Forced to play with her little brother again, Harper grabs her homework, put on her shoes and headed outside. Her little brother Ryan who was eleven, was climbing the up the slide when she came out. “Don’t do that Ryan. You’re going to get hurt and I’m going to get blamed for it.” She said as she sat in the corner of her yard and pulled out her homework. Ryan ignored her warning and kept going up the slide. “And I can’t keep coming outside to “play” with you. I’m seventeen Ryan, and I have other priorities in life like finishing homework or getting accepted into a good college. I’ve been very busy lately and watching you throw yourself around our play set is not helping me get less busy or less stressed out.” She said aggressively. When Ryan reached the top of the slide he turned his body so that he could slide down. In silence he slid down the slide and walked towards Harper. He sat down next to her and watched her write out long equations of numbers and letters that he didn’t understand. “You need to chill out Harper. Live a little okay. Stop growing up. ” He uttered. Harper looked at him, rolled her eyes and said with an attitude “yeah you don’t understand the stress of a seventeen year old, okay. Wait until you’re older. Now leave me alone.” Ryan stood up disappointedly, slowly walked towards the swings and slumped down to sit in one. Thinking to herself Harper wondered what he meant by “live a little”. Sure she’s been occupied with school lately and haven’t really gone out much but school’s more important than anything right now. Right? And what about “stop growing up”. Is it true that she has grown up too fast? That her childish ways were gone? Did she lose the Harper that everyone knew and loved? Curiosity filled every inch of Harpers body when she started to think of the last time she ever hung out with someone or just hung out by herself outside. Eventually, she stood up from the ground and cowardly walked towards the swing next to Ryan. And she, just like he did, slumped down. “Is that all you got Harp?” Ryan asked. With a little attitude and a slight smirk Harper kicked off the ground and started pumping her legs. “Yeah there we go! Ol’ Harps coming back!” Ryan exclaimed. “Alright now close your eyes and lean back like this..” Ryan demonstrated. “This is ridiculous.” Harper whined. Ryan scoffed, “Just do it”. And she did. She pumped her legs with all her might, when her legs were all the way up in the air, Harper leaned back, closed her eyes, and in that moment she finally felt like a child again. A happy child who didn’t worry about college or school, one who simple had fun. The real Harper was finally back.