A House is a Home- Chapter 1

Phoenix nervously waited for the moving van to arrive with their furnishings and her car. She and Tyre had driven from Chicago to Amherst, Massachusetts. It was the home of the University of Massachusetts- Amherst where he had accepted the offer to be a candidate for their doctoral program and work as an Assistant Professor. They had graciously rolled out the red carpet. They provided Tyre and Phoenix with faculty housing which turned out to be a medium-sized house with a huge backyard.

Living in the city and in suburbia had not afforded them this type of quaint welcome. Phoenix immediately remembered Theresa’s words, “All things in time,” as she looked out towards the backyard. She envisioned the planting of a garden with both veggies and flowers.

They had made the drive after a farewell party with their parents. It was lively, but the tears flowed in spurts and the only thing that moved both of them forward was getting on the road. Once they were on the interstate, there was little time for too much reflection because the present moment was requiring all of their attention,

June 13, 2026