Writing by Elisa Jacobs
Artwork by Aeneas Eaton
Meet Piper Skinner, a kindergartner at Rippowam Cisqua. She loves Hello Kitty, collects Calico Critters and Squishmallows (she has over 100), and adores her new baby sister Vivian.
Can you tell me about your jewelry?
Oh, I love jewelry!
Do you wear the same rings every day, or do you switch it up?
I switch it up, and I only wear two to school so I don’t lose them. But I wear this bracelet, though, every day in school.
Do you have a favorite set of Calico Critters?
The bunny family.
If all the Calico Critters came to life, what do you think they would do?
Go in the house; go to the park. They’d do a lot of things.
What’s the craziest thing you think you could put on pizza and actually eat it?
I think the craziest thing I’d put on pizza is dragon fruit.
Do you like dragon fruit?
I’ve never tried it.
If Hello Kitty could talk, what do you think she would say?
Let’s go to the park!
What do you like about school?
I really like to do art, and I really like having a very good teacher, and I love my friends.
Your mom says you like to speak for Vivian. What’s the funniest thing you’ve had her say?
I’ll make her sing a funny song.
Can you sing me the song?
Well, she’s always acting like a boss baby, so that’s why I sing the song.
How does a boss baby act?
She’s always like, ‘waaa.’ And she just kind of stands there.
What is your favorite color?
Blue and green.
If blue and green were people, what would they be like?
I don’t really know. I think they would act like broccoli and blueberry.
How do broccoli and blueberries act?
I don’t know. They’re food.
If you could get a Squishmallow as big as a car, which animal would you pick?
A big, big cat Squish!
What color would it be?
Dark blue. It would be the blueberry one.
Does Vivian make any funny faces?
She sometimes does this [stares intently].
What does that mean?
I don’t know! She’s a baby. She doesn’t talk!
What is your favorite type of pasta?
Penne.
What do you like on your penne?
Butter and parmesan cheese—lots of cheese.
If pasta could talk, what do you think it would say?
My name is Pasta.
Would you talk back to it? Would you say my name is Piper?
No! That’s just silly.
What age do you wish you could be?
Forever?
No, it doesn’t have to be forever. What age do you wish you could be right now?
Seven.
Why seven?
Because it’s my golden number. My birthday is November 7.
What are you going to do on your golden number birthday?
My dad said I could have a mixed-up birthday party next year.
What does that mean?
It’s gonna be Hello Kitty and Calico Critters and Squishmallows. I’ll have a Hello Kitty bouncy castle, and a big Squishmallow piñata, and then a big Calico Critters cake with them climbing it.
Do you have any questions for me?
What’s your favorite color?
Blue.
[Silence.]
Any other questions?
No, nothing else, really.
This article was published in the May/June 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Elisa Jacobs
Aeneas Eaton
Based in northern Westchester, Aeneas is a graphic designer, creative and artist who has a fondness for print design and bold colors. He enjoys turning the wacky and eccentric ideas that come to his mind into reality, whether it be on the computer or through painting.
