Week 4

Those thoughts ran through his mind again, the old nightmares threatening to stop him, but he remembered how satisfying his minute moment of rebellion had felt, how proud he was of his mother's bravery in the face of his father's unreasonableness, and he felt he owed it to both of them to put aside his fears, to at least give writing a serious attempt. If his peers laughed at him - or worse, he wasn't any good - well, he wouldn't die from mortification. At least, he didn't think he would.

First thing's first, he thought. He would show some of his writing to his mother. True, her first instinct would be to protect her baby boy from any unkindness - even from herself - but, though she tended to be timid, Nebraska knew she would be gently honest with him. Her love of the English language was second only to her love for her son and both would ensure that she wouldn't let him live with illusions that might ultimately cause him disappointment.

When he told her his secret a combination of pride and hurt flashed across her face, but the pride won out. She required no explanation for his need of secrecy, understanding his reticence even with her. She was happy that her son had at last confided in her.