On the way to grandma's house I would count how many turns my father would make. I couldn't wait till he made the last right into the long and rough road to the farm house that I adored.

When the car pulled up, here came my dog Dinky, a brown German Shepherd, and my Grandmother wiping her hands on her apron and giving a huge smile. I would leap out of the car and run into her arms, and Dinky would start barking for her hug too.

This has been many years ago, but I still remember those days with Dinky and my Grandmother like it was just yesterday. It was the most loving place one could find in an eight year old world.

Teresa Allen, from Albuquerque, NM, has a new novel that was just published in April 2008. This is an adult novel, but her true passion is writing for children and from her heart. Her newly published novel is Marti Brown and the House of Face. You may visit her website at: www.teresarallen.com. Allen's blog is called, "MY Books."

© 2008 Teresa Allen. Original for CCF (Allen grants CCF  first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).