Ten.One Thousand, Three Hundred & Thirty-Nine

1. Not again.

2. Move slowly. Unpack the pancake mix. Prep the decaf but wait to start it until there is food in the belly.

3. The sound of the pond out back. Bird chatter.

4. It is always quieter with one less child around.

5. I can do this.

6. “I always feel, first and foremost, that I have to please myself because if I’m not pleased with what I’m doing, then it’s hard to convince somebody else to.”

7. We take our walk. There is very little talking. I tell him that I am worried they want writing like my personal writing. Maybe what I am working on is not artsy enough. He assures me that it will be fine.

8. Set it aside.

9. An order of french fries while I wait.

10. Nighttime driving makes me so nervous.