A Love A Mother Doesn't Understand

An It's A Wonderful Life Fan Fiction

Notes: My third It's A Wonderful Life story which consequently has taken me three years to sit down and write. This is from Mary's perspective and Is her angsty viewpoint about how her and her mother don't see eye to eye on her feelings for George Bailey. I own no IAWL characters. Enjoy!

"George Bailey, I'll love you till the day I die." It's A Wonderful Life page 22

My mother and I always butted heads about George before we got married. I used to get so frustrated with her because she would never see things my way. Sam Wainwright is a great person and has a good sense of humor but I just didn't see myself marrying someone wealthy.

When we were younger I used to visit George all the time at his after school job at Gower's Drugstore. Mr. Gower always seemed so grouchy and no one ever really easy to talk to. George would always tell me that he wanted to see the world. That caught my attention.

The day after the graduation dance I slept in until 10:00, I was woken up by the sound of the lawn mower. My brother Marty was outside mowing the lawn.

I walked outside to the back porch. My mother was reading the paper in a lawn chair.

"Good morning sweetheart. You slept awfully late."

I nodded. "Yeah,It was a crazy last night that's for sure."

"Your brother was telling me how the two of you won the Charleston contest. How

Exciting."

"And wet,I don't think lots of people knew about that pool under the gym floor."I countered.

" Why did it take you so long to get home?"

"We took the long way home past the old Granville house."

"Oh ! really"

"I nodded. "I told George I want to live there someday."

My mother crinkled her nose. "Of all the houses in town why choose that one? It's so run down and old. I am surprised it hasn't been condemned."

"I think it's a very romantic looking house."

'You don't think you're going to marry George Bailey, do you?"

"George is a really sweet boy Mother."

My mother snorted. "And what's wrong with Sam Wainwright?"

"Well, nothing really. I just picture my life better with George that's all."

"Better is not living in the Old Granville House Mary. Stop being naïve."

"I'm not but I don't see how it would be sensible to live with Sam Wainwright."

"I think Sam could provide much better than George could."

"I can't talk about this anymore Mother. I'm going inside to get some breakfast."

And so you see my struggle was real.

It was even worse the night when Sam Wainwright called mu house. I didn't even reallly want to talk to him… I just wanted to spend time with George since I hadn't seen him since before I left for school in August. I nostly took the phone call for Mother's sake so she would shut up about Sam and stop hounding me to ger together with him. I missed Gorge very much while I was at school and I spent all my time when I wasn;t studying with Sam, Ange and all their friends. We would always go to fancy resturants where I could never afford anything. I was miserable. I phoned home to my mother after one such occasion.

"How are things going?"

"Fine ma classes are good"

"How is Sam?"

I sighed. " He's good Mother. We out to dinner with some friends the other night."

"I hope he paid for you."

I sighed again. "Mother, I wasn;t really haooy that night at all. I;m really homesick"

"Don't even tell me you miss George Bauley."

"Well ,of course I miss you Dad and Marty but yes I do really miss George too.

"When will it get through to you that Sam is the one I want you to marry?"

I had to bite my tounge and said nothing for a few minutes.

"Mary, sweetheart are you there?"

"Yes Motger."

"Well, what do you have to say fo yoursel?"

"Why can't you see things my way Mama? I want to be with George. Sam is a good friend but I don't think he casres about me. All he seems to care about is money and the stock makret."

"He can provide for you quite well Mary. Georgre Bailey won;;t be ablet to."

"Well how do you know that?"

"His father and uncle have co-owned that Bailey Building and Loan for years… George works there now too… he didn't end up going to college. You two won't be able to make a living off that kind of salary."

"You might be surprised Mother"

"I highly doubt that Mary. When can you see that dream of living in the Old Granville house willl never be a reality? Get that head of yours out of the clouds!"

"I have to go now! Good bye Mother."

And once again you see the struggle is real.