Marce Catlett: The Force of a Story: A Port William Novel

n elderly woman once told me she was making a long trip back to her hometown for the little community’s autumn apple festival. She had returned many times for the festival—an annual ritual of her girlhood and young adulthood—but this time was different. Now in her 80s, she said, “I’m going back home for what I’m sure will be the last time.” It felt awkward to press the point, but I wondered what it must be like to see a familiar event lose the expected promise of next year.