“All rise.” And then there she is, here comes the judge, stern and solid in a new pair of stylish heels Shelley has never noticed her wearing before, perhaps bought just for this occasion, but she is not about to make a note of that; instead, she rises and she watches the jurors file in, most looking straight ahead, as if to avoid having to see the hateful jack-o’-lantern sitting there. It’s true that very few people look good in orange, which may be a reason to have chosen it in the penal system in the first place—that and, of course, it’s easy to spot if someone makes a break. But this one isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Shelley, and now she gets on the right channel, her fingers in anticipation of flying all over that keyboard, because that young woman he murdered could just as easily have been Shelley. So many times, that could have been Shelley. She’s just that predictable.

Lil

New Year’s Day 2016
Southern Pines
(Mild and sunny/we wish it would snow!)

Fun things to remember:

Jeff, you won in the punt, pass, and kick contest and got your picture in the paper (here it is). You were mad they didn’t get an action shot. For weeks after, you did things like eat raw eggs and lift heavy bricks so you would be ready for the NFL, but first you had to go to sixth grade.

Becca in a Brownie troop. Do you remember the pledge? “To help other people every day, especially those at home.” And now I am one of those people, but I have such a clear memory of you in your little brown dress holding up two fingers crossed by your thumb, that beanie off to one side, your book bag there on the kitchen counter, red Formica, the linden tree out the window.