My friends and I started the first day of kindergarten
with sweaty palms and runs in our tights
and Dillon got bashful when he saw me get on the bus
and hid his head in the seat
and Michelle and I played dress up for hours in her mother's closet
talking about how it would be like to act like
the big kids.

My friends and I started the first day of middle school
with sweaty palms and new jeans
and Dillon and I kissed under the jungle gym last year
but he liked another girl more than me.
and Michelle kissed all her big brother's friends
and tried to be just like
the big kids.

My friends and I started the first day of high school
with sweaty palms and big text books
and Dillon has been dating Hannah for two months
and gives me looks in the hallway.
and it seems like Michelle has been trying to play dress up in her mother's
closet again.
and all the boys look at her and she loves it.
And it seems like no one will take you seriously unless
you're a big kid.

My friends and I said good bye the last day of senior year
with fond memories and our graduation caps
and Dillon took his own life last year
because Hannah forgot they were dating
for a night.
And Michelle stays home mostly now
because her baby needs her more than she needs her degree
and it scares me now
because we are
the big kids.