My Mother's Masterpiece

t suitcase, a thrill

University, three hours awa

way from her

almost taste it, like the swee

small duffel bag hi

hirts, and a pair of sneakers she

l clo

rmal col

nt to the tight, severe b

d on the long, shapeless dresses that made S

h modesty and grace, Sarah," Brenda would say

about God,

church group, the "Sisters of Serenity," a ga

't even truly dev

mance, and Sara

full ride, was Sa

ard, endured so mu

anned a small a

air

ugh to feel like herself befo

urch group meeting, a

ct ti

ut the scissor

art po

than hair; it

around her shoulders, a rare mome

breath and mad

ano

clumsy, but it

the other side when she h

was hom

seized

scissors and the fallen

ally narrowed in calculation, widening in

oing?" Brenda' s v

sweeping over Sarah, the scissors on

corner of the duffel bag pee

lent movement, Br

spilled ont

-shirts.

s face c

o throw away everything I' ve taught

ege," Sarah pleaded, her voice trembli

ar," Brenda snapped.

e jeans, her k

i

tore thr

hirts next, her breath

e threw against

holarship," Brenda spat, her face close

up, hot and furious. "You

ed, a harsh,

ike a respectable young woman. You will wear what I

h' s arm, her fi

anyone, I will call that university. I will tell them what a deceitful, rebellious girl

e fight draining away,

a mea

stroy Sarah'

composure. "Let me fix this... mess you' ve made

ted her hair back into the hated bun, p

fore was gone, crushed under th

efeated girl with a lopsided, h

ow felt like a fortress her mother w

pposed to be a

ure it started with