That one idea comes to mind most when I consider the events that followed, and it still hangs in space right in front of me in such a way that I'll ne...er be able to reach out and get the answer I need.Less than a week before graduation, Nancy decided to accompany me to Crooked Creek, though she gave me the notion she had something to tell me rather than having a need to hang out. I didn't waste time - we drove straight to the spot as soon as she agreed. After parking just off the road, I hopped. She coughed andsaid, "Your mother has decided that since you're new to this type offashion, she should go back to picking out your outfits like when youwere younger."The loss of autonomy over his clothing choices did not even register toJames. He just knew that he had to wear what Brenda had left out forhim and that filled him with a sense of dread. He hesitated to touchany of the garments left on his bed. After a few minutes, Annie grewimpatient and said, "If you don't get dressed, I'm going. With its nose the Brown Digger could easily smell the blood splattered beneath Zax torso – he spat it involuntary when his body started to spasm. On that note, the Brown Digger sense of smell was more unique than strong, since it was known to be capable to actually smell Qi or mist energy, even when inside an Earth's Core's shell."Gurrrr!" The Brown Digger got close to Zax, his sharp claws ready to separate meat from bone."STUMP!"A heavy hoof stumped the head of the Brown Digger and a voice. Should I?-June 6thI've been forty years old now for a month now, but the person lookingat me in the mirror doesn't appear to be forty years old. She looksyouthful. She looks happy. Part of me wants to say that's just themakeup, that it's masking my real age for me, but as my blonde hairbobs around my shoulders, I feel younger, too. There's only a hint ofblack now as I pull my hair behind my ears. There's only a hint ofthe person I used to be."Used to be." That seems appropriate. I'm not.