November 1898
Thanksgiving
TODAY WAS A…OVERWROUGHT DAY.
Christian typed that night. It had been a long day, and a very tense one.
IT WAS THANKSGIVING. MOTHER'S PARENTS CAME. IT'S ALWAYS TENSE WHEN THEY COME. MOTHER FEELS THEY ARE ALWAYS JUDGING US. WHICH THEY ARE. THEY INSPECT EVERY LITTLE THING, AND READ INTO EVERY WORD WE SAY. THEY ARE CRAZY, MOTHER SAYS.
Christian sat back, and thought about the day.
They all sat and the long dining table. Mother had been cooking the feast for about three hours, always trying to impress them. It was deadly quiet, like a graveyard. The only sound was the clanging of forks, and chomping of food between their teeth.
"So..Christian graduated last September." Mother said happily, trying to make conversation.
Grandmother nodded stiffly.
"Do you have any plans for this year?" Grandfather asked.
"I would…like to travel." Christian said. He bravely waited for the reaction. He had never told anyone this.
Father dropped his fork loudly. He looked at Christian angrily, his eyes bulging. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Everyone stared at each other, his family all surprised, even Lily.
"Oh." Grandfather said after several minutes.
"Actually, Christian has been working hard at my factory. Full time. Soon may be time for a promotion." Father said, saving the situation.
Christian secretly rolled his eyes.
"What about Lily?" Grandmother asked.
"Lily has been seeing John Dundas. His parents are the wealthiest of Scotland. Perhaps you've heard of them?" Mother said cheerfully.
"Yes, they are a respectable family. That's wonderful."
Lily smiled.
I'M NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS. I AM GOING TO DO WHAT I WANT TO. I'M GOING TO TRAVEL. I'M GOING TO WRITE. I CAN'T BE STUCK IN MY FATHER'S FACTORY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I DON'T CARE WHAT GRANDMOTHER, FATHER, MOTHER, OR ANYONE THINKS. I'M GOING TO BE A BOHEMIAN….
IF ONLY I COULD WORK UP THE STRENGTH TO ACTUALLY GO.