In kindergarten, I was oblivious. I think I knew what a president was, and, well, that was it. I asked my parents who they'd voted for, and they told me Barack Obama – a name that signaled nothing in my five-year-old mind as I announced, "Then I vote for him, too!" I imagine my parents laughed at me, or maybe just smiled – perhaps with amusement at my declaration, but perhaps with knowing that for another four years, America would be okay.

In fourth grade, I knew more. I listened when my parents told me about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and I stuck nine-year-old labels of "good" and "bad" on them just like the I voted sticker my mom let me wear after I went with her to fill out bubbles on a piece of paper. That Wednesday morning, she entered my room and, when I eagerly asked from my bed, she told me, It looks like Donald Trump won. Why I remember the exact words she used to tell me the news, I don't know, but ... I think I do.

I was on a Zoom call when it happened.
Naturally – a Zoom call
because Zoom has embodied the essence of 2020.
There were 26 of us. Cameras on, 
listening to the lecture.
Or not – I don't know. I wasn't.
I was a bit preoccupied. Constantly looking at the numbers.
Oh the magic number 270.
I was willing that tiny blue bar to make its way to the black pixilated line.
Because if that happened there was a chance.
Just a chance 
that the future of my country would meld into a shape I wanted to be a part of.
That my country would try harder. 
Try harder to be equal, safe, accepting, knowledgeable, respectful.
United.
Please? 
Surely the majority of the people believed in what I believed in ... right?
Surely my own uncles and aunts and cousins have a similar idea of the future as I ... don't you?
Naturally this transfer of power from fire to ice will only hiss softly,

Collected from tiny writes, Nov. 7, 2020:

BIDEN WON!!! NEW YORK IS SO ALIVE WITH PEOPLE SCREAMING WITH JOY AND HONKING!!!! IT'S A LOVELY DAY TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!
- Roses and Summer Dreams

Yes! Not to mention we finally have the very first woman vice president EVER!! What a time to be alive!!
- Treblemaker

I feel like the world just tipped back to normal. Like how it was when I was.... I believe eight years old!! Somehow the sun is shining again. I feel like I’m eight for a second time.
- NiñaEstrella

Honks, whooping humans:
our jubilant homecoming.
- Yellow Sweater

Yaaas! We are making history!
- dogpoet

I haven’t quite taken it in yet. But I also haven’t stop smiling.
YASSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
- flowersinherhair