Mint (Carlsbad, California)

“Why Mint?” they ask, again and again. My real name is Boribun, but in Thailand, we all get nicknames–short, sweet, and a little strange. My grandma said it’s to trick ghosts who steal pretty babies. My cousin is Bird, my best friend is Cake. Once, a boy laughed at me for it. “Mint? Like the candy?” But then someone else said, “That’s actually really cool.” I smiled, remembering my mom’s words: “A nickname is a blessing, Mint. It makes you special.” Now, when people ask, I just say, “Because I’m fresh and unforgettable.”