I am Opal

I am nervous yet kind
I wonder where my mama is
I hear Otis' music and it makes me smile
I imagine memories of my mother
I want to fill the void in my heart
I am nervous yet kind

I pretend to be Winn Dixie's mother
I feel as if I have missed out on certain childhood things
I hold my mamas hand as we walk to the library
I worry that daddy is sad about mama leaving
I cry when i see other little girls having fun with their mothers
I am nervous yet kind

I understand more than my daddy thinks I do
I tell my stories so that people can enjoy them the way my mama would
I dream about having a full family again
I try to make friends but it is hard being a new girl in town
I hope that one day daddy will come out of his turtle shell for good
I am nervous yet kind