The woman in the faded photo was much younger than Anna’s mother had ever been. The framed photos at the house in Samson City had begun to appear only after Anna’s birth, with not one of them showing a life before children had entered the house. Anna often felt that this young woman might have never existed, that perhaps it was the children that gave her an identity in the first place. Now, seeing those same warm eyes staring out of a young, chubby face, seeing the bobbed haircut, the overly starched uniform, everything white and institutional, the soft hands directed at an elderly woman’s freckled arm—all of it hit her with clinical precision. So this was her mother—no, this was a young woman before she became a mother—working at the Sweetwater Nursing Home over three decades before Lady PussyKat was to give up her long career and spend her days staring out at the streets through an unwashed window.
What did this mean? Somehow, her mother had known Lady PussyKat so well that she had helped her secure a spot in the nursing home.
The thought made Anna suddenly tired, and she walked to the kitchen, poured herself a drink, and let the answering machine go.
“Listen Anna, I know someone who might be able to take it.” It was her sister Charlotte’s voice. She must have guessed about the pregnancy from their last few conversations. Great, just great. “There’s a girl in town who says she’ll take care of the baby, she just needs to get adoption papers.”
Anna spat her wine back into the glass. Another question added to a pile a million-high: Was this what the woman in the photograph, the woman who was to become Anna's mother, had done for Lady Pussykat?
You folks put me in a tough spot. I really felt like the central question of this novel needs to center around a decision that Lady Pussykat made many years ago, a decision that may have resulted in Anna "belonging" to her mother. This way, Anna's decision becomes doubly weighted: Does she want to follow in Lady Pussykat's footsteps? Which mother is she truly like, and what does this mean for her identity?
ReplyDeleteThe question of whether or not Lady Pussykat is her real mother is still up in the air.
Hopefully the significance of the pregnancy is finally revealed: She now has a choice about whether or not to continue a certain cycle, to perpetuate the mystery.
I'm so confused. Now we're saying that LP might be Anna's mother? Isn't she supposed to be like 80? And Anna's 27. I mean, sure it's not impossible, but you don't often hear of women in their early fifties giving birth. Seems a tad far-fetched to me.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it would be highly irresponsible of Anna to be drinking alcohol while pregnant - just saying.
I think the drinking might be in character, but I am likewise confused at the prospect of LP being Anna's mother. Especially when you address her mother and LP as different people outside the photograph. I do like the added tension and drawing back to the adoption/abortion issue we've been discussing through the process of writing this.
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by how intertwined Lady PussyKat is becoming in Anna's family history. Although it would probably be a big stretch to assume that she is Anna's mother (yet, hello, that's a big plot knot), I think that we are on the right track in adding some needed weight to LP's character. For a while, she has just been some lone figure that Anna - for reasons of her own - finds captivating. For Anna to see her not just a sexual Woman, but also as some sort maternal figure, is really interesting. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI have some of the same confusion about the whole mother thing but I like the idea that LP has something to do with the history in her family or perhaps decisions her mother might have made. Great job continuing the action, I feel like we've finally slowed the pace down enough and it's starting to feel more like a novel where we can sit back and pick out the 'plot knot' pieces and begin to unravel and ask questions.
ReplyDeleteGarrard, my brain was headed in the same direction that yours was in consideration of Anna's relation to LP--I was thinking more along the lines of grandmother, but it could definitely be possible that she had her in her late 40s! Why not?! It's our story! :) . . . .
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone...including Garrard--it was a hard spot to be in but the new development is confusing. Sometimes confusion is a good thing--it can be intrigue and raise suspense. However, here, I think the way others have set up LP is not meshing with the characterization of LP. I have no foundation other than my gut, but I'd like to see LP not be any direct relation to Anna.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late on this... I totally forgot. Sorry. I think Garrard is right- we put him in a tight spot. And I think this novel has been about strange stretches and I LOVE this one. Fascination with this woman may have come from the fact that they were related. Adopted kids seem to know they've been adopted long before they're told. It made the pregnancy significant too. Good job.
ReplyDeleteSo good. This adds another twist to the plot, one that makes sense with the story and was executed brilliantly. Way to go Garrard.
ReplyDelete