LITANY OF HOPE
By Phyllis Irene Radford
My life has evolved in ways I never could imagine. Now I must live the life of a fugitive. This is the first day of my new life. It did not begin today. It began—it began half a lifetime ago. Half of my lifetime, anyway.
“Hope Sally Henderson, must you walk like an elephant?” Mama didn’t turn away from her dishwashing, or stop watching the morning news on her laptop beside her on the kitchen counter.
I paused, one foot halfway into the kitchen. I was in a hurry on my way to grabbing breakfast and not paying attention to manners or walking “ladylike.” This was my birthday breakfast, and maybe, just maybe, I’d have a surprise awaiting me.
The only reason Mom would notice my walking heavily was if she had a cake in the oven.
