The Bluestocking 2023-24

Cathy Li Grade 9 Purple Princesses

Grade 1: My teacher hands us a piece of paper – vast and white; It’s a fresh canvas; a new start; an opportunity to grasp what’s right. My teacher says, “Draw what you want to become,” But I only grip my purple crayon in frustration. My eyes flicker between the blank “canvas” and my crayon; I think – Purple , like those gentle, swaying lilacs I watch in my neighbor’s garden, Purple , like those purple Skittles I always save for last, Purple , like those purple princesses I draw on everything in fact, Yeah , purple is my favorite color.

On the paper, I draw a purple princess.

Grade 2: The bell shatters the silence of our classroom, As I push up from my chair all too sudden, My heart pounds in anticipation to burst out of class,

But then I hear my teacher Call my name to stay behind As last? Her words pry me away from the door and I ask myself – me? I repeat out loud – me? Yeah, you. I must be dumb because I know what I did wrong, Yet why do I feel so surprised and awful and disgusted and angry? Like something’s clawing at my heart or tearing me apart.

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