The kingdom of childhood

There is a place in Yakima where princesses exist. A place where the cacophony of the health care debate, the scream of gang violence, and the yammer of politics is a din somewhere far over the horizon.

It is a place where magic glimmers at the edges of everyday reality, where possibilities are still opening at every turn. It is a place where a lucky few, including Jacqueline Thornell, still reside: childhood.

At 7 years old, Jacqueline's daily routine is determined by the adult world, yet within those boundaries is endless space for daydreams.

Delight -- at her mom's tickle, at hiding to surprise her father when he comes home -- is a regular element of her day. So, too, is learning -- to read, to cook, to pronounce words that begin with "st" and to flip across the floor in gymnastics. She rolls on the carpet to kiss her baby brother, and plays games with her parents and other younger brother when everyone gathers in the living room after dinner.

Within her West Valley home, in a yellow and pink bedroom, princesses abound.

A large plastic castle sits on the floor near her bed and a bookshelf is filled with books about princesses.

"They're pretty." Jacqueline says. "And I like how when they say 'believe in your dream.' That really makes me happy. Cause when I don't hear it, it makes me go like to a frown. People say that your dream's not true -- it really hurts my feelings and breaks my heart. But when the princesses say that, it really makes me happy, cause I have a lot of dreams that I hope come true."

One of these dreams is to become a grocery store bagger, an aspiration she is already working toward as she helps her mother bag groceries at the store.

"Momma always says whenever I work, she will go shopping. When I do not work, she will not go shopping."

While adults learn to adjust to prevailing tastes, assess judgment on our own dreams as well as those of other people, and often feel compelled to do what we're "supposed" to do, Jacqueline is unapologetic in her opinions and ambitions.

Tomatoes would be a good food, if they didn't have juice. Cheese on pizza is OK, as long as it can't be seen. It must be covered by pepperoni.

Childhood does not rely on anybody else's notion of reality. Rather, it shapes its own. Flipping through photos from her family's trip to Walt Disney World, Jacqueline comes across pictures of villains walking in one of the theme park's parades. "Do you think they're real?" she questions.

For a few moments, she goes back and forth -- real villains, or people in costume? Finally, she settles on a third option. Villains no more, Snow White's wicked witch and the evil undersea witch Ursula have become good, and decided to join in the afternoon frolic. Nothing is impossible. All the pieces fit.

And from here, she says she can see that adults have forgotten a few important things.

"Grown-ups have forgotten that wishes can come true," she says.

* Sara Gettys can be reached at 509-577-7682 or sgettys@yakimaherald.com.