Mimi Alford

He teased me that my return to college was more like abandonment - of him. Then he would cue up Nat King Cole's version of "Autumn Leaves" on the stereo in the residence, making me pay close attention when the lyrics came to, "But I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall." He had a mushy sentimental streak and wasn't afraid to show it.
Just before I left, I bought him another copy of that record. I trimmed the cover with leaves I'd collected in a park, and gave it to him as a farewell present.
"You're tring to make me cry", he said.
"I'm not trying to make you cry, Mr. President," I said. "I'm trying to make sure you remember me."