Micah proposed that the entire Sanctuary family undertake a one-day fast, to demonstrate solidarity and resolve for their mission. “You must decide what you’re willing to sacrifice for the greater good of this community,” he said. “Are you willing to give up a few meals that your body doesn’t even truly need? It’s not much of a sacrifice when you think of it that way, is it?”

Everyone readily agreed, so after yoga, they all went directly to their work, while Micah left for the meeting. The day seemed to drag on forever. Sero hadn’t realized how much time was normally passed in preparing, enjoying and cleaning up from breakfast and dinner. She grew hungry a few times, but her appetite passed, and she found herself acceptably satiated with tea and chewing gum. The true deprivation was not having Micah around.

When he walked in the door, six hours later, one of his shirttails was untucked and his hair was disheveled—the way he looked after a late-night jam session. He dropped his binder of materials on the table with a thud. Sero felt her stomach twist with anxiety. She had listened to Micah rehearse his presentation last night, in his bedroom. She’d thought he was very persuasive and told him so.

“Friends, we have a formidable enemy over there.” Micah stretched out his arm and pointed outside. “But today, we prevailed.” His face brightened with a smile, and enthusiasm crept into his voice. “I made our case for the chicken coop and the board agreed we have a right to keep the birds on our property.”

Ericka and Zoe started cheering. “All right, Micah!” Rufus called out. “That’s my man!” Sero felt a silent pride gathering within her chest.

“So, I’ve decided we should get a dozen more chicks and expand the coop. And beginning tomorrow, I’m going to start looking for two calves. Finally, there will be milk at the Sanctuary!” At this, everyone applauded. August held two fingers to his mouth and let out a long, high wolf whistle.

“They approved the cows?” Sero beamed at him, the hunger pangs in her belly all but forgotten. “Not yet, but they will. Right now, we need to send a message to that neighbor, to the board. We aren’t going to be subject to power and control by others. We came to the Sanctuary so we can live free. We didn’t escape the oppression of our dysfunctional families or our abusive relationships or our addictions just to be subject to more unjust rules, did we?”

“No!” they said back in unison. “No, we didn’t!”

“We came together to live a better way. We don’t need permission for that. We’re getting closer to our dream, friends.” Micah smiled.

* * *

The next morning, Sero came down to the kitchen to find an enormous pile of assorted citrus heaped on the island: oranges, grapefruits, tangerines. Chef Guy was slicing and working the fruit through a commercial juicer, filling up a big pitcher. “What’s all this? From our trees?” Sero asked skeptically.