The first time I read this month’s story, I couldn’t help but smile throughout. Our narrator, Mrs. Patricia Hydell, is on the hunt for a pregnancy test for her daughter, and we watch as she navigates the unfamiliar aisles of a Hispanic farmacia in an attempt to avoid being seen by someone she knows. Patricia’s fish-out-of-water antics juxtapose the serious nature of her mission, and her humorous struggle to maintain composure is one of the most endearing parts of the tale.

But upon a second read, deeper themes and questions emerge. What does it mean to be a mother? A wife? What’s the difference between the love for a daughter and the love for your husband? What kind of world is this where something so precious to one can be such a burden for the other? Author Rachael Levitt uses a light touch to explore these heavy topics, giving them the same consideration that Patricia might give to a pot luck dinner offering.

Opportunity Knocks” exposes a character with deep internal conflicts and sets her loose in a world completely outside of her control. While the results are occasionally light-hearted, the overall considerations will have you speculating the true nature of Patricia’s conflict for days.

Happy reading,

E. Branden Hart, Executive Editor—8/1/2017