Mother, my one star in an empty sky, knows all."Where are my gray sneakers? Do we have any pencils in the house?" Iask, and then comes her response, as quick as a cheetah, as if she already knewmy questions before they flew from my mouth. She is a whole book of Post-It notesscribbled with reminders like "Don't forget your project is due thisFriday." She is like Superwoman; she has a million responsibilities, yet shemanages to get everything done.

She takes the time to care, and is alwaysthere when I need her most, like a paper towel ready to clean up a grape juicespill. She has taught me right from wrong better than any TV show could. She islike a soft, cozy chair providing a feeling of safety all around, alwayslistening like an attentive audience at a Broadway musical, focusing on eachdancer.

Inspired by the vignette "Smart Cookie" fromSandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street.