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politics and a bunch of ‘ologies’ I can’t even name, all rolled into one heartfelt speech.”
    He had to mean our talk about Colt being bisexual.
    “That young’un was born with a clenched fist. When I first laid eyes on her, she’d pick up a stick and scrub it on the ground to make her point. You taught her how to add balance and weight, and now, she can hone the point till you almost don’t feel it slide through your ribs. Rather than hold that message in her fist, and reach only what she can touch, now she can let it sail through the air and it’ll land true.”
    Oh, Dale.
    “Ain’t no doubt, her words changed my heart. If I know my daughter, she ain’t gonna be satisfied to stop with me. She wants to change the world. And thanks to the job you done, I believe she can.”
    A long pause ensued. The president cleared her throat and when she spoke, her voice resonated warmth. “I think that might be the most moving endorsement of our institution I’ve ever heard, Mr. Hannah. Thank you so much.”
    I blinked back tears. 
    “I can’t stop thinkin’ about that conversation, to be honest. I asked a friend of mine, well, I reckon you know Francine Tipton? She told me what the tuition costs here. Don’t mind sayin’, the number she spit out gave me sticker shock. That’s when I knew, I had to come talk to you.”
    “Yes, Francine’s a long time member of our scholarship selection committee, as well as an alumnus.”
    Dale stuck to his point. “I’d never undermine Shelby’s independence by offerin’ to pay for her tuition, ‘cause she’s always known I’d be glad to give her the money. But I got me a problem. See, I growed up a ward of the state. Everything I had was give to me. Well, it ain’t that way no more. So, it don’t sit right with me to take your money for Shelby, but you can see my problem.
    Dr. Jamison tried to speak, but Dale sailed ahead. “Ma’am, here’s what I decided. If another stray lands on your doorstep, long on guts and short on greenbacks, I’d be honored if you’d give her the same opportunity you gave my daughter, courtesy of this old country boy. Just my way of sayin’ thanks for the fine job you done. Because I think the world could use a few more Shelbys.”
    I fled, choking on my effort not to cry.
    I kept an anxious eye on the cafeteria entrance from the main building, but the dinner hour wore on without sight of Dale. When I wiped down the last table in my section, I wasn’t sorry, for once, about my cast. Sweeping was out of the question. I clocked out, waving to Hetty.
    I stepped out of the kitchen and ran headlong into the college president.
    “Hello, Shelby.” She smiled. “How much longer in the cast?”
    “Uh, hi, Dr. Jamison. I just had new X-rays, but haven’t heard the results. We have tools down in the art department to get me out of this thing. They look more tempting every day. Can I take that for you?” I held out my hand for the tray.
    She laughed, but shook her head. “I can do it, dear. How’s the semester going?”
    Horribly. Terribly. Miserably . I’d never made such low grades in my entire life.
    “Fine.” I slid the kerchief I wore on duty off my head. “I guess I need to get to my printmaking class.”
    “See you later.” She smiled and set the tray on the long table that helped the bus trays.
    So, not one word about Dale? I shoved through the door and jogged down the stairs. Halfway across the back campus, my cell phone rang. Dale’s ringtone.
    “Hey, Dale.”
    “Hey, sugar. Listen, I called up that number on the card your boyfriend left. Thought it was time me and your mama got to know your beau. Robert’s daddy seems like a nice fella. Offered to take us all to dinner. Since me and your mama’ll be on our way to Daytona next Wednesday, I thought we’d swing by and take the man up on his offer. How’s that sound?”
    “D-dinner? With the Kossels?” What the actual fuck?
    “Yep. I had no idea little ol’ Sparkle