by Katelyn Wescoat

Created on: April 22, 2009

A long time ago, not a far away day

As a little child, in the month of May

My mother told me a thing or two

She said to me, "Honey, I've got bunches to say,

Listen up, so you'll know what to do."

"You must listen to me, and to what I've got to say,

No matter what others may think or do.

Don't do bad things, or good things, June,

Even though we adults can and may."

"Be a good girl, listen in school

Don't get in trouble,

But don't follow the rules.

Be nice and polite,

Patient, and cool

But make sure every day to get into a fight."

"Don't study at all, but don't flunk out

Pass every quiz, without a doubt

You'll be fine, just listen to me

That's what I did, just look, golly gee!

I turned out all right, no matter how it may appear

Don't worry, June, you shouldn't have a fear."

"Middle school will be a time of finding one's self

Many, in fact, will perhaps drop out.

Children run around like very large elves

So give a hoot, holler, and shout

For what is clearly a time of degradation and doubt."

"Mom, mom, enough's been said

I get it, I get. I'd rather be dead

From what I've heard about these wonderful years

I'd rather be alone to wallow in tears."

"No, things will be fine

No matter how it may seem

These guys aren't worth a dime

But are worth heaps and reams!"

"But next comes high school, the best part of all.

In the big building, you'll have a ball.

The kids there are grand, grand as can be

You'll be fine my dear, just you wait and see."

The fated day came, much much too soon

For poor, then innocent, little June

She walked through the crowds to her first period class

She was finally there, the grand institution, at last!

June tried so hard to like her new school

She flunked all her classes, and slept with her friends,

She tried to please her mother, tried to learn to be cool

But when she failed, her mother just said...

"June, I'm ashamed. I figured you'd do great.

But lately it's been seeming like you're doing too well

But you're working on your homework far, far too late

It's becoming much too hard to tell

If you're doing as I told you so long ago

To have fun, and forget school. You're doing it not quite so well."

Now looking back on those sad, twisted days

June cries, yet laughs, in both tears of joy and pain

"Growing up isn't easy, but it isn't THAT tough

But I've certainly had my share of more than enough."

"As a responsible adult who can drink, drive, and smoke

I've learned my lesson, and to you whom I spoke:

Remember to never drink unwisely and drive,

Just drink safely, and you'll be completely fine."

"Don't forget that since we're now grown, and can follow simple rules

We can do what we want, yeah, it's completely cool

With whoever's around, we could break all those rules

Although that's one of the points of doing it while in school."

"Growing up isn't easy, but it's not very hard

Cause all we do now is drink, have safe sex, and play cards.

So all those things that they make you learn in school

You'll never use, they're just "useful tools."

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