Lexicon for Life

Like most kids, when I was small I learned the alphabet by singing my ABCs. In seventh grade I discovered a record album, Lexicon of Love, by a music group that used those same three letters as their name. Several more years passed before those same three letters gained even more significance. I found that ABC described who I am, an American-born Chinese. As we grow older, the meaning of letters and words change and take on more than one meaning. Words become multi-layered, like a cake, and this cake has a cherry-bomb in the center. Words and how we choose to write them have explosive power.

Reading, writing, and talking all have words in common. When I was younger I read because no one would talk to me about the things I wanted to talk about, and then I started writing to express things I couldn't say out loud to another person. I'm sure you know what I mean. People say things like "I love you," or "I hate you," and simple phrases like these always ask for more sentences to explain them. In middle school you are beginning to understand that heavy words shouldn't be tossed off lightly.

When I was twelve, unicorns was da bomb. See, that's not good grammar, but that's how we talk. Good writing mixes both – correct phrasing with what feels right in conversation. And you've got to know how things are supposed to look and sound if you're going to do it wrong on purpose. For fun. To be bad. Or to be good. Adults sometimes think kids aren't paying attention. Kids' eyes and mouths see and read between the lines. And with their hands, they write.

Kids out there, are you listening? We need you. Parents, teachers, even strangers want to read your stories. See, everyone is lonely, so don't feel like you're the only one. We need you, and we need your writing. Tell us how you feel so we can remember to tell you how we feel. For some reason, it's always the younger people who have to take the lead in sharing feelings. Adults are too busy thinking about taxes and car insurance. Tug on our sleeves and say, "Hey! Remember me? I'm here." I know, I know, you shouldn't have to, but we need to be reminded.

Tell us with words, however they come to you – by talking, singing, or writing. Lexicon just means a group of words, and we need your words, your lexicon of love and life. You have a say in what goes into life's layer cake. Even if it seems like adults are always trying to tell you what to do, what you choose to do and say matters. And when you feel like crying, taste the salt in your tears and remember that even a layer cake needs salt to taste sweeter. And life is sweet, I promise.

Is another life as sweet as it seems? I Want Candyis a featured book in Fictions Readers, a group to discuss contemporary women's fiction, books, women's issues and much more. Click here to join the group.

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