Dreams

Lily and Sam, 11 years old and best friends, lie under a summer tree. Lily said, “When I am grown up and 14 years old, we are going to have a baby. Then we will be unemployed, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and get tattoos and body jewelry. I am going to have two more babies with different guys and be on welfare. Then we’ll all live between our divorced parents until they all kick us out. Then we will get our own place in public housing!”. Lily clapped her hands excitedly. Sam sighed wistfully and said, “That sounds idyllic.”.