I Wonder From the eyes of a child

I wonder what does it mean to be free?

I see on the news that we live in the home of the free because of the brave but...

why can’t I see mommy when I want to? She’s always at work, only to come home to cook and sleep. I don’t bother her because she always looks tired. To me, she’s not free but she is brave....

I wonder what does it mean to be smart?

I always see kids on their phones when taking a test looking for answers. When they get good grades the teacher calls them smart. I think with a phone anyone can be smart. I wonder if there was a time when we used our brains instead of our phones.

I wonder what does it mean to be brave?

I see heroes on the T.V always saving others. Why in real life everyone saves themselves and blames others?

Sometimes I do see people helping!

But it’s usually when there is a camera in front of them and the person receiving the gesture always looks uncomfortable. Perhaps he just doesn’t feel good.

I wonder what is love?

Mom always says she loves me but she also says she loves pizza and movies. Maybe love is just another way of saying like. I hear people say love all the time. That must be it!

Anyways, I always hear mommy say we are going to be alright even though everywhere I look no one smiles.

I mean they do but only after they take something. I don't know what it is. It's always different.

It's either in a little green bag or in some type of cup in their pockets. Afterward, they smile but I can tell they aren't the same anymore. I don't know how to explain it. It's like they're more distant and lost.

I wonder if there was a time people laughed without changing who they are.