After searching the main level of the house and the backyard for my mother, I made my way down into the basement where she had built a dark room so that she could develop the photographs she was taking. The door to the dark room was shut, the sign on the door read, developing photographs, please do not open the door. I tapped on the door three times to let my mother know that I needed her. I patiently sat on the bottom step fiddling with my shoelaces while I waited for her to open the door.

The door creaked open. Her smiling face greeted me as she softly asked, “Are you hungry?”

I nodded my head, and replied, “Yes.”

“Peanut butter and jelly with an apple, carrot sticks, and a glass of chocolate milk?” she said with eyes as bright as the sun.

My insides jumped with joy. “My favorite,” I said with a smile that reached from one ear to the other. “Will you eat lunch with me?” I asked in a begging tone.

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