A Gosling in Disguise

A Gosling in Disguise

A Year of Memories, Monday Memories

My children—Lisa, Chris, and Tim—raced into the house, excited about what they’d found: a baby duck in our front yard. I went to look, and sure enough, it was a yellow, fluffy baby bird nestled in the grass. “What should we do with it?” Lisa said. “Can we keep it?”...
A Most Embarrassing Moment

A Most Embarrassing Moment

A Year of Memories, Monday Memories

I raced up the stairs to our apartment. “Mom, our car’s gone. Somebody stole our car.” I didn’t give much thought to why anyone would want to steal our car, a fourteen-year-old sedan. Before mother could answer, I thought about our village constable who lived next...
I Think He Liked Me

I Think He Liked Me

A Year of Memories, Monday Memories

He must have liked me; he tried his hardest to get my attention. But there were times when I would have settled for him liking me a bit less. I had to watch my backside when Uncle Amanza Powell was around. I must have been his favorite target. He was as kind a man as...
Lost in the City

Lost in the City

A Year of Memories, Monday Memories

I was terrified when she turned around and I saw it wasn’t Mother—a lost three-year-old on one of the busiest sidewalks in one of the busiest cities in America. I broke into tears, and my screams attracted attention. I had been thrilled when Mother told me she’d take...
A Mechanical Genius

A Mechanical Genius

A Year of Memories, Farm life, Monday Memories

I was pretty good in the books, but I was never accused of having mechanical ability. I’d just graduated from high school and was working for our local Surge milking machine dealer, trying to earn a little money for college the next fall. Mostly, I serviced Surge...