Flowers For The Season

"Helen hesitated, looking at her family, there, all together. She felt nervous, and a lump came up in her throat as she prepared to speak. It suddenly occurred to her that if she went to visit her sister she would be leaving everyone else. Am I really going to leave them? She quickly reminded herself that she was a young woman, nineteen years old. A young lady. And, although just out of school this was a great opportunity to meet society for the first time.
Stooping softly, she tenderly kissed her father's forehead, just brushing up against his graying hair. Then planting herself on the ottoman she made herself comfortable and began sharing with the family of her ride in the countryside and then, abruptly announced, I'm going to Little Rock.
Her news made for lively banter there in the parlor. Everyone had something to say and they were saying it all at once."