
The winner of the inaugural 506 Streetcar Project writing contest has been announced.
Susana Molinolo is a writer, producer, community builder, and mother of two. She is working on her first novel, The Buddha Luck. More of her writing can be found at instagram.com/foodplayground.
The contest was organized by the Ashdale Writers Group and cosponsored by the Gerrard-Ashdale Library, the Gerrard India Bazaar BIA, and Beach Metro News.
Organizers thanked writers who entered.
“The prompt of the 506 was deliberately broad and gave us everything from children’s stories to poems, with fantasy and mystery stories in the mix, too.”
I Am Nine
By Susana Molinolo
I am nine.
These things on my feet feel so weird – first
winter boots.
For my first winter in Canada.
Why are they so heavy?
Why is the snow so pretty,
but the walk to school and back home
is so mean?
I only have one friend. She is magical.
Today she is my red balloon,
floating next to me.
She is always whistling and yawning, and
every day when she sees me,
she taps her heels in secret codes
to remind me that I’m not alone.
Yesterday she was silver and gold
leaning into the afternoon sun
like a beautiful old woman
in a fancy lace shawl and a well-ironed skirt
all dressed nice, just to go across the city for
fresh bread
like my abuela.
At night she is alive, wide-awake, a crystal
ball.
I always see teenagers laughing with their
arms tangled around the poles.
So much fun inside their talking.
A shiny celebration, except sometimes I see
faces
that look like mine.
Faces staring at the street, and dark-grey
sadness pouring from the windows.
After school she is different too.
Muddy ankles. Muddy chin.
I can’t see the people behind the dirty windows.
Winter is splashing everywhere
everything is messy
especially on my tongue, twisted and quiet
because English is so hard.
Then one day, I can finally sing O Canada!
I am so happy – even inside the boiling-hot
portable.
At night the rented apartment windows are
wide open
and my English is getting better.
Is that why I can hear the streetcar, even in
my dreams?
Dear 506 streetcar friend,
Did you know then, that you were my only
friend?
You always showed up, even on the loneliest
days,
those throat-aching days
when I was so alone and I could not speak
English.
You were my magic space ship.
You were my teacher.
You were a funny clown,
always playing, hello-goodbye-hello-again.
You were there, screaming and fighting
back, trying your best to save me – when
the bullies would shove me in the snow.
I know how hard you tried, to be my red
dragon. Thank you.
I’m now a grown woman, living at the east
end of the line.
I see you from my house, kissing Eastwood
with your bright red lipstick mouth.
I have never met anyone like you.
Royal-red enigma.
Spectacular-spiced-lady.
Lady 506.

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