1998, Age 4, First Day at School

I crouch behind the bench, until I hear footsteps. Then I run, and turn back briefly, to see a face, a girl with brown curls, arm outstretched, five paces behind me. I keep running until my hands make contact with the wood of the bench. I’m safe.

"Non é giusto! Brava negli sports!" She shouts out. I catch Toni’s eyes as she stares at me from the place that the older girls hang out. She smiles at me and I smile back.

That’s not fair! She’s good at sports!

“Scusa! Sarò io a farlo ora. Come ti chiami?” I say, backing away from the bench.

Sorry. I’ll be it now. What’s your name?

“Graze. Olivia. Quello che è tuo?”

Thanks. Olivia. What’s yours?

“Lucia. Vuoi che siamo amici?”

Lucia. Wanna be friends?

“Sicuro!”

Sure!

And just like that, I'd made my first friend.

1999, Age 5, Moving to England

Mamma made me sit next to Toni, and she’s squishing me. There’s about 5 suitcases in the boot, and Papá is in the front. The taxi driver has a bobbly head in the front, and the car smells of candy. I feel sweat sticking the back of my sweatshirt to me, but Mamma says I have to wear it for when we get to England.

E N G L A N D.

The word feels funny, but Birmingham feels funnier. Burning Ham. Who would name a place after a gross smell. I feel Olivia’s bracelet on my skin, pressing into my wrist, as I sit on my hands. I’m going to miss Olivia, but she says we can send letters. The sky outside is really dark, and I want to sleep. I should be in bed, but I want to see everything. I want to see England, where the Queen lives.