Hello there, Jeff
This is an Review! 
I am also reviewing this item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
 I love the theme of the story. Love without borders is a clever way to get a reader's attention, thus, good title.
 The idea of a first love between this new teacher and her mentor, is plausible, albeit somewhat questionable that at her age she would wonder if it was love or a crush. It appears they spent much time together, and by the 13+ rating, I knew it had to remain pretty tame. However, my vivid imagination easily filled in the blanks where the couple's relationship went during those sweet months together.
 What I'm saying is, all the awkward stuff plus the romantic interludes were probably sufficient and had reached a comfortable state where they were beyond the physical magnetic attraction and beginning to discover the things that make them a a match for love and not just a physical thing. However, I digress. 
 I liked the drive of both of these teachers. For whatever their reasons, in order to follow through with their own dreams, they were bound to be separated by thousands of miles. Not conducive to a thriving relationship. It appears that she had the opportunity to choose his traveling, exciting, see the world, path, or stay behind and keep her comfy job where she currently taught.
 Again, she wonders if she should have gone with him, and self-doubts the love aspect, happy to settle with "it's only a crush" theory.
 Lo and behold, after being separated from him for a while, it hits her that maybe, it is indeed love -- real love.
 Good story, but the reader wants more. I know, there's a word count issue, but, if there were not so much top-heavy wordiness, perhaps a brief back-story and bring us to the emotional part and surprise us with an airline ticket, one-way. But don't tell us which way it was going. 
 Now that would hit the reader between the eyes.
 It's a fine story as far as love vs crush is concerned. And, what can you do to make that contest prompt work and at the same time not sound too syrupy? I don't know. Probably why I skipped choosing that prompt during the 10th WDC birthday celebration. 
Your a good sport, Jeff to put up with my vivid imagination coming alive all over this review.
Until next time--write on!
Regards,
WebWitch 
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| (4.5)
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Your story is a fantasy look, into worlds of elves, and shadows and the one who claims to be creator of all they are in this particular world. It's magical and a curiosity for the reader to learn as the story unfolds.
Many times Newbies have difficulty with the formatting. There is a space that asks on the form to save format. However, it's not so much the misaligned sentences and paragraphs, it's the fact that this item has been placed a couple days ago, and without any modifications. 
You have an interesting story in the rough, here. I believe with a little editing, it will shine brightly. 
My review has been submitted for consideration in "
Your poem reflects the hopes, dreams and love that have been a preparation for the new arrival to be. This baby is your dream and your dream is about to come true in the New year. 
The poem gives no idea as to the sex of the baby, as both blue and pink are used in lines, throughout. Thus, we are left with the mystery of will it be a daughter or a son? Either way, mommy and daddy will be overjoyed!
However, it is quite the beautiful, poetic expression of love, like no other -- becoming a mother. 
The colors on the apples are very pretty to add variety. The graphics themselves are bright and cheery and the message is beautiful as well. It shows you care to send thanks to a teacher.
Also, a very nice touch having the Blessed Teacher, notes, as one should not forget there are many teachers who teach at Christian schools, and would love such recognition.
A youth is flying to LA meet with a publisher. A writer's dream coming true!
A strange woman is seated next to him on the flight. There is something mysterious and wonderful about this woman. However, I won't spoil it for other readers. 
As a mother, I did not like the part where the older woman placed her hand on his thig and gave it a squeeze. Unless this was going to be an "adult subject Matter" story which it is not, it's inappropriate here. There are many other ways a woman could be grandmotherly without touching his thigh. Just sayin' 
Oh, my heat be still. 
You certainly brought the moment to life with one in this poem, with a woman, not his wife.
His mind is what the reader read as he spotted her, craved her, and took her to bed.
I was very creeped-out about the description of the dust bunnies being more than a week or more since the last vacuuming under the bed. 
You really did a stellar job of hooking the reader into the poetic musings, here. I thought of all sorts of horr and intrigue being multiplied under the furniture of every home, and some alien force being behind it, awaiting sufficient population to take over the world!
I thought the flow was smooth in this free verse poem. It grabbed my attention and took me along for the ride right up until the end. And then there was darkness. The reader is left with a vivid imagination run amok!
Your poem really hits hard, with facts about insulin and blood testing, all those things associated with Diabetes. I've seen my mother go through it and my brother currently has to deal with this disease.
I also noticed it had some highlighted words woven within the poem. I figured it must have been for a contest, and those words were the prompt words needed to be used.
Your poem didn't blink a bit as those words were placed into their lines. The flow was smooth and the impact great.
Wonderful job with the weaving of words and the profound emotion a reader could glean from the subject matter.
I like the Martians have a snowball fight. It makes them seem so "earthy." 
This was a very brief piece of a youngster's imagination. I could only suggest, somewhere below the youthful writing, to do a current adaptation of this children's story from an adult's POV of how he felt when he wrote the story so many years ago. It would be interesting to see the contrast since time has passed and vocabulary and describing instances would be much more fantasy-colored, and quite prismatic from an adult view.
