand closes around the shiny plastic. You cradle the toy close to your chest and turn toward your parents. \n\nA small smile plays around your father's lips. \n\n"Why don't you pick something else, honey?" he says, steering you toward the [[other aisle|pick a doll]]
Your are twelve years old, sitting in the cafeteria at school with a few of your classmates. You've just picked up your cookie when Zoey asks you "Are you really going to eat <i> that </i>? \n\nYou lower it. \n\n"Why? What's wrong with it?" \n\n"Do you know how many calories are in those?" \n\n"Uh--" You have no idea how many calories are in those. \n\n"Well, I wouldn't, if I were you," Zoey continues, giving it a fearful glance. "You'll blow up." \n\nYou lower the cookie even further; it hovers near the crushed plastic bag on the table. Should you [[eat it|pause]] or [[not|not eat]]?
Girlhood
"Excellent, Billy!" Your teacher beams at the boy in the front row who answered correctly. Resentment bubbles up in you, but you [[push it down|Late Grade School]]
Alex O'Connell
You shove the cookie bag in the plastic bag, appetite suddenly gone. You don't need that, do [[you|High School]]?
You reluctantly pick out a doll from the pink shelf. The plastic faces seem to leer down at you. Your father suggests a baby doll with tightly curled blonde hair and bright pink lips. You follow them to the [[checkout|Grade School]]
You start school the next year. You cannot contain your excitement when you enter the little kindergarten classroom for the first time. The other boys and girls sit in desks next to you, their crayons and folders neatly packed away in their desks. \n\nAs time goes on, as you enter first, second, third, fourth, fifth, grade, your excitement wanes. You don't know what it is; you love your classes, love some of your classmates, love the rush you get when you figure out an especially challenging question. \n\nIn math class one day, your teacher assings a problem for everyone to work on. You work on it for a few minutes, and then feel a rush of excitement. You're pretty sure you have the answer but for some reason doubt nags at you. Should you [[raise your hand]] or [[not]]?