The Incredible Shrinking Girl

As a young child, I loved Vacation Bible School — it was the only “summer camp” I ever went to. We made sun-catchers in the shape of doves, played Red Light Green Light in the shady grass behind the church, and sang our little hearts out every day. Summers always concluded with a big finale — an evening performance of the best songs we’d learned over the past several weeks together. In the earlier years, Ms. Briscoe accompanied the group on her keyboard, full of verve and vigorous expression. Later, it was Pastor Noyes on his acoustic guitar. The summer before fifth grade, I stood on the risers at the front of the church a few days before the big show, while everybody learned their places and practiced their lines. Just then, quiet laughter carried up from the pews, and I noticed two boys poking each other and grinning. They were looking at me. Straining to hear, I could just make out that the two of them were making some sort of joke about my body while I stood there reciting the verses to “All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir.” It was the mischievous sort of laughter. <a href="https://medium.com/black-bear-recovery/the-incredible-shrinking-girl-6c9e40ec56fe">Website</a>