Hello again, this is a new story based off a character in my drama club play called, The Bloody Radio Murders. It's a back story on the intern for the radio station W. A. R. K Fouke, Arkansas. She is also known as someone else, but, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. The play is set in the 1930's and she was 16 in the play. So this will take place between 1914 and 1930.

Chapter 1: Before it all went wrong

The first six years of my life were relatively normal. I grew up a normal child. My mother was trying to get her dress designing business off the ground. But, no one was taking her seriously. After all, this was Arkansas in the 10's, women didn't have equal rights and, although my mama was a headstrong individual, even she had trouble negotiating with the big men that often scared me. My father wasn't around a lot. Mama said not to complain, because daddy brought in most of the money that keeps food on the table and clothes on my back. I didn't like the thought of being hungry and cold, so I didn't complain and instead enjoyed every moment that I could with my daddy. He was very protective of me and mama. And loving. He was always up for a game of checkers or hide and seek and never said no when I asked for a piggyback ride. Although mama may have scolded me at times daddy always laughed and said that she was just doing it because she loved me. I never believed him, but I never said that out loud. My favorite part of daddy being home is when I fell asleep in his arms and he'd carry me to bed. That always made me feel happy and it's what made me look forward to the day that he came back.

Finally, one sunny day in June, when mama picked me up from my friend Samantha's she greeted me with a big smile on her face. When I asked why she looked so happy, she laughed and picked me up

"My dear daughter, I had to pick a few bones, but I did it!" she said. "Mama has her own business!"

"You mean it? Really!" she nodded. I hugged her tighter than I ever had and she laughed.

"Oh Maren, you don't know how long I have waited for this day!"

"A million billion jillion years?"

She laughed, "Close. Ever since I was a little girl in Russia I've dreamed for this day."

"When are you going to tell daddy?"

"As soon as he gets home! He'll be so happy!"

"When can I see the store?"

"You can come see it tomorrow. I've been working to the bone to get it clean and get all my materials in. All it needs is a fresh coat of paint and the greatest little cleaning crew in all of Arkansas and it should be ready to open next week. I hope your father can see it before its open."

"Can I help paint it?"

Again she laughed, "Maybe. I might need some help with unpacking and other things too. But I'll think about it."

By this time, we had walked to our street. In our driveway, waiting for us, was my daddy.

"DADDY!" I screamed. I wriggled until mama put me down then I started running towards him. He turned and scooped me up.

"Guess what guess what guess what!"

"What?"

"Mama got her business!"

By this time, mama had caught up with me. Daddy looked at her bewildered. "Really?"

"I was going to tell you, but your little baby can't keep a secret!"

"This is great!" he looped one arm around her waist and brought her in to the family hug.

"Mama's going to bring me there tomorrow and I'm going to help her clean and I might even get to paint! Paint daddy paint! Are you going to come too?"

"Maybe. That depends on whether your mama wants me to."

"Of course you can come!"

"Yay! Daddy's coming tomorrow! Daddy's coming tomorrow!" I wriggled out of his arms and started to run around the driveway. While I was doing this, mama was talking to daddy.

"See how happy she is? She's never this happy when you aren't around."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you should stay here longer before going out on your next mission. Trenchy, listen to me. Now that I have a business, I can sustain the family, or at least half of it. Now you can go on fewer missions and stay home with your family."

"Caramia, you know that I can't do that. If I settle down, the government may find me. Then I'd have to go to jail and miss out on possibly Maren's whole life! You don't want that to happen, do you?"

"No, but-"

"No buts! I am lucky to see you and Maren once a month! If I am in jail, I will not get to see you for weeks at a time!"

"We would make it work! Maren and I could come and see you every weekend."

"Do you really think Maren will enjoy going to prison every weekend?" he yelled. "Will she enjoy seeing her father behind bars? Will she like never being able to hug her daddy again? No. She will hate it, I can tell you that!" Caramia turned away from him, as if that last comment had been a slap. Seeing that he had hurt his wife, Trenchy softened his tone and his volume. "Caramia, I'm doing this for the good of my family. I always have and I always will."

She turned back. "Promise that you are doing this for the good of your family, and for no other reason. Promise that you will come home safe."

He nodded, "I promise. I promise on my honorable name."

"Honorable?"

"Fine, I swear on the name Trenchy Mouthscam that I am doing this only for my family and that I will return safely."

"Good."

Hearing that the fight was over, I came bounding over. "Daddy, you are definitely coming tomorrow, right?"

He gave mama a look and she nodded her head. "Of course, pumpkin. I will be there tomorrow. I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

My grin felt like it was taking over my entire face.

"Maren, I have a present for you…"

"What? What is it what is it?"

"Yes Trenchy, what is it?"

He pulled out a rectangular box and opened it. Inside was a necklace with hard, pearly beads. My mama gasped.

"Honey, are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure, Maren is a big girl. She can handle this. Can't you Maren?

"Yes daddy! Thank you! This is the best present ever!"

He took it out of the box and fastened it around my neck. As he did, he spoke to my mother.

"Do you think that I actually forgot about you, Caramia? Why would I do that?"

He got up and took out a small square box. As he opened it, she gasped.

"Trenchy, they're beautiful!"

"Only the best for the best wife in the world."

"What is it? What are they? Can I see them?"

She took the box from my father and knelt down to show me. Inside the box, were the prettiest earrings that I had ever seen. A crystal blue orb was set in an intricate swirl. Well, I was 6 at the time and to me it was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen.

"Jeepers…"

Mama and Daddy laughed. "Ok now, we need to go inside and start dinner," said my mom, "then we can catch up with Daddy."

"Yay!" I said as I raced into the house.

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