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
There is something so mysterious about this tailor and events surrounding him. The reader can detect a bit of magic being a part of the talent which makes this tailor the best around.
I feel as if there needs to be more developing of the story so that the reader has a clearer vision of everything going on in it. It seems to have a lot of description up front of the tailor and what people think about him, yet, the ending seems to come abruptly.
I noticed the word count, thus each word used is important to making the story clearer. Thus, writing tighter and dropping things that are repetitive, and making sure the ending will satisfy the reader are important things to consider. 
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
My heart really goes out to you, for all of your internal suffering, and the pain that seems to be hidden when other people are looking at you. They only see what you allow them to see.
Depression is a serious illness that can go on without being noticed by others. I lost a dear friend less than a year ago due to his deep depression. He took his own life -- a permanent solution to a temporary problem he was facing. He never realized how much the friends he left behind loved him, and we miss him so much.
I hope you are doing better with your battle and have help with counseling and medication if needed. Every life matters. I truly believe that.
Kudos! I know this was deeply personal issue that you have been battling. I am happy to know that you continue to keep it from pulling you down. It takes a lot of strength, which is especially difficult for one who is completely exhausted. But, that fact that you find inner strength each day is a tribute to your great fortitude and fight for life. I pray you keep holding on to that strength.
I really enjoyed your interpretation of this song. The lyrics are very encouraging for one who reads them and applies the Sister of Mercy caring to them. Yes, one is not alone if someone has your back and your secrets are kept. It is trust and honor and done so in a humble way.
I am also reviewing your item because it popped-up on the Random Review generator.
You paint a lovely image of the delicate hands of your partner. Delicate, yet they work away at their tasks each day. They bring joy to her and others when she cooks, or works at her crafts. She places beauty into the world around her.
I liked that image of her. I thought of my mother's hands and how they were petite, yet could do so much work. She loved to cook, was a former bass player, and did embroidery work, that resulted in things of beauty.
Your partner reflects in such a glorious way from your descriptions of her.
The poem describes a deep regret about ending a relationship that was thought of as perfect. Things may seem perfect when they begin, but later certain changes in each individual seem to magnify and lead one to believe all is not so perfect anymore. 
I am also reviewing your item because it popped up on the random review generator,
This was such a sweet children's story. You bring love and hope to a young girl who was struggling with pneumonia and bored as well as sick, as she looked out the bedroom window to watch her friends playing outside.
You make the reader feel Annika's emotions and understand how difficult it is when a child is sick and stuck inside the house.
I noticed the words in bold print and assume these were prompt-words for a contest. If that's the case, they were well woven into the story and did not seem forced at all.
Great ending! My heart felt joy for the girl. That Bonnie is a wonderful friend!
Seriously, catching minnows sounds like a wonderful NC pastime for youngsters. Plus, they can be bait for larger fish. 
lMy experience when I first started fishing, which was relatively not very long ago, was at a pier in Sebastian State Park, Florida. So, I dealt with learning how to cast, get a feel for a fish nibbling and fight the surf at the same time. It was exhilarating! 
I became pretty good at it because I caught supper pretty much each time we went to the pier. Sometime I'll have to talk about the 6 foot Mako I caught one evening, by moonlight. 
I really enjoyed the story about your youth and catching minnows. I never know about the wasp-nest finagling for minnow bait -- but I do know now. I have been strictly a sea water fisher-woman. One day I'll do the fresh water fishing. I was told it can be quite memorable. I wondered if it could be as memorable as catching a shark as a newbie fisher? 
I enjoyed this one because it gave me a chuckle. Thus, I am highlighting it in tomorrow's 
I see this as part of a series, however, this is the part that popped-up on the Read & Review selector. It works out fine, as the story could stand alone and the reader could fill-in any blanks by checking out the other parts of the series.
The story is written with a noticeable tension and sense of emergency. The reader is curious about what the husband got himself mixed-up with and what happened to the father.
could be used.
Oh, my, the heartbreak of a friendship torn apart is woven throughout this poem. It definitely appeared to be a one-sided trust-relationship between your two. That's a pretty tough thing to realize. I belive one would feel used and betrayed in that situation.
You do not end on a bitter note, though. Instead, you think of something about that friend that you really miss --humor. Humor is one of those things that make a bond between people.
Your poem itself is written as a free verse, thus no particular rhyming scheme or certain meter is used.
Well, I can totally commiserate with having to drive the snow-ladened roads. However, my experience is in New England, not D.C. That place is a nightmare to drive anywhere near it, any type of weather. 
I loved the smooth flow, the imagery you painted in my mind with your words and the fact that I no longer with winters as I am a snowbird. So that alone made me appreciate your poem more.
Your article is well written, easy to understand, plus, I learned there is a special NaNo tool -- the Counter. I understand this would be a fantastic help to those participants.
You are clear, concise and give the reader visuals to go along with it. Hey, I may join in just to get to use one of these tools. 
