Allen's Childhood Experiences

Hi, my name is Allen Vargas. I’d like to take you on a little journey back to my childhood days, where simple moments brought so much joy. My cousin and I, along with a few friends, would often play outside without a care in the world. We didn’t always follow the rules, and there were plenty of mischievous adventures, but those times shaped who I am today. Let me share with you a memory that stands out—the games we played, the laughter we shared, and the little things that made those days unforgettable.

When I was a child, we were a bit hard-headed at times, especially when it came to rules. One of the rules we always seemed to challenge was when our auntie would tell us not to play outside. As much as she cared for us and wanted us to be safe, we didn’t quite understand the need to stay inside. It was as though the world outside was calling to us, full of adventure and fun, and the idea of being restricted from it felt so unfair.

There was something about those moments when our auntie had to go to the centro or the supermarket. The minute she left, we knew we had a brief window of freedom. The excitement was overwhelming! We would look at each other with those playful smiles, exchanging knowing glances, and rush outside as if the whole world was ours for the taking. It wasn’t just about disobeying the rules; it was about enjoying the simple pleasures of childhood, the feeling of the wind on our faces, and the simple joy of running around without a care in the world.

We’d start by playing patintero, a favorite game among us. The game had simple rules, but it was so much fun. The objective was for a player to cross and return to the starting point without getting tagged, touched, or caught by the opponents guarding the lines. We’d draw three lines on the ground: the first horizontal, the second vertical in the middle, and the third horizontal again. The opponents had to stay on the lines they were standing on, blocking anyone trying to cross them. It was thrilling! We would run, dodge, and strategize, trying to outsmart the guards. The sound of our laughter filled the air as we raced across the lines. Each round was full of excitement, with each player trying to get past the guards without getting tagged. No matter how many times we played, it always felt like a new adventure.

Sometimes, though, I would start feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when I stayed out in the sun for too long. I had this issue when I was younger—if I exposed myself to too much sunlight, I’d end up with a nosebleed. It wasn’t something I could control, and it always seemed to happen at the most inconvenient times. I would try to hide it, wiping my nose with my handkerchief or running to the house to grab one. But no matter how much I tried, it was a part of those carefree days.

When we weren’t playing patintero, we’d switch to Chinese garter. The rubber bands would be stretched between two people while others would take turns jumping over them. The excitement was infectious as we tried to get our jumps higher and higher, challenging one another to reach new heights without tripping. We’d laugh at the mistakes and cheer each other on when someone succeeded in jumping over a particularly tough stretch.

As we played, time seemed to stretch endlessly, and for those moments, nothing else mattered. It felt like we were in our own little world, free from the watchful eyes of adults, fully immersed in the magic of childhood.

However, as soon as we heard the sound of the gate creaking open, signaling our auntie's return, we would scramble to finish up our game and quickly act like we had been indoors. Sometimes, we'd pretend we were busy with something else, hoping she wouldn’t notice that we had been outside. In the end, it was all part of the fun, that little rush of freedom, and the playful rebellion that made those childhood days so memorable.