Vita Genuit in Statera Hopes & Dreams Isamu T.

## A Father's Hope

Dear Government,

My grandfather was an auto-worker for 37 years. He never really liked his job, but he sure liked his cars. My childhood was filled with the sounds of engines roaring and frequent trips to the raggedy tool shed, satisfying my dad’s requests to fetch his impact driver, slide hammers, or oil caddies. I would walk to the auto shop after school everyday, wait for his shift to end, then convince him to buy ice cream on our way home. The torque wrench on the dinner table always drove my mom crazy, but she fell in love with his passion. A small poster of a green Jaguar E-type was hung in the hallway just past the kitchen. It was his dream car–of course he could never afford it. But it hung there for as long as I can remember. Soon after he retired, I asked him why he wasn’t upset about not achieving his dream car, and he said to me, “Son, it was never about the cars. Never. But it was the freedom that the cars have. Pulling the windows down and driving past the speed limit just to feel like the wind even only for a brief moment. Sneaking out afterdark to go on joyrides with your mother. Those were the moments I cherish. But I’m old, and frail, and I’m done chasing things. But hey, eventually you came into my life and changed everything. You inherited my love for cars and ice cream, but at one point I had a sudden thought. I realized that I had a son in the world, and that he would live on to fill my shoes working cars, and knowing that I had left a small legacy before I turned to dust was the most liberating moment of my life.” His love for his family was simple, his career bittersweet, but his life was fulfilling.

I’ve been working in the auto-industry for nearly 16 years now. I got promoted from blue collar work to white collar work a while back, but it’s still a tough job. I don’t like my boss. He treats everyone like cogs in a machine. The daily grind is back-breaking in its own way. I’ve heard from my coworkers about stories of folks getting laid off and they always chill me to the marrow. I couldn’t imagine that happening to me. Especially now that I have a 5 year old daughter. Tucking her into bed and then telling my wife I’m not getting paid anymore… impossible. Is a stable and secure job too much to ask for? Can a father only choose between bringing home the bacon or having a life? I’m not asking for perfect work, but for a better one. Too many times I’ve seen people’s physical health take a heavy blow. The long hours, the grueling office conditions. It’s taxing in too many ways. The AC’s been broken since February and despite the incessant complaints, not a damn thing was done. This is not okay. There’s always too many demands, too many deadlines, but no one speaks their minds… How could they? I’m just tired of running on fumes. My daughter is young, and innocent. She doesn’t know any better. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, there is no universe where I want my daughter to experience what I did. She’s my golden spark. Nothing comes close to comparison. I’ve never seen anything like it. I just hope the people around her won’t put that spark out.

## A Child's Hope

Dear Government,

Mommy says, “No matter what happens everything is going to be alright.“ Daddy says, “Whatever happens, happens.” But honestly, I'm scared. I don’t want to leave my old life behind. I don’t want something to happen to us. I like my life right now and I don’t want it to get stolen from me. During the weekdays, I go to school and study math and art. My teachers say I’m a good student. During free time, I usually paint flowers. Ms. Myers says I’ll grow up to be an artist. On the weekends I get to spend time in the garden with grandma planting Azalea seeds and watering the sunflowers. Sometimes a pretty butterfly will visit us and we’ll get to play together under the sun. Grandma says she likes watching me chase the butterflies. She says it reminds her of her youth… whatever that means.

Going someplace new is scary, and from what I hear, this new place seems to be a lot different than Earth. Daddy says we’re going to travel to an “extraterrestrial planet” and that there may even be aliens already inhabiting it . But I think that he’s saying that just to make it seem like he knows what he’s talking about, but really he doesn’t. I don’t like the unknown. It’s frightening, and it could be unfriendly. My friend thinks that the aliens would want to eat us because apparently there are vampires who are creatures that drink blood. But then I told her I’ve tasted my own blood before, and it’s not that good. But I just want to be safe. I just want to be happy. And when I think of my friends, I think that every child deserves to have that too.

## A Mother's Hope

Dear Government,

We have a fairly small family. Myself, my husband, and our 7-year old daughter. My mother comes and visits us regularly, which means she has bonded greatly with her granddaughter. Watching them in the garden sharing their love of nature is sweet and also poignant in a strange way. We do not need much. We do not ask for much. But we are happy together. When I look to the heavens, I see constellations of stars all shining brightly. On occasion they’ll twinkle at me as if to wink as a sign that I’m on the right track. That I’m doing just fine. And even though we may confront various hardships, even if we face arduous strife, our family will prevail and endure no matter what. But lately the stars haven’t been twinkling so much. The stars are wistful, almost like they’re yearning for things to get better. Sometimes the world can seem so big, so desperate. Unseen strangers clinging to a sinking iceberg. Strangers who would do anything to get to survive for a second longer. Even by stepping on others below, crushing their helpless faces… pulling at the ones above, biting at their feet, attempting to suffocate everyone around them. Their eyes clouded with anger, hostility, loathing… fear. But when I look at my daughter, those overwhelming sensations dissipate. For a while, I’ll dream that she’ll grow up in a new world; a kinder and more soulful world. In a place that transcends the chaos and the censoring and corruption. Not a world of tribalism, but a world of trust. Not a world of languish, but a world of love. I see my daughter blossom beautiful friendships and create joy in her small corner of the universe. I wish that she’ll unite with fellow women and stand amongst the ranks of men. I pray she’ll find true attachment and have empathy, grit, and independence. I know my time with her is precious, and that she’ll not always be my little northstar. But no matter what happens to us, no matter what stars we’ll live under, I hope that the skies will be filled with hope, and my daughter blessed with wings. I know that is a tall ask, but it is all I pray for.