Becca

by Taylor, Jennie

  So Chanel, my baby, my little girl, has a whole slew of new friends now. There are now twenty kids within a year of her age. It’s crazy. We’ve had to add a couple of new teachers to help with all the kids, there are so many.

  One of Chanel’s new friends is a cute little boy named Nate. She has a crush on him. It’s her first crush. She’s embarrassed about it, but she talks with me and Tasha about how much she likes him. He, of course, thinks all girls are icky. Which is good. I’d prefer it if he thought that for the next ten years or so. Then Chanel and he can go on dates, as long as they’re chaperoned, for maybe five years. After that, if she still likes him and he still likes her, I’ll let them go out alone. Maybe.

  Some days I find Tasha sitting alone at the corner of the rooftop, staring to the north. She misses them so much. One day soon we will have to take a trip back to Wyoming. Maybe things have changed, maybe they would let us in to visit. But also, maybe they haven't changed. I can't decide if it would be better for her to go, with the outside chance we could see them, or not go, so she would be spared the heartbreak if she can't see them after traveling so far.

  Every day I wonder if her coming along was the right decision for her. Every day I have to remind myself that it was right, that the two of us being together is the most important thing in the world. Maybe the second most important, behind keeping our little girl safe.

  About the Author

  Jennie Taylor grew up in a small rural town, always dreaming of being a writer. She enjoys listening to music, writing, painting, photography, and spending time with her lovely wife. This is her first foray into publishing her work. She hopes to continue publishing in the future; she has many novels in the works. While she's not enjoying her creative pursuits or working at her day job, she can be found watching Pokemon reruns, Project Runway, American Idol, and Korean dramas. Look for more novels coming soon!