Personal Narrative: Come On, Will !

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“Come on, Will!” My best friend, John, and I raced after my fellow classmates at Rutherford School for Boys as the last bell on Friday rang, excited for our first soccer practice. When we finally reached the field, I inhaled deeply. The fresh air filled my lungs as we warmed up, laughter and chatter in the air. The talk among us teenage boys was lively and boisterous, and I enjoyed the camaraderie our team had built up over the years. “Hey, Will! You gonna be heading to ballet after this?” One of the more pugnacious boys, Michael, leered. As everyone laughed, I felt my cheeks turn pink. I lived with my two older sisters, mom, and aunt. Moreover, all of them were steadfast in their support of the Women’s Social and Political Union.

I could smell freshly baked bread in the kitchen, and I sighed out of happiness. My family was the best thing in my life. They would bolster my self-esteem, and would never be intentionally condescending. As I sat at dining table, studying and watching my aunt bustle around the kitchen, I felt safe. “Will! There you are! We’ve been looking for you everywhere.” My twin older sisters, Emma and Grace, entered the room and sat down on either side of me. “There’s a WSPU protest at your school on Saturday!” “What?” I asked, shocked. “But Rutherford is a boys’ school!” “Exactly! We want to show that not only women support the movement. I’m so excited! You’ll be coming, right?” Emma’s quiet excitement shone through her sparkling green eyes. “Of course he is. Right, Will?” Grace punched me in the shoulder, her short raspberry blonde curls bouncing around. “I’d love to come, but...we have our first game of the season that afternoon and I have to be on the field.” Secretly, I was glad the boys wouldn’t see me protesting with my family. I couldn’t take more insults. “But we’ll be doing something together, as a family!” My aunt joined in, trying to convince me to come. “Ever since Dinah got that new job, we haven’t had fun as a whole