I sighed and went back to filling out the application. The whole thing made me feel like my family didn’t think I had any right to want something of my own. It bothered me, but I knew I couldn’t hold it against them in the long run. We couldn’t afford the luxury of wants. We had needs.

Just head over to the risers, Lady America," she said. "You may sit anywhere you like. So you know, most of the girls have already claimed the front row." She looked sorry for me, as if she were delivering bad news. "Oh, thank you," I said, and went happily to take a seat in the back.

The look in Marlee's eyes was triumphant, and the smile hiding behind her cup of tea said, 'Gotcha'!

But I guessed she would never stop wanting more for me, more from me. Maybe that's what mothers did.

He wasn’t allowed to come with me there—my own rule for this little adventure. No more. Good-bye, Aspen.

She must have been debating staying in the line or forcing me to run home and change.

So far, I had a solid collection of my honest opinions.