Today was supposed to be the best day of your young life, today was the day we traveled to Los Angeles for your poetry convention.

You'd been picked from dozens of children in the sixth grade and higher, for the junior Pulitzer award.

Momma did your hair in a perfect ballerina bun, it made your ears look extra pointy today. But still gorgeous.

End POV

"Are you nervous, you have to speak in front of so many people, but it'll all be worth it once you win your award."

They both looked at their mom. "Mom I haven't won yet. Somebody else might have a better poem than me." she knew her poem was good but there was a chance that a million other poems would be better.

She was nervous now that they had arrived in front of the building.

She met a lady at the front desk who gave her a number (15) that wasn't too bad.

The kid before her red about a bird, it was creepy but honestly beautiful.

"Next number 15, Valerie Pierce-Lopez. From Middleton charter school." Valerie could barely stand.

She took a deep breath into the microphone. She straighten her posture and relaxed.

"This poem is titled You are young."

Breath, Santana thought.

"You are young, so you destroy things, your eyes are charms in a chest, your smile is of a million life's, your smile is a silent symphony. The beats of our hearts match, like a bang of a congo."

She was getting neevous both her parents could tell.

"You are young so, you love like no other, you dream as if space is only a mile away. You are young so you, wait outside for money to grown to grow on trees, because you are young, it's my job to show you the way, the right way."

They finally realized this poem was about Ruby.

"You are young, so your mind is still pure, you are young so you sing off tune, you are young. You are young so your biggest care in the world is Dragon tales."

She took a deep breath.

"You are young, so you don't grow up, stay the same. You are young, but to someone else your older, forever stay young." she took a bow and everyone stood an clapped.

Winning didn't mean anything to Valerie, sharing her poem with everyone was enough for her.

They had a fifteen minute break, before judging. Santana had practically blinded her daughter with so many pictures.

"I'm very proud of you Valerie. You did an amazing job up there and you spoke so perfectly." Brittany kissed her cheek.

"Thanks mom."

They twenty student stood in a line on stage facing the crowd as they waited for the judging to begin.

"The third place winner is.…" drum roll ".…Jackson Cannon, from Hilton middle school." he walked up and received his third place red ribbon.

Two men wheeled out the first and second place trophies.

"Now our second place winner..…" again drum roll ".…Nathan Andrew." the kid who wrote about the bird.

"And for our grand prize winner of one thousand dollars, goes too.…" drum roll, eye roll "...Valerie Pierce-Lopez."

Santana whistled, everybody clapped and took pictures.

Brittany held the car door open for her. And she took her seat next to Ruby.

"Val, was that poem about your sister?" asked her momma.

"Yeah, I want her to stay young forever." Ruby licked her finger and stuck it in Val's ear. "Ruby that's disgusting." she flicked her sisters wet finger from her ear.

When I was in seventh grade my sister who is older than me, won an award for a poem about me.

She didn't win first place though, however is still was the most amazing thing someone had done for me.

Her poem was titled Don't Grow Up. She asked me if our mom still had it, that were the inspiration came from.

Sorry I haven't added a chapter in a few days, April 13 is the year anniversary of my grandfathers death, I've been down.

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