I love my tablet. I love playing games and watching videos.
I love it so much I take it everywhere and use it all the time.
My mummy does not like my tablet. She thinks I use it too much. She only thinks that because
she never had a tablet when she was young.
Today, I went to use my tablet and the power turned off. I couldn’t play any games. I couldn’t
watch any videos, and my tablet was dying. What in the world am I to do? I’ll die of boredom for
sure.
Five minutes without my tablet and I was pacing the floor. I just don’t know what to do.
Mummy walks by, and simply says “Go outside.”
Go OUTSIDE? Is she out of her mind?
I’ll get itchy, and dirty. And it’s SO HOT!
No way. I can’t do that.
Mummy starts to go on and on about how she would play when she was young but that doesn’t
change my mind at all.
Besides, she has so much to say about how she used to play but I don’t see her going outside.
“Come,” She said. “Let me show you what it was like in the good ole’ days.”
Mummy took me outside and my skin started to melt off my bones. The grass was already
pricking my skin, and a rock rolled right into my Crocs.
Mummy didn’t mind any of my cries, and started to show us all the joys of her old life.
That day, we climbed the mango tree until my sister Jana scraped her knee.
We played hopscotch on the concrete using rocks to draw on the street.
Daddy taught us how to shoot marbles in the dirt. Johnny lost and was very hurt.
We made mud-pies and fed them to all the guys.
We spinned and sang to the beat of our own drum,
There’s a brown girl in the ring. Sha-la-la-la-la. There’s a brown girl in the ring sha-la-la-la-la.
There’s a brown girl in the ring sha-la-la-la-la. And she looks like a sugar and a plum, plum,
PLUM.
So soon, it was time to go inside. Mummy picked the prickles off of my pants as I tried not to cry.
The power was back on, but it was not as fun.
Mummy was really right about them good ole’ days.

Power Off 

Conchita looking worried at her unresponsive tablet, with a room filled with toys in the background

I love my tablet. I love playing games and watching videos.
I love it so much I take it everywhere and use it all the time.
My Mummy does not like my tablet. She thinks I use it too much. She only thinks that because
she never had a tablet when she was young.

The Tablet Trouble

Mummy sitting on the sofa telling Conchita to go outside with a skeptical look on Conchita's face

Today, I went to use my tablet and the power turned off. I couldn’t play any games. 
I couldn’t watch any videos, and my tablet was dying! What  am I to do? I’ll die of boredom for
sure.

Five minutes without my tablet and I was pacing the floor. I just don’t know what to do.
Mummy walked by, and simply said, “Go outside.”

Go OUTSIDE? Is she out of her mind?
I’ll get itchy, and dirty. And it’s SO HOT!

No way! I can’t do that!

Mummy starts to go on and on about how she would play when she was young but that doesn’t change my mind at all.

Besides, she has so much to say about how she used to play but I don’t see her going outside.
“Come,” She said. “Let me show you what it was like in the good ole’ days.”

Mummy's Suggestion

Conchita in the hot backyard in Crocs, looking uncomfortable and irritated 

Mummy took me outside and my skin started to melt off my bones. The grass was already
pricking my skin, and a rock rolled right into my shoes.
Mummy didn’t mind any of my cries, and started to show us all the joys of her old life.

A Step Outside

Conchita smiling while climbing a big mango tree, and Jana bleeding knee

That day, we climbed the mango tree until my sister Jana scraped her knee.

Climbing the Mango Tree

Daddy crouched on the ground, showing Johnny, Jana and Conchita how to play marbles in the dirt

Next, they played hopscotch on the concrete. They used rocks to draw on the street. Daddy joined them to teach marbles in the dirt. Johnny lost the game and felt a bit hurt. But soon, everyone was laughing and playing again.

Hopscotch and Marbles

Conchita and Jana joyfully making mud-pies in the backyard

We made mud pies and fed them to all the guys. 

Mud-Pies and Songs

Mummy in the backyard dancing with Jana, Daddy and Johnny in a circle. Conchita in the middle of the circle. 

We spun and sang to the beat of our own drum,

"There’s a brown girl in the ring. Sha-la-la-la-la." 

"There’s a brown girl in the ring sha-la-la-la-la."

"There’s a brown girl in the ring sha-la-la-la-la. And she looks like a sugar and a plum, plum,
PLUM."

The End of the Day

 Conchita with her tablet sitting next to Mummy looking sad

So soon, it was time to go inside. 
Mummy picked the prickles off of my pants as I tried not to cry.

The power was back on, but it was not as fun.
Mummy was really right about them good ole’ days!