A short first-person narrative by Keira Brinton describing how she acted on an inspiration to start a publishing house (Freedom House). She recounts trademarking the name, attempting to open a business bank account, experiencing self-doubt and judgment about her personal circumstances, and making a symbolic purchase (a new wallet) to embody her new identity.
So I received this inspiration that I was to start a publishing house. I started to figure out how would I start a publishing house. So after I went to the lawyer's office and got Freedom House trademarked, I went to go set up my business bank account. I mean, I'd been nursing babies for a decade, so, like, why did I have anything nice? That's what I always tell myself. Like, I just have babies spitting up on me all day. My wallet was cracked and holy. And I remember sitting down with this woman. I remember pulling my wallet out and her looking at it in disgust. And she said, do you think you can keep $2,000 in your bank account at all times? No, I do not. And she laughed at me. And I remember thinking, what am I doing? But I left that bank, and I went straight to the store and I bought myself a new wallet. And I said, damn it. Like, this is who I'm going to become.
