Carlos (16) rides his skateboard to work
I (14) scoop popcorn for eight dollars an hour
He’s nice
And the first person I meet who also has two last names, no hyphen
He asks how old I am
“15 in one month”
“You’re 14?”
15 in one month
*
Luke (22) is a bricklayer
I (18) don’t tell him I’m in high school
He’s nice
And the first person I meet to offer me weed
His roommate asks my age
“I just turned 18”
“You’re a baby!”
I just turned 18
*
Sejin (30) wants to be married with kids in two years
I (20) tell him I don’t want a baby anytime soon
He’s nice
And the first person I meet who likes more than my body
He wishes me happy birthday in advance
“No, I’m not 21 until tomorrow”
“There’s 9 years between us”
No, I’m not 21 until tomorrow
*
There were summers I wished I was older
Old enough to know driving and dating and drugs
Young enough to think age would stop a man
There were summers I wished I was younger
Young enough to forget marriage and motherhood and memories
Old enough to know when something’s wrong with a man
Too young Too old
To live carelessly
*
This summer, I’ll wish to be my age
I (21) search his name
Carlos (23) and those two last names with no hyphen
Carlos is a common name
Still, the man I find has a wife and a baby
Lily Suckow Ziemer writes poetry, creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and screenplays. Born and raised in Minnesota, she majors in Creative Writing (with a minor in Media Studies) at Emerson College. Lily has been published in Gone Lawn, the Wild Sound Writing Festival, and various Emerson College publications.