(02-06-2021, 10:50 PM)Pearl Carrington Wrote: "Oh, th-hi-hank you-hoo," she said as the waterworks really began. She had never cried in public before, but just being where she was at made her miserable on so many levels. She accepted the hanky with a pitiful sniffle and buried her face in the cloth. "I'm terrib-bly sor-horry," she squeaked out. "I am a mess aren't I?" She went on to ask, her voice's pitch rising into a tiny little sound. She then steeled herself and stiffened up, balefully mopping up the wet salt running down her cheeks. She sighed, "Ahhh..."

Though she managed to stop the little bit of sobbing, there were a few stray tears that glistened their way down her cheeks. She sighed again and dabbed now at her eyes.

"Tears don't look good on anyone, Miss."

Joe recalled the women in his life crying at home, usually an awkward uncomfortable experience; his younger sister was especially sensitive.  

"When my little sister were young and she would be upset, I would give her advice and penny sweets to cheer 'er up.  Now, I don't have penny sweets today, but I say you already know 'ow you want to 'andle your family and what you want to do next. Me Ma'am called it 'the little voice.' Just be still and listen for a moment, it'll tell you what to do."