– “Where are all the old people?” Churchyard burial plots were first-rate storytellers.

– “Hey! Mister! Throw me a ball! Hey! Mister!” I held it up, like a precious orb. My dad smiled but said nothing.

– Should I call him? Is he asking for help? George despaired while we hoped.

– It suddenly felt like I was chasing my tail. While the night held camaraderie and playfulness, the morning held fatigue and looking worse-for-wear.

– “You’re not gonna like this,” he said. Hearing only the wind and my own heartbeat punctuated my isolation. Where did they all go?

– I was not dropping out; I was going in. My father wanted better for his first-born son.

— My excitement was contagious; I was hired on the spot. All eyes were glued on the guitar I strummed, energetically.

– “You guys are crazy.” I tried to make him understand what was happening.

– I am the sturdy jogger plodding along. Thick on the ground. Blown and tugged by the wind, heading into the marsh soon.

– 20/20 hindsight and all that platitudinal crap. In that universe, I wiped away the tear before it dried at the edge of her eyelash.

– I took a deep breath. I ignored this and all the rest of my life’s clutter.

– I felt as if I had entered nature’s cathedral. It was not a judgment call; it was a roll of the dice.

– His hand reached over and settled on my thigh. I didn’t know where this was going, but I wanted to find out.

– “You know one about grace or somethin’? My mama sang it.” Leaning in closer to him, I softly improvised music on my harmonica.

– Truth is, she’s sitting here beside me right now.. I was looking at the mismatched attire of poverty and fatigue.

– You’re not gonna get any last words from this one, Honey.” At the words “lusty yell” Doc opens his eyes.

– Will I be a good grandmother? “How could you do that to 6?” I thrust hand to heart.

– We did not want such a choice. Who would? Our circles of love and life together were put to rest.

– The medical words rain down, soaking me to the core. The tides are turning, I can tell.

Personal Stories about courage and regret, danger and desire, …about choosing Personal Story Publishing Project, Vol. 10, spring 2024

– a self-wallowing sense of indecision. It began a small world realization that all our lives connect.