miranda, I’m so glad you stumbled upon this story — I just re-read it too as it has been awhile since I posted it. I am honored and humbled to have it listed here and to read your thoughts about it. It is a gift to me, as a writer, to hear how a story has spoken to its reader. Thank you for that gift today (an especially busy and tiresome day I might add :).

I am also glad to have the opportunity to read the poem you posted above — I had not seen that and it is fantastic!

And not to hone on on the dinner alto owes you, but maybe he could treat both of us one day. What do you say alto?