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And Many More on Channel 4

Do you know what I’m talking about?

Shaunta Grimes
The Write Brain

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Photo by Ayla Verschueren on Unsplash

Have you ever had a moment where it feels like the universe has shifted a few inches on its axis?

Yesterday, during a writer’s workshop, someone read part of their novel that included the end of the birthday song. The lyrics that come after the last ‘happy birthday to you.’

And many more on Channel 4. And Frankenstein on Channel 9.

As happens every week, I called on each person to give feedback. And one woman said that she was confused by Frankenstein. What is that? What does the TV have to do with this scene. She couldn’t put it together.

Wait. What? It took me a minute to understand that she really had never heard of the rhyme at the end of the birthday song. Ever, until yesterday. It was a little like someone telling me they’d never heard of Frankenstein.

Because I have literally never been to a birthday party for anyone younger than fifteen that didn’t include some variation of the rhyming end of the birthday song. Ever.

And rarely ever for anyone older than fifteen, either.

It had never once occurred to me that it wasn’t something that everyone does. I was wrong.

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