Third grade in Miss Adams’ class
An emotionally scarring time that I’m still trying to forget
It’s not like I was a loser
It’s not like I didn’t pass
See, it has to do with what happened to Jorge
Our class pet
We had this tradition, on every Friday
One of us was picked to take him home
Exciting, right?

So I finally asked Miss Adams “Could this be my day?”
I thought, “maybe if I’m verbal
I could go home with this gerbil tonight”
My dad was allergic
And my mom was muriphobic
It’s a real thing
I knew exactly what this situation would require
My mom showed up at carpool
I stuffed Jorge in my pocket
But forgot about him ‘til our nanny found him in the dryer…
Whoops!
I faked sick the whole next week
Too afraid to tell all my friends that poor Jorge was dead
Katie Thompson told me that killers burn in hell
But Miss Adams took my hand and she said
“Oh, life goes on
Things will be okay
Though Jorge’s gone, tomorrow is a brand new day
Everyone makes a couple mistakes
Somewhere along the way”

College graduation, that momentous life shift
Watching the guys in my frat ask my grandma out on dates
My dad hands me this paper, his graduation gift:
The only documentation of his parent’s immigration to the states
He looked at me with pride and said
“I’d like for you to have it
‘cause your heritage can teach you
More than what you learn in class”
Well, I misplaced the paper
But that night at Beta’s party
My friend was drunk and found it
Just in time to wipe his- *Sigh*

We packed the car and headed home
And things were fine ‘til I told my family
Their gift had been…stained
Grandma said a prayer for me
Mom began to cry
But my father stopped the car and explained
“Oh, life goes on
Things will be okay
Though our family history is crapped upon
Tomorrow is a brand new day
Everyone makes a couple mistakes
Somewhere along the way”

Looking back I can’t pretend
That I don’t see the trend
I’m not dependable
I’m aware I can’t take care of things
Well aware what being careless brings
See, Jorge and the paper are just samples
Small examples, of mistakes I've made and stupid things I did
That’s why I’m so afraid to raise a kid
So, why would you choose me to raise a kid?

What if I drop him?
What if things don’t turn out okay?
What if I forget to feed him?
What if I start to need him
And he goes away?
What if I make just one mistake
Somewhere along the way?