Green Home

Green Home

By Emma Dubay
Camels Hump Middle School, Grade 7

I sit down in the tall chair in front of me. “So,” she asks, “Tell me about Vermont.” My aunt’s Texas drawl pulls out the last word like an old stubborn cow.
“Well, it’s green.” I offer. My eyes dart to the window and I can’t help but notice the dead yellow of the south.
“Oh, I see.” She purses her lips until they are white, “So, nothing else, just green?” She sounds disappointed. My eyes glance nervously from unfamiliar object to unfamiliar object. The color, the idea, the word green describes my home.
“No Aunt B. There’s more, but oh I’ve never seen so many shades of green.” I force myself to stop talking of my home because I miss it so much. I feel the small tears forming behind my eyes. I know however that if I let one roll down my freckled cheek it will be a big deal and my aunt will think it’s her fault. With a casual sweep of my hand I brush them back, forcing a smile. “It’d be nice to get out and see more of the country though!” I lie. “Back home in Vermont being green is just a way of life! Our government tries to keep everything as healthy as possible; in fact, we have so many health food stores and gyms that we are ranked the healthiest state in America. Oh, everything is such a luscious green!” The crinkled, confused look on my Aunt B.’s dark, bony face tells me that she’s heard enough, “So, enough about me. Tell me more about life here in Texas!” A relieved look takes over her face, “Well.” Her voice drifts out of my head like a heavy gray cloud. I know enough about this bone dry state and I want to leave. Leave and go back home to the green rolling hills of Vermont.
-Emma Dubay, 12