Beaver

Beaver by Eva Piper

What animals do you feel like the most today and why?

Everyone calls me a beaver, but most of them don’t know the real origin of that nickname. Someone started it in elementary school. We were studying animals in science class. This boy (who I will call Chipmunk) picked a chipmunk card. I picked a beaver. We had to study one feature about these animals, and I studied the beaver teeth. I was talking to Chipmunk and he said that I kind of looked like a beaver. Some of his friends started laughing and then on, I was known as “Beaver”. I didn’t get it a first; I didn’t realize how I resembled a bever. That was until Chipmunk was sitting next to me the next day. Mockingly, he smiled at me and tapped his two front teeth repeatedly. That's when it occurred to me. I had beaver teeth! I always knew my front teeth were big, but this comment stuck out to me. I became self-conscious. Never gave anyone a real smile. Hid my teeth away from view. But then my friends started saying it. It felt different when my friends said it. They would say “Evear Beaver!” which turned into just “Evear!” I forgot to feel self-conscious. I would just laugh along with people. It’s a part of my life now. And y’know, I kind of like my beaver teeth.