The next week passed quickly. My pupils were settling into their lessons quite well, and I was beginning to feel more at ease in the role of teacher. On the last day of the school week, I received my first evaluation from the school board. I had known it was coming and its approach gave me no end of anxiety, but nonetheless I was delighted to find that the board had ranked me favorably in all areas. I promptly sent their report home in a letter to my family.

There was no definitive moment. No one, singular moment in time that stood out that said, "Yes, this is it". Sure, ask me for some occasions where the thought was made particularly evident to me, and I'd be able to give you a handful of scenarios and one or two dates, but one moment? No.

It happened suddenly
Soft
Being pulled close by the frayed grey
A small tear I wanted to sew up
Asking gently why I cared
My reply was simply this
And your reaction
Soft

I think of what we could be
Soft
Warm, gentle, pale
We long for days that we can always have
Side-by-side, sweet dream full
Clasped close, swaddled in near
Waking early sunfolds of spring, cheeks and noses
Soft

John Casey was getting back home after a short walk around the neighborhood. As he walked into the house, he found it strange that the lights were out. He flicked the switch on the wall to turn on the chandelier in the living room. Nothing. He went around, feeling his way down the hallway, flicking switches to no avail.

"Mary? Where are you?" he yelled.

No answer.

He called for Nora.

No answer.

By this point Mr. Casey was beginning to worry. He remembered of how he felt when he heard that his brother was missing. He couldn't let his family down.

If we run back fast enough
Through all the timezones
Could we get back to yesterday?
Everyone says we can’t.
“Logic forbids it.”
But they haven’t tried
And maybe we could do it
Could relive all the happiness
Blithe and innocent of the problems of today
Dreams come true are impossibilities
But they still happen.
There is that chance

He sat there
Lost
Lightning flashed
And rain poured down
His guitar strings went out of tune
The notebook’s pages were soaked
His red hoodie protected his dark locks and eyes
And he emptied his soul to the thunder

***So, has anyone here ever heard the crazy song called the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins???
Well, then for those who haven't, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF5ROpjRAU&feature=kp

So, yesterday I was cleaning up the living room, and thinking about the above song, when I got the idea to write the Ballad of Frodo Baggins. So, here it is, to the same tune as the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.***

THE BALLAD OF FRODO BAGGINS

The whole world reminds me of you

The sky's blue
And I've still heard nothing

The flowers are beautiful
I wish you were here to see them

My love, are you listening?
My love, are you alright?
My love, won't you stay here?
Won't you let me set things right?

There's nothing else to say
But I'm sorry
And please forgive me

Week One: Sweet Talk & Bully

Sweet Talk I
Senseless sweet talk,
Mindlessly thought over,
Daydreamt and romanticized.
It's nothing new,
I've spoken sweet words,
Made passionate compliments,
And held a flirtatious conversation,
In my daydreams before this.
Endless fantasizing isn't new,
Except for this time,
There's an actual chance,
A chance I'll say it all out loud,
To you.

Some Days