General Store Blues

Dear Cordelia,

I live in a small town where everybody knows everybody. Not many people here have left town and those who have, come back. I’d tell you what town I live in, but you would surely find me after reading my letter. My Pa owns the only general store here since we only have a few people in town. My Ma died when I was little. All my life I wanted nothing more than to travel and write books. But he just keeps telling me to get my head outta the clouds and learn more about the store so he can retire soon. He doesn’t quite understand that writing can be a real career too. I don’t know how to tell him that runnin’ the store just isn’t for me. I am 23 years old and I just want to find my own way in the world and not live the life he has planned for me. I spent more time in the shop than at home growing up and I know that I wouldn’t mind helping out when I can. But the store just isn’t my dream, it’s his. How do I talk to him about it? I don’t want to let him down, but I need him to know that the right people to run the store are already there with him working every day.

Please help,

Jean Ure

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Jean Ure,

I just want to start off by saying that I loved how you referenced Jean Ure (the author who ran away from expectations and school to have her own life as a writer) as your signature. That was a nice touch