Young politics

MOSES LAKE — When Adrianna and Valerie Garibay see injustice in the world, they want it fixed.

The Moses Lake sisters, 10 and 8 years old, share ideas with one another for improving the condition of people and animals across the globe.

Their collaboration is preparation for when Adrianna becomes president of the U.S.

Mother Kandy Garibay said Adrianna has wanted to be president since age 4.

“I see a lot of, like, things that I want to change,” Adrianna said.

The girls watch Nancy Grace and pay attention to the developments of the Caylee Anthony homicide case. Adrianna enjoys watching “Law & Order.”

Kandy noted Adrianna and Valerie want children to be protected from child molesters, and they have ideas for how to do so.

“Send them to Mars,” Adrianna responded jokingly.

The sisters also want no bail for suspected serial killers.

“Lots of people go to jail and they’re bailed out the next day,” Adrianna said.

“Then they do it again,” Valerie added.

Kandy recalls Adrianna’s passion when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debated.

“She was, like, yelling at the TV, yelling and pointing,” Kandy said. “I was just like, calm down … it’s not a basketball game.”

 While Adrianna’s goal is to be president, Valerie wants to be a dentist.

“Because I have crooked teeth and I need braces,” she said.

“My sister probably wants to change healthcare, right?” Valerie added, looking at Adrianna. “You better.”

Kandy said Valerie first became interested in dentistry after meeting a dentist from Mercer Island, who traveled with Smile Quest to Warden, to examine children in need of braces. Valerie and other children received retainers for free.

Even though her goal is to become a dentist, Valerie is still interested in politics.

After seeing a story on TV about female prisoners being subject to strip searches by men, Valerie realized it was something that needed to be changed.

“(Valerie) just basically gives me ideas of what to change and how to change them,” said Adrianna.

One of the sisters’ big focuses is on animals. Adrianna is frustrated by the number of dogs  put to sleep in shelters. She is also concerned for the future of polar bears.

Commercials about neglected animals also affect the empathic girls. Valerie cries when she sees the commercials, while Adrianna becomes angry.

In addition to their interest in politics, Adrianna and Valerie are also interested in history.

The Titanic is a subject they both find fascinating. One of Valerie’s favorite books is called “882.5 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic.”

“I like old books, like from the olden days,” Valerie said.

Valerie’s other favorite book is “Once a Hobo: The Autobiography of Monte Holm.”

She said she enjoys learning about how life was different for other generations.

Reading is an especially big part of life for Adrianna, who has Irlen Syndrome. Some symptoms include missing words and lines in text, losing one’s place when reading and reading slowly, according to Irlen Institute.

When Adrianna was in second grade, she was behind her peers in reading. Entire paragraphs or sentences would be missed by her.

“I hated reading,” Adrianna said.

She would have been held back from third grade, if not for a year of tutoring.

“Now, she’s amazing. I can’t get her out of books,” Kandy said.

Adrianna estimates she reads 50 books a year.

Her favorite is “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman. She plans to see the movie with her best friend when it opens in theaters.

She is also collecting a series of “ology” books. She owns “Egyptology,” “Monsterology,” “Mythology,” “Pyrateology” and “Spyology.”

She taught herself how to read hieroglyphics and can write in Greek.

“’The Spyology’ (book) tells me how to read spy,” she added.

Adrianna and Valerie have their arguments like other siblings, but the fights don’t become too serious.

“We fight, but then, we start laughing,” Valerie said.

“Yell and yell, and then —” Adrianna imitates a laugh.