A Little Someone, by Lila West, 16, Hadley, Mass.

2003 First Place Winner
Alcohol Awareness Contest
“What’s Your Message?”

Sponsored by: Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

Lila West, 16, Hadley, Mass.
Sophomore, Hopkins Academy in Hadley

A Little Someone

There has always been a little someone
Ever since I was but three
A little someone standing there

Looking up to me.

We laughed and sang and played
And life was so carefree
The grown-up world was not our concern
But we all grow up, eventually.

Then it was my time to grow up
And I was glad that I went first
I thought this way I could protect you
From the very worst.

I got older then
And went out on Friday nights
I had to learn for myself
What was wrong and what was right.

I am so sorry, Little Sister
That some adult things aren’t so good
Bad things happen very night
In every neighborhood.

And I have noticed on these nights
That some of these things wouldn’t have happened at all
If it hadn’t been for one dangerous thing
A thing that we call alcohol.

It starts with just one drink
Then becomes more than two
And things get more and more out of hand
‘Till you don’t know what to do.

This poison affects the way you think
It makes you do stupid things
Things that you’ll probably regret
When you wake up the next morning.

Some people drink to “have some fun”
Because it’s “the thing to do”
But remember every time you take a drink
You’re endangering people more than just you.

In school they tell us
How many each day die
It is a scary number
Little Sister, it’s so high.

When we laughed and sang and played
I so very wrongly thought
That I could protect you from life’s hardships
Simply by using the love in my heart.

But I know I can’t, Little Sister
And so I sit here writing this
Writing this to tell you
Life is more than childhood bliss.

Now it’s your turn, Little Sister
And no matter how I try
I can’t stop you from growing up
We now stand eye to eye.

You no longer need to look up to me
But just in case you do
I will always be standing there
Always there for you.

Little Sister please say “no”
And know that I will too
Because I always, always want
A Little Someone to stand next to.

© 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society