In the 11^th grade, I found my English teacher fascinating and brilliant.  She not only taught, she inspired, she motivated, she encouraged, and she believed.  One day, she called me up to her desk.  I was certain I was in trouble.  She had just separated my best friend and me, so instead of passing notes the traditional way, we were forced to write notes big enough to read from across the room, particularly hilarious notes that day, if I recall, which resulted in unsquelchable laughter.  (That’s a word.)  When I arrived at her desk, she handed me a short story I wrote inspired by Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and said, “You have the gift of writing.  I hope you’ll use it.” Continue reading →