Meet River Conley, a six-year-old first-grader at Pound Ridge Elementary School who has a vivid imagination, loves to run around and collects everything.
By Alexandra Zodda
Artwork by Valeria Raymond
What’s your favorite animal?
Pikachu.
Is Pikachu an animal?
Yes! Pikachu is a squirrel; I like squirrels.
What’s your favorite school subject?
Recess! I also like science.
What do you like about science?
Explosions!
Explosions?
Yes, like a volcano. Also, I want to make a big robot car. It has to be really big. It has to be electric, and it should go 20 mph. But I have to be careful because if I put milkshakes in it, then the car will explode! It will buzz, and buzzing means it will explode. I want to show you something!
River dashes off to get a board game.
What is your favorite food?
Ice cream.
All ice cream? Or a specific flavor?
I like mint.
I like mint chocolate chip, too!
No. No chocolate chips.
What’s your favorite Pokémon?
I do like Pikachu, but he’s not my favorite.
What’s the weirdest card you have?
This one! But I don’t know what it’s called because it’s in Japanese. (It’s a Hydrapplin.)
What’s the worst one?
This one! (A Bellibolt.) Wait, no. This one is my best and my favorite. I don’t know what my worst one is. I’ll be right back.
River runs into the living room and begins jumping on the couch.
Is there anything you want to talk about?
Ninjas. They side kick.
Are you a ninja?
I do parkour.
Do you take lessons?
Yeah. I was gonna do a practice today. I was invited to this competition…I’ll be right back; I want to show you something.
River returns with a box full of trinkets that he has collected.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A pirate!
What does a pirate do?
Guess.
Do you find islands?
No, no! You don’t just find islands, you find gems, and you get money and toys.
Where do you find gems?
In the caves. They’re hidden in the walls of caves. Can I show you one more thing?
Runs upstairs and returns with Maui’s magical fishhook.
Look! This is even cooler than a lightsaber!
Guess what?
What?
I went to Costa Rica.
Wow! What animals did you see?
You guess!
Hmmmm….
I saw one tarantula! I didn’t touch it, though; it was in its home. There were also two green snakes called green vipers. And, we saw toucans and five iguanas.
What’s your favorite joke?
(Deadpan.) Ninja.
Is that the whole joke?
Yes. (Everyone laughs.)
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
Football and candy.
Football?
Yes. I want to throw them away.
What about candy?
CHOCOLATE! I want all the chocolate in the world!
What’s your last wish?
Candy!
You already said that!
More candy! No, a robot car. Wait, no, 99 Pokémon Gold cards.
What do you think parents don’t understand about kids?
Japanese.
Do you speak Japanese?
Nope. (Everyone laughs.)
This article was published in the November/December 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Alexandra Zodda
