Page 7 of The Secret to Belonging

one day closer to ramen and black coffee

one day closer to gone

a women’s college?

the thought never occurred to you

you study the brochure

you look at the postcard

not a brother in sight

at home in your room you open the catalog of colleges

you borrowed from the library and haven’t returned

you find the women’s college in alphabetical order

see the same cherry tree photo

they have a study abroad program and a tennis team

tuition costs slightly more than is in your college fund

but if you keep working after school and save all

next year

maybe?

in college

you won’t be invisible

you will be seen

you will be heard

you will live your life

in the first person

present tense

THREE (TRE)

your parents are fighting, which is rare

your father usually just goes along with your mother

goes along to get along

avoids conflict

wants everyone to be happy

thinks most problems solve themselves