NA Leigh: A Pioneering Voice in Social Justice

Josie got teary-eyed. “I swear, if you make me cry and ruin my make-up, your bride-to-be will be the last face you ever see.”“Well, then I will have died a happy man.

Mother,” Brandon interrupted. “You got rid of Julie without even asking us. She was the only person who cared about us and now she’s gone.”“Are you still children that you need a nanny?” asked Luke.“No!” Brandon yelled, realizing too late that he raised his voice. You’re going to pay for that one, Bran.“It’s hard to lose the only mother figure you’ve ever had,” Josie chimed in.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,Do you know that’s what you are?Up above the world, you’ll fly.Like a diamond in the sky.Twinkle, twinkle, little star,Don’t forget that’s what you are.

How can I help you make this better?”“You can’t,” he said, “because there’s nothing to make better. I have you. That’s all I need. I realized that during the past two weeks as I awaited their reply. When you finally handed me the envelope, I realized that I didn’t care what they had to say. I didn’t care whether they came or not. Either way, I was going to marry the love of my life and there was nothing my father could do to stop me.

Arie, you bring out a fire in Noah that I’d never seen anyone else ignite. You not only complete him and compliment him but you are his opposite and other half. You are the very essence of who he is. He is who he is because of you. When he looks at you, he sees a mirror reflecting all the things that he hopes and longs for in life. And that, my dear, is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you.

You need to learn to be true to yourself. You deserve great things, Noah. But do you know that? Do you believe that? Until you learn to love yourself, there is nothing that I can offer you; not as a friend, not as a girlfriend, and not as a wife.

Don’t let your father beat you down. If you do, you’ll never survive. Stay innocent. Stay curious. Stay sweet. I know I don’t know you but I can feel you. From the little I saw of you before the accident, I can tell that you are such a special little boy. If you can hear me, please, listen to my words and not those of your father. Please, Noah. You are a shooting star. The world needs people like you.

You can’t always articulate what you’re feeling. That doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability to feel or understand what’s going on in your environment. But your parents can’t see that, can they, Noah?

I’m hungry, Daddy…but I know you’re mad at me…so I’ll go away.After fumbling with the straps, the little boy turned away from the table. He went to the sofa and pulled himself onto it. Sitting in the corner, not making a sound, he watched the rest of his family eat. I’m so sorry. I was trying to help. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I know I was a bad boy. I’m so sorry.Mr. Hinkle’s heart broke for little Noah.

I asked them, when I was younger, why they named a bookstore an attic when it’s not an attic but a bookstore. They said, ‘Because, like an old dusty attic, you never know what you’re going to find. It might be something magical.