“Happy Birthday Scarlett”

By Keira Footer

Graphic by Josie Zevin

It’s hard to picture a world in which

I don’t have a little sister: 

a nagging in my ear,

a person to protect.

It’s strange to think 

that there was once a time without

extremely competitive uno games

and fights over the first player Wii remote. 

I wouldn’t trade it for the world — 

laughing until our faces are pink,

silly secrets and 

random hangouts.

She’s only nine, soon to be ten,

and somehow 

she teaches me more about myself 

than anyone else could.

She’s the headache 

forming in my right temple,

the funniest kid I know,

and my main motivation to be better.

Despite her desire to have what’s mine

and an insatiable need to be right,

I’d pick her to be my sister

in every lifetime.