Nothing Was More Valuable Than

The Sudden Silence Is Horrifying, And It Seems To Catch My Mother Off Guard. A Tiny Whimper Escapes Her, The Sound Amplified In The Stillness. Surely, My Father Hears Her Now; Surely He And I Can't Go On Pretending She Isn't Crying.

I Want To Live! Not Die, Not Hide, Live!

I Snorted "oh, Beauty. What's That Good For?" Mary Stared, Her Eyes Round. "it Won You The Prince, Did It Not?" I Snorted Again, I Prefer To Think That He Was Captivated By My Charming Personality." I Giggled To Let Mary Know I Was Trying To Make Fun Of Myself.

A Thousand Times Today I've Started To Open My Mouth, Started To Squeak Out, "can You Tell Me...? But Then I'd Look Into The Front Seat, At My Mother's Silent Shaking, My Father's Grim Profile, The Mournful Bags Under His Eyes, And All The Questions I Might Ask Seemed Abusive. Assault And Battery, A Question Mark Used Like A Club. My Parents Are Old And Fragile. I'd Have To Heartless To Want To Hurt Them.

There's Something About Each Of My Books That I'm Really Proud Of, And There's Something About Each Of My Books That I Cringe Over.