From the very first day at school,

we sat together, ate, played the fool.

The special six we were called,

the only ones that never bawled.

The back benchers from class one;

Oh! We did have a lot of fun!

From hop-scotch to cricket, we played it all;

winning or losing, we had a real ball.

We eagerly waited to grow up – oh fie;

getting our periods was a real high!

How we longed to be free of braces;

and wear lingerie with trims and laces.

Crushes, boyfriends , first kisses;

we giggled at all the hits and misses.

Movies, picnics, trips to beaches;

in our bikinis, we attracted a few ‘leeches’.’

Studies we however never neglected,

with the final results we were delighted.

And all too soon we had to part;

for college life was soon to start.

Memories of those childhood days;

fill my heart with sunny rays.

Childhood friends remain for life;

we still share our joys and strife.

Elizabeth Kuriakose