I am Poem
by Johnny who is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade

I am normal like everybody else
I wonder why people make fun of me (because I never tease other kids even when the other day Troy came out of the bathroom with his pants unzipped)
I hear them whispering about me (but my brother and I always whisper late at night so we won’t get caught staying up late)
I see them laughing at me (but I laugh a lot when I watch cartoons)
I want them to see that I am no different (because I love to catch crawdads and ride my bike just like my classmates do)
I am normal like everybody else

I pretend that I am happy all the time (but I was really happy last weekend when I went to the zoo)
I feel sadness (but last week I was really sad when I lost my pet hamster)
I touch my lips (but I love to touch worms and bugs)
I worry that I really am different (but I really worry that it will rain today and I can’t play outside)
I cry because people call me names (but I cried this morning when my brother hit me)
I am normal like everybody else

I understand that I have a problem talking (but I really understand that I am grounded today for yelling at my mom)
I say that it will be fixed soon (just like my favorite remote control truck)
I dream of being liked (but I really dream that one day I will become an astronaut)
I try to avoid talking (but I really try to avoid girls. They are gross!!)
I hope they would stop making fun of me (but I really hope that I can go to McDonalds for dinner so I can get a happy meal)
I am normal like everybody else

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