Childishly br I clutch br br at my big sister's br skirt br br shyly staring br from behind its pleats br br (pink acrylic) br br sucking my thumb br clinging to her finger br br not trusting br the nearness br br of the strangers br who claim to be br br my cousins br not shy at all & wanting to play ball br br a dreadful cheerful free-for-all br br but I stay here br arms locked br br around br my sister's knee br br protected by her br presence & her br br fingertips stroking br gently my hair.