(This was written during a volunteer experience at Wangee Park School with my lovely friend Mimz)
Humans are always seeking or anticipating the discovery of worlds different to this one. Earth, the wee ball on which we scurry to bus-stops, push along red-handled supermarket trolleys, shatter a cumulative amount of glassware during evening celebrations, has apparently been figured out enough to go cultivate our curiosity elsewhere.
***
I have been spun around this last year. The spinning had me sent to a pretty far-off land (namely, South America) where I was spun even more and returned to my point of origin where I now remain- still accelerating with fair rapidity, yet unable to move off this here dot on the planet. Yet again. But this two hundred billionth return to inertia isn’t my point this time round. (A friend’s ear is a much better receptacle for whinings of the sort; their words- e.g. “Ah shut up Kris, quit thinking too much and do something about it..”- better balm.)
No- it’s more like: the spinning, the 360-degree rotations, have allowed me to look at our little ball in these cool, new angles. And now I’ve in fact stumbled upon an array of other worlds that happen to be revolving on this one right here. Alls I had to do was stand on my head a bit to see them properly.
One of these newly discovered planets is called Zahra. It takes the form of a little girl, usually situated under pretty hairclips and directly behind a grin bearing the power to weaken knees at first sight. The world of Zahra is a unique one to say the least. If I were to participate in a Zahra-based university trivia night for instance, it’d probably go something like:
Q: What do we use to walk around?
A: Wheels!
Q: What do we need to eat our meals?
A: A spoon or a fork… and a pair of hands to hold them up to my mouth for me!
And so on- each answer like a heavy stamp, drowning the world in dark, blue ink. But planet Zahra herself seems to not feel so much the predicament she’s in. Never have I had the pleasure of experiencing such hearty laughs coming out of nowhere. Such sparkly eyes- smiling eyes. Such mysterious, wonderful joy dancing on a foggy moor of unfair disadvantages. It brightens my day & my soul so much to be the recipient of her surprises. I wonder at the fact that she too must have some special kind of perspective… on mine and other worlds. (and from the looks of things, she must find us hilarious!)
***
I’m not certain, but I think, really think, that I’m developing some kind of explorer’s syndrome. Of worlds within our world such as what I’ve mentioned here. I want to surround myself with these good & amazing people that have now proven themselves to exist. My experience, though I’ve thus far only dabbled, has shown that most in turn gather their strength & spirit through the good & amazing people around them. It’s just like this. People need people. Each person has something to give and receive. There are never too few people to assist nor too many that need assistance. The problem is that most have the whole action down as being complicated, when it’s just so simple and intrinsic.
At the school, I’m constantly thanked for giving up some of my free time to be there- I don’t believe they believe that the pleasure really is all mine.
