Tori Lindgren

Mr. Hearst

“Shauna, get your room set up, I’ll have the delivery crew bring up the rest of your things,” Mama called to me from our new kitchen. The clanging of dishes as she sorted the cupboards fostered an atmosphere of excitement. We’d just moved to Memphis from Oakland, California after Daddy’s job required the family to uproot to the South. I missed the crisp Oakland air already, the salt of the freezing bay misting my nose. The Tennessee climate was hot and humid, creating a stickiness in the air that choked my breath. The second I climbed out of our Uhaul van, I immediately felt that steamy moisture coat my body. Nevertheless, I was excited for a fresh change.