Going wider, this premise can be seen as a metaphor illustrating the tension between the desire for stasis and the need for change. We live in a world that is constantly changing, and we’re constantly changing within it. It’s natural for us to want to impose our control on such chaos, to attempt to preserve the status quo. So many of us fear change (and I’m certainly no exception), even when the change is largely positive in nature. And yet, what if that potential for change was taken away from us? What if everything really did stay the same, even our own bodies and the hormone levels coursing through them? As much as I sometimes dread change, this story illustrates one of my true nightmares: the attempt to suspend change.
We’ve all heard the old saw about how the only sure things in life are death and taxes. But whenever I hear that, I always think that in reality, the only sure thing in life is change. Life may trundle along on an even keel for a while, even for many years, but ultimately something will happen to disrupt its direction. Sometimes we choose the change; sometimes it chooses us–like death, a natural disaster, or a shift in politics or the economy. Sometimes we have to fight for change, like the protagonist of my story. And sometimes change comes at a high price, at which point we are called upon to decide: how high is too high?
On a more personal note, this story is one of my own favorites. I don’t know if this is true of other writers, but I definitely have the stories I’ve written that are especially meaningful to me and stay close to my heart. Right now I have three of those special stories, and this is one of them (the other two are still looking for homes). The fact that my first pro sale was made with this story in particular makes me feel especially pleased.
So tell me: would you want to stay a teenager forever?
The Practical Free Spirit 
A teenager forever? No way. Not even if it meant keeping the body and still being able to mature in mind and spirit. (But, stay 30 forever? That I might consider!)
Yeah, it just doesn’t sound very appealing, does it? I mean, I’m glad I got to be one once, but I’m satisfied.
Yeah, I definitely don’t want to be a teenager forever. I might be up for 27 forever, though. 🙂 Seriously though, even though I generally hate change, I know I’d get bored pretty quickly if it never happened.
Yeah, I do like a sense of forward momentum…even when I’m not quite sure what I’m moving forward towards.
I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be 16 forever. I used to throw around the idea of staying 25 forever, though.
At that point you’re old enough for people to take you somewhat seriously as an adult. You’ve had at least some good life experience. You look old enough to be taken seriously (unless you’re me -_-‘).
And I dunno… unless you’re wanting to run for president, what else is there to look forward between 25 and 65? Sure, 25 is only a drop in your car insurance, but still – it’s something!
Yeah, there aren’t the same milestones between 25 and 65 as there are earlier (and later). There are certain unpleasant health-related ones, but that’s about it.
Although I don’t know, I am enjoying certain aspects of being a thirtysomething. But they aren’t perhaps as obvious as the advantages of being in your 20s.
I wouldn’t want to be a teenager ever again. I’m not sure I’d want to stay at any particular age because the age of being best at certain things is different for each thing.
I agree with you 100%, Ada!
Being a teen forever means raging hormones forever, and that sounds like Hell. I’d willingly be (a healthy) 25 for the length of my life, maybe forever. I figure there are more than enough other things in the world to vary and change that I’d be perfectly content having a static age if it were a good one.
Robert Sawyer has a novel about a process to reverse aging, and I think it reverses the person back to sometime in their 20s. From a health perspective, it does seem like an ideal time.
Well, there are pluses and minuses to teenage years…I received a very surprising comment from a man last week…we were talking at dinner and he stopped and comment that he thought that he could see the 15 or 16 year old still there in me…that he could sense that enthusiasm etc…btw…I’m 63. So, I’m happy the enthusiasm is still there…but am thankful for the hard earned wisdom that balances that off…
Oh, what a compliment! I think retaining youthful energy and enthusiasm is quite a gift!
Having taught Kindergarten for years the best compliment ever was a little kid asking me if I was a real grownup because I was making puppets with the kids in my class and acting out voices and characters with the puppets, thoroughly enjoying myself so i guess the answer is I’m glad i can still play like a 4 year old despite being almost 58.
That is fabulous! Also, I love puppets.
Being able to see and experience the world with the joy of a child is a priceless ability. Means you never stop having fun! 🙂
I actually look forward to maturing. The old has wisdom that the young don’t have. Old people had gotten some mileage in their learning wisdom. 🙂
I like your perspective, Marilag. I think sometimes we overlook some of the great rewards of growing older, like wisdom and more learning.
I’d like to have the health and energy of a teenager forever, so long as I can keep on mentally maturing.
I’d definitely like the pain-free (or at least pain-minimal) aspects of a younger body, that’s for sure!