When in doubt, I take the hard way, do the thing that scares me most.
I am never bored when pressed hard against limits of possibility,
When I honestly have no idea how I’m going to get through this,
Sidle past that terrifying monster, whistling as if I don’t mind sharp teeth,
Searing roars…

“Where’s Caesar?” I struggled to keep my hands from throttling my husband’s oblivious throat.

“Out back. With Mike.” Quentin flicked through the channels, paused on a college football game, sat up straighter, and cranked up the volume.

“When’s the last time you saw them?”

I craned my neck for a…

That spring, they stopped talking as soon as I walked in the door. My mother’s face would brighten like she was glad to see me. My father would bluster out “Princess” or “Honey Girl” like I was my perfect older sister. …

“Hey, there, sweet Susie Q! Where’s your Mommy hiding?” Kiki Duckworth squatted down to stare little Susan Endicott straight in the face, eye to eye.

“Mommy hiding?” mocked Susan Endicott. She tilted her head to stare at the strange old lady with a lumpy nose like a potato.

“Mommy and…

Back in those days, there was no mixing, muddling, or messing around.

You walked into Peabody High School in Auxburg, New Jersey with a label. You were designated smart, regular, vo-tech. Until you were ejected four years later, you stayed in that box with kids branded with the same label.

…

“I didn’t stop there. I guess I like it when things are difficult.” — Miss A

She started it — cue happy grin, dirty chinned face evading good scrub
Because there are things that need doing, scary and strange and bad, awfuls
That will only appear glorious and worthy once she has…

The idea took hold, would not let him go until he committed to it, first onto the page and then to submission.

Then the waiting began, wrist tied to hopeful story that will inspire, incite, make someone a little smarter than when they rolled out of bed.

I was the…

Dog offers her real face, trusty nose twitching in your scent and intent,
Tongue ready for greeting and meeting, getting to know you
So the two of you can get onto the serious business of play,
Of getting to know race and tumble, rascally moves that occur
Only when you’re not thinking about…