Calling Me Home

by Julie Kibler

I was pacing back and forth next to the historical marker Miss Isabelle was studying in front of the college. I suspected it was about to turn into a hysterical marker.

“All you can do is act the way you’d like them to act,” Miss Isabelle said now. “They’ll watch you, and then they’ll make their own decisions. You cross your fingers over your heart and hope to God they make good ones. But you’re not going to let them down, Dorrie. No more than any imperfect mother who loves her children more than she loves herself.”

If anything, I was numb. I was unmotivated, uninspired. Undone.

I’d developed a crush on that word the day before

I develop crushes on words all of the time! Love this sentence!