I had never realised that I was a poor girl before I was 12 years old.
My parents are the most ordinary people. Dad was a plumber of a small company and mum ran a tofu stall in the market near our community. In my childhood, we lived in a double-room house. Small as it was, mum decorated our house in warm and fragnant colors and in the house, you could always feel that you were at home and was greatly welcome.
I had no idea that I was from a poor family for my parents never made me that I was poor and different from the other girl whom I played with. At a time when I was in primary school, Barbie dolls were very popular among girls. Almost each of my good friends had one or two such dolls. I was surpised that there were so extraordinarily beautiful dolls and yearned to own a Barbie doll. When I came back home from school, I talked to my mum how beautiful and amazing Barbie dolls were. "You can't imagine how these Baribe dolls are like. They are like real human girls, but more charming and prettier." I tried to describe Barbie dolls to her. "Meimei, you are the prettest girl in the world," mum said it and went on with her cooking. "But you know what, they have party dresses and bridal gowns on. My friend Xiaoyu had three Barbie dolls and they are dressed in different party dresses. If you see them, you must like such beautiful Barbie girls." I said quickly and hoped mum can understand what I really meat. "Ok, darling, I've got it. You want a Barbie doll, don't you?" "Yes, mum. I really, really want to have one," I answered with a little shyness. "Could you tell mum why you want such a doll? And you know it's very expensive," mum raised her question and smiled at me. "Urn, I love Barbie dolls. They are so beautiful. Another reason is that," I made a pause, "all my friends have Barbie dolls and I don't want to be different from them." Mum stopped her cooking and thought for a little while, "all right. Tomorrow we will buy one," she said. And the next day, we went to the Barbie dolls' and bought one. I chose a blond-haired Bardie who was in a pink bridal gown. On our way home, mum had a small talk with me. She told me, "Meimei, you've had the Barbie doll now. But remember, even if you have the same dolls with other girls, you are the different one, and you're yourself." I couldn't understand clearly what mum said, but I nodded my head. She seemed to be quite satisfied. After quite a long time later, I heard from my grandma that mum spent her one-month salary to buy me this Barbie doll.
After graduating from the primary school, I went to the best junior high school in my city. And at that time, I started to realise gradually that I was a poor girl and I was diferent. As my mum told me, I was myself. I was different for I was the only graduate of my primary school who went to the best junior high school, I had a talent for drawing pictures and I decided to be myself but not anyone else. When I got my bachlor degree, I started a bridal gowns online store selling bridal gowns designed by myself. And I am very grateful to my mum. The Barbie doll she bought me inspired my talent of drawing and she inspired me to be myself.