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She shook her head and looked out of the tops of her eyes at the ceiling, making no effort to hide the disgust at my answer to her question about the novel’s ending. At that moment, I felt two inches tall. She knew I hadn’t read the ending.
She knew I hadn’t put forth any effort in reading the novel at all, much less the ending. She was extremely disappointed, and I was disappointed in myself. Even then, she had a way of helping me realize what I was capable of, which was much more than anything I had accomplished by the tender age of seventeen.
Her wisdom was (and is) well beyond her years, yet it took me twenty years to realize it. Whether she is aware of how much influence she had on me, I cannot venture to guess. All I know is… without her wisdom and inspiration, truly this novel would never see the light of day.
To you, Miss Crandall, I humbly dedicate this novel with an unimaginable pride and affection. Your contributions to our world are indeed immeasurable.
Rodney V. Earle
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