Confession of a Dream Come True ~ Easel Musings...

November 21^st, 1959

Dearest Rose,

If you're reading this, then it means I'm dead. Hopefully, your father went first. Which means I at least had the nerve to poison the bastard without getting caught. And in that case, this is also my confession. Yes, I killed your father! If you ever get the chance, watch the movie Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant. That'll explain the how.

Why I'm writing this now? Because I don't know if I'll get the nerve to do so again. I wish I could have told you this face to face, but I don't think it‘s a conversation a mother has with her children over dinner. Can you imagine? Pass the peas... oh by the way, I killed your father! That would definitely spoil dinner... don't you think?

Anyway, remember the photo you found in my bureau? The one with me on the suitcase? (Dated, July 4^th,) I never told you, but your father wasn't your father! No! I'm just kidding! Unfortunately, he is or was. I know; bad joke! God! I hope I killed him! (Sorry, Lord, for taking your name in vain! But I guess murdering my husband trumps that, huh?)

As I was saying, the photo. That was the happiest and saddest day of my life. I was leaving your father. My dream was coming true--to be free of him! Don't get me wrong: I love you and your brother. But your father is suffocating me. You kids are growing up. I feel trapped in a world that I never wanted. Did I ever tell you that I wanted to be a dancer? I had real talent, too! Then I met your father. Three months later I was pregnant and getting married. It wasn't the life I dreamed of.

Life moved on. I had your brother. (By the way, Chucky worships the ground your father walks on. Hence, the other reason why I have decided to kill him!...for Chucky's sake.)

Anyway, Roy Gibson came back into town for the fourth this year. He was my first love--a musician. I begged him to take me with him, and he was. I waited for him at the Motel. He took one look at me, and asked if he could take my photo. Afterwards he said he couldn't take me from my family. I told him he could! But he said I'd never forgive myself for leaving two innocent kids with the likes of your father! I realized he was right. I couldn't do that to you and your brother. So I came home. No one even knew I left. Your father bellowed about his breakfast being late (Remember?). And Chucky followed suit. That's when I knew what I had to do!

A couple of months later, I received the photo in the mail--the day you found it. Roy said it was time to make new dreams. He read my mind. My new dream is life without your father... permanently!

Love,

Mother