The Day Jimmy Caught 'Cooties'
(c) 2017 Haylee V
"Hey Jimmy! Come jump rope with us!" Eliza called out, her voice carrying over the den of the playground's noise.
"Careful, Jimmy," my friend Pete warned. "She's a girl, and girls have cooties. If you're not careful, you'll catch them and turn into a girl, too."
Sadly, I waved Eliza away, as tears formed in my eyes. I hung my head and turned away, as I began to slowly walk home.
"Is it true, Mom?" I blurted out as soon as I entered the house.
"Is what true, dear?"
"That girls have cooties, and if I catch them from a girl, I'll turn into a girl, too?"
"What do you think, dear? You hug me all the time, and I'm a girl, aren't I?"
"Yeah..."
"And you haven't turned into a girl yet, have you?"
"No, but..."
"Well, then, you have nothing to worry about. Now dry your tears and go change out of your play clothes. Daddy and I want to see how you look in the new sundress and Mary Janes we brought you yesterday..."