This just shows how something normal and harmless in one context can be misunderstood and even mocked in another and your decision to lie highlights the pressure to conform and the shame that comes from being seen as different.
I absolutely love the themes of identity, visibility, and loss of innocence you’ve explored here. Golden piece!
I was a child. My new home was a strange universe for me. I didn't understand my classmates anymore than they could understand my early life. I think it's great to move around, to see that people have vastly different ways of living. I think it makes us less rigid in our worldview. Hard, adjusting, but good lessons.
Thank you very much for that kind assessment of my piece. I enjoyed writing it.