Dibs: In Search of Self

by Virginia M. Axline

and I didn’t know what I would do. But you just said ‘This is all yours, Dibs. Have fun. Nobody is going to hurt you in here.’” “I said that?” “Yes,” Dibs said decisively. “That is what you said to me. And gradually I came to believe you. And it was that way. You said for me to go fight my enemies until they cried out and said they were sorry they hurt me.” “And did you do that?” “Yes. I found out my enemies and I fought them. But then I found out that I was not afraid anymore. I found out that I am not unhappy when I feel love. Now I am big and strong and not afraid. And I remember the church that last come-back day. I remember discovering how big God was. The door was so very high. And the ceiling was way up there, almost touching heaven. And when the music started to play all of a sudden, I shivered. I wanted to get out and I wanted to stay. And I went past there the other day. I went up all the steps to the door. The door was closed. I knocked on the door and I called through the keyhole. ‘Is anyone home