Do you know how it feels to be different than everyone else? Well I do and it’s not easy. Having two thumbs is not a big deal  it feels the same as a regular thumb. That is the sentence I tell everyone who finds out about it. Everyone gives a reaction either good or bad. Sometimes I think why can’t anyone look at it as if it was a regular thumb? I first understood that I was different when I went to a preschool in Florida.

     That day we were learning how to count our fingers. “Okay class I will count my fingers then I will select someone to count theirs. Let me start one, two, three, four, five ,six ,seven ,eight ,nine, ten. “ After she was done the whole class raised their hand except me so she of course picked me. She said looking at me “Ummmm.. why don’t you come on up.”  When I heard her calling me my cheeks turned red as a strawberry, I was shy so I got scared when it came to speaking in front of people. I walked to the front of the class and I looked as if I had seen a ghost. I lifted my hands “ Uhhh ummm one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven.” “Oh! I think you counted wrong.” I gave her my hand and she counted. One , two, three, mmmmm, ten, eleven. What?. Right then the whole class started to laugh and chant “She is a eleven fingered monster hehehe.” Thankful the teacher stopped it. I ran to the bathroom crying and my teacher chased me. When I finally stopped she saw I was crying. She said “Oh honey, having two thumbs is special don’t worry it will brings you luck.” she said. I went home that day filled with hope that I won’t be judged by my thumb. When my mom and dad came from work I told them what had happened they said the same thing that my teacher had said. This reinforced my hope and confidence.

     When I turned five I moved to California and had forgotten about what had happened in preschool. Kindergarten and First grade went without anyone noticing my two thumbs however it all came back to me when I joined second grade in a new elementary school. My first day in second grade at the new elementary school was going great but I was clueless just like any new student. Luckily I found a friend in the first few minutes of recess. She found out about my two thumbs. To my relief, she took it normally and didn't tell anyone about it. She introduced me to her friends without telling them about my two thumbs secret. One of her friends wanted to see my nails because she thought they looked pretty. When she lifted my left hand and saw the two thumbs. She screamed and backed away “Woah! that is so creepy.” All those Preschool memories were pouring right back to me. I could just hear all those voices making fun of me. I stared into space for a second, turned around, and ran away. I stopped at a playground at my school. I sat down and hoped that I wouldn't cry. But suddenly my parents and teacher’s words started coming back to me. I started hearing them say that it is lucky to have two thumbs. I went back and joined all of my new friends again with this new confidence and told them about being lucky and special.

     Now I don’t really care if people make fun of me. If they do I just ignore them and think about all the people who love me. I am a stronger person now and don’t get offended that easily. The difference thing doesn’t bother me anymore. Unlike before, I just go through my day not having to feel bad and actually thinking I’m lucky to have two thumbs and that unlike others I can count more than ten on my fingers.