Lauren chose green cloth for
Uncle Ron's eyes and for his
garden. She drew an N onto her
fabric, then carefully cut, ironed,
and pinned the letter on the
blanket. Lauren tried to make
her stitches small, because Dad
said those were the strongest.
Lauren misses the feeling of Uncle Ron's hand in hers as they skated across the ice together. She misses visiting Uncle Ron and Michael's kitchen, which was the only place where she got snacks in china bowls and juice in glasses that could break. Now several months have passed since Uncle Ron died, and Lauren's family and Ron's friends are making a quilt panel in his memory. And later, after they all dance together, Lauren will wrap the quilt panel around her the way Uncle Ron used to wrap her in his arms, and she will always remember.