Page 21 - Contrast2015

often be seen looking away, smiling nervously,
laughing anxiously, and pretending I didn’t
know the crazy woman yelling about how
much she loves a stranger’s shoes. In turn, she
didn’t understand my fear of eye contact or of
speaking to people I didn’t already know.

One summer, when I was around 14, my
mother told me I had to be very happy and
outgoing to meet one of her friends. I would
be happy to meet this friend, she did have a
huge in-ground pool, after all, but my mother
wanted to prevent me from staring at my feet
when introducing myself. She told me to
create a persona: her name was Sunny D, and
she loved talking and meeting new people. She
was always bursting with energy and radiance.
She was my mother packaged in myself.

So when I met her friend, Kim, I became
Sunny D. I smiled wide and looked her right in
the face and cheerfully shouted “Hi! I’m
Summer!” We hugged, and afterward, my
mom was pleased with this alternate version
of me she had created.

I still use Sunny D to this day. My job as a
tutor requires me to meet new people all the
time, so I put on my best façade with a wide
smile and say, “Hi! I’m Summer!”

At 15, before my annual Kansas summer
visit, my aunt and uncle called me into their
room. They told me that I would not be
staying at the home of Jude, my mother’s
boyfriend, while visiting. Apparently, he had

| 19