The Girl in the White Dress

Translated…

It was, my fourth grade year, I’d represented my class to compete in the recitals, and, received first place, and, it’d given me the chance, to represent my whole school, in the regionals. The very first time, competing outside of my school, I was extraordinarily nervous, plus I’d not practiced enough times, in the end, I’d not, placed.  At the time of the awards ceremony, I’d looked up on the podium, at the winners who were my age, especially the girl in the white dress, who was, standing, at the head of the group, I couldn’t help but wondered, if I’d worked harder, could I be standing, where they were back then too?

Later on, I’d still, trained in recitations, and had represented my school, in numerous language competitions, in a certain year in middle school, I’d finally, gotten the opportunity to compete in the region wide contest. That time, that girl and I were, representing the same districts, being able to compete with someone I’d wanted to become, I was happy, and unsettled at the same time—I was glad, that my hard work paid off, and, became worried, that I’m competing against her again.  And, this anxiousness, this worrying, had, accompanied to the day of the contests.

During the six to eight minutes before ste4pping on stage, we’d gotten the chance to prepare ourselves, during which time, there were, other competitors, reciting on stage, the contestants read through the articles they’d picked out at random really quickly. That day, the girl went up first, with that familiar white dress, she’d done, just as expected, excellent.  Then, I’d entered, the preparation area, I was, very nervous, but I’d still, pretended I wasn’t, and, flipped through the dictionaries.

not my drawing…

At which time, the girl walked toward me, bent down, to retrieve the dictionary she’d left on the desks. I’d skimmed at her with my peripheral vision, thought, that she’d done so wonderfully, and I must, catch up to her too.  At the time the assortments of emotions came over me, the girl picked up her dictionary, and, whispered, into my ears, “Work hard”.

All of a sudden, there was, this surge of warmth that came from inside of me, and at the same time, I’d felt, so very, ashamed. For a very long time, I’d, treated this girl as someone I’d wanted to become, a rival, but for her, I am a partner who represented the same district as she.

The competitions that year, I’d won the first place trophy, and finally, I’d, surpassed that girl in the white dress I’d wanted to become. But, comparing to the joys I’d felt, was how narrow minded I was back then, as well as, the other girl’s powerful encouraging whisper into my ears.

not my pictures…

Because you’d lost to her once, you’d wanted to beat her, it’s only natural, and, as you two met up in competitions again, she’d carried that attitude of befriending you, because you two represented the same regions, and, you’d recalled how ashamed you were, seeing her, only as a rival, while she saw you as a companion.