The beginning of the end

It was the simplest entreaty, “Have a seat,” yet my throat swelled with emotion. Imagine my surprise.

My daughter and I were standing at the admissions office reception desk at Wheaton College in Norton, MA. It was the first stop on our whirlwind Boston-area college tour.

“Have a seat,” said the nice lady behind the desk, as she handed Callison a blue information card and a clipboard. My eyes teared suddenly. What was going on, I wondered? How could this simple phrase, uttered by a perfectly nice young lady, seated behind a dark wood desk in the sweet Colonial-style cottage that is the admissions office, make me weep?

go to column