First Person, Third Person...but what about Second Person?

I wrote this piece in response to Moore’s “How to Become a Writer” on 2/23/11. This was an in-class brief writing assignment, giving us the opportunity to write something in the second person. Up until this exercise, I had not written anything in the second person – ever. I was very uncertain on how to even begin this assignment, but once I began I discovered that I loved writing in second person and will use this style much more often in my future writing.

Name

You love your name. You always have. You remember being in elementary school and hearing other kids complain about their names, expressing their desire to have a different name.

Kelly, Jennifer, Emily, Ashley.


Those were the names the kids in your class liked.

You were not like them, and couldn’t imagine your name any different than what it is. Juliann.

You have been told often, people love your name. In school, when your teacher calls roll on the first day, she comes to your name and says “what a pretty name that is”.

You smile.

You appreciate the appreciation from others of your name.

Your name isn’t common, so you find yourself haivnt to spell t often; even pronouncing it for those that say Julian rather than JuliANN.

Sometimes you wish your parents had spelled your name with an “e” on the end, Julianne, so there would not be confusion. The confusion embarrasses you, and you wish they would all just know.

People often ask if you go by the name Julie. You quickly and definitively answer no. Julie is not your name.

It is not you. You are not a Julie.

It is assumed that your name is two words, with Ann being your middle name. It isn’t.

You’ve always wanted a middle name, though. All your sisters have a middle name but you, all four of them.

You have always loved names.

You have decided to give yourself a middle name, legally. You’ve been thinking about it for a long time; years, really. But, isn’t it such a hassle and also expensive? Yes. You know this, but you don’t mind. It is important to you and therefore you will make it happen. Because that is what you do.

You have chosen the name. It was easy because it just came to you one day.

Maria.


That is it – your new middle name. It feels right. It sounds right. It is right.

You talk to your mother about it. Why? Because she named you in the first place. You want to make sure she doesn’t feel bad. She shouldn’t; Juliann is the most beautiful name to you, and it makes you, you. You want her to know you aren’t disappointed with her. No, no! She expresses her feelings, and she is a little unsure but still supportive. She loves you. She named you your name for a reason, but she is supportive of you adding to it. She wants you to be happy. She always has.

So then, you begin the process. They are right, it is somewhat of a hassle, but it’s okay, for you are anxiously anticipating the day when you will be Juliann Maria. It is beautiful. You love how it sounds and how it looks.

 It will be soon your legal name.

And you will love it.