PART 12

Autumn brought new problems and a better sort of confidence.

The church basement flooded during a week of heavy rain.

We had to carry boxes of dry goods up the stairs while water crept across the floor.

For a moment, I feared the project would dissolve into frustration and finger-pointing.

Instead, volunteers appeared without being summoned.

Denise offered temporary shelf space in the market’s storeroom for items that met her storage rules.

The library let us use a meeting room for homework sessions.