My baby brother Paul is six years younger than me. This is currently confusing, because although I still see him as a chubby adorable child, he happens to be 30 years old. This means that he is—and has been for some time—an adult (still adorable.) And that means that he can do things like support himself, be in a serious relationship, and band together with his good friends to set up a fundraiser on Speed4Sarah’s behalf, which he did the Friday night after Thanksgiving.

The idea, I believe, came from the girls. I’ve known the sweet Anna Biggins and her family for years, since back when she was a Schroeder and before she had two kids, little blond babies with the names of fairies. I asked her brother Eric to King of Hearts, our high school’s version of a Sadie Hawkins dance. Our moms are friends who used to teach together, and Anna’s mom has read every novel worth reading. She writes her name inside them before passing them on liberally. I like this fact. I wonder if the books always make it back home. I wonder if I’ve accidentally stolen any of them.

Anna is friends with Elyse Caringella, a pretty pixie who has written me emails that make me laugh, and who felt motivated to organize an entire event to raise money for ALS, despite never having met me. Read More>