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Life: Then and Now 2

By Hallie Cantor

Sleeping
Then: You play in your PJs, your dad pointing to the clock. “But I don’t want to go to bed!”
Now: You sit at a desk doing work, gazing longingly at your bed. “But I want to go to bed.”
 
Shopping
Then: Your mom straightens your polo collar in a dressing room. You pull at it and say, “This is stupid.”
Now: You give up trying unsuccessfully to button tight pants over your gut. “This is stupid.”
 
Correspondence
Then: First-person view of your hand holding a large novelty pencil, writing: “Dear Pen Pal, Hi. How are you? I am good.”
Now: First person view of your hands on the keyboard, typing on Facebook: “heyyy its been foreveeeer whats good”

Sleepovers
Then: You and a friend pull on your mom’s shirt, begging, “Can Rob sleep over? Please please please?”
Now: You casually-desperately ask a love interest at your front door, “Wanna come in to watch a movie? Please?”
 
Cleaning
Then: You drop one toy into a bin and announce, “Done!” There are still toys everywhere.
Now: You wipe off the bathroom counter and announce, “Done!” It’s still disgusting.
 
Cooking
Then: You dare a friend to try a gross glass full of juice, milk, salt, steak sauce, mustard, and your dad’s cholesterol pills.
Now: You serve a gross-looking plate of food to a disappointed date (same guy/girl as in Sleepovers).

Bathing
Then: Your dad drags you to the bath, kicking and screaming. He says: “Get in!”
Now: You happily/sleepily take a shower, while a roommate bangs on the door, saying “Get out!”
 
ALT.

Travel
Then:  Kid on a road trip with his family, he is in the backseat happily playing gameboy. 
Now: Guy trying to get to work in bumper-to-bumper traffic.