A Reader’s Challenge
How much sympathy can you have for a girl who spends a good part of her adolescent life in a house with an abusive alcoholic father? For how long would you be willing to stand by her? Past untreated fears and feelings of being a victim can create stress for the future spouse and children. The created strains and disappointments erode a compassion bank. In the face of the new tensions the cause of a wife’s or mother’s anguish is forgotten or dismissed. From such an irritating person many would choose to back away. Many would want to hear no more, see no more. If you know or are reminded of the origin of a troubled person’s mental challenges would you be able to continue to support her? This is the challenge faced by the author in real life and the reader in my novel, Baggage burdens.
While the reader has knowledge of the violent home life that forced Jill to run away from home before she graduated, Jill’s husband, Joseph, and her children don’t know it. That lack of Jill’s background intensifies frustrations. Siding with the husband and children is easier for the reader. Feeling unsympathetic to Jill is natural. In real life we frequently don’t know the cause of a person’s odd, seemingly unexplainable actions. However, the reader of this novel knows better. Does that knowledge really make a difference?
A memory of a fight with Jill’s father interrupts. He hit first. Jill expected it. She struck back with all her might, hitting him in the face. The pain in her hand distracted her until his next blow sent her to the floor. His knee pinned her. A fist to Jill’s stomach ended her resistance. Like a popped balloon, her energy vanished. A heavy hand grabbed her hair.
The memory of that pain returns when Jill’s comb catches a tangle.
Jill’s father dragged her away from the furniture. Slaps pelted her. Jill’s blurred vision detected her mother’s determined face. A crystal vase crashed on her father’s head. An ink-black minute ended the torment.
Later Jill’s mother told her that she swung as hard as she could to stop Frank. She pulled Jill out from under him. While they waited for the police, she wiped the blood off Jill’s face. This was the first time the police were called. A compromise to charges was an apology and promises not to ever hit anyone again.
“Are you sure you can’t come down to see your grandmother?” asks Julie.
“Now? Yes. Maybe next year, during the summer.”
“It’s not about the money, is it? Because if it is, Josey said she’d pay for everything.”
“No,” lies Jill. “I told you I have to be here for my children. And I have a job to return to.” After Jill reiterates her excuses, she becomes suspicious. “Why would Josey be concerned about my financial situation anyway?” she asks. “What did you tell Josey about me?”
“She knows about your accident. And I told her that you were recovering. Remember? I saw you before I left.”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with financial troubles.” Jill sees Julie fidgeting. “Is that all?” Jill leans forward, intent to find out what else Julie is hiding.
“You know you were in a coma for several weeks,” pleads Julie. “I had to tell Josey that. If I didn’t, she would never have forgiven me. And telling her you were conscious was good news. She needed to hear that.”
Still working at the notion that Josey thinks she has financial concerns, Jill challenges Julie. “What else did you report? You didn’t tell her I was divorced, did you?”
Leaning back as if to avoid being hit, Julie answers, “Yes, I did.”
“You didn’t!” Jill instantly blurts out. She looks down ashamed. Her shortcomings are exposed to the most respected person in her life.
“I didn’t have much choice, Jill. When you quit eating and I saw those pills on your night table––I really didn’t know what to think. I needed help. . . . I had to talk to someone.”
“I can’t believe it.” Jill’s words bounce off the floor. “How long have you been spying on me?” Jill refuses to look at her niece.
“Jill! That’s not fair! We’re not your enemies. We both love you. We just want to be there fo––”
“How long?” Jill’s demand clearly states she only wants to hear one more thing. Silence follows until Jill’s eyes target Julie’s forehead. “How long?”
haiku capsule:
adolescent scars
family friction flareups
one’s endurance test
Next blog: Muddied Waters
Why settle for excerpts of Baggage burdens.?
Order the e-book from kindle or kobo now or your soft cover from Amazon.
Let me know what part you found enjoyable.
No comments:
Post a Comment