Mary Rose knew the sight of black dress meant only one thing – trouble. Her scrawny widowed sister-in-law, Mary Ellen, who came only to complain and to point out the flaws in Mary Rose and her family. What Tommy had ever seen in her, Mary Rose always wondered. Never a quiet moment for Tom. Drove him to his grave a good 10 year early, she did with her nagging and demanding. No wonder all her “wonderful” sons and daughters emigrated to America quick as they could. Now Mary Rose was stuck with her.
Her beloved Patrick died in the Uprising, and despite other suitors, she could never see herself clear to marry. She aged, she did. The pretty colleen grew into the woman. Who grew the goiter on her neck. Then the neighbour, Mr. Delany, late to marry heself, lost his wife to the fever. And was left with 6 little ones, the oldest only 10. So, at the old age of 40, Mary Rose found herself a married woman and a stepmother, than praise be to Jesus, a mother of her own right. Two of her own with Mr. Delany, now Liam.
But her sister-in-law saw it all as just not right, a woman Mary Rose’s age a bride, then pregnant, even if Mary Ellen was 39 when her last was born. But nothing was right with Mary Ellen, and nothing was right in her head. Mary Rose figured her goiter was much larger than Mary Ellen’s brain, and certainly her heart.
A stream of consciousness free write on Yves’ picture for Picture Challenge 137 1.11.16 (I didn’t attempt an Irish brogue or lilt)
(c) my frilly Freudian slip
November 5, 2016 at 5:21 pm
A difficult life by both, with a side helping of jealousy. Nicely done ☺
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November 5, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Hey there world traveler! I’m following your journey backwards. More fun that way.
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November 5, 2016 at 6:59 pm
It’s not the miles you go but the time in the car . I had a good trip with my kitties and wife. The last day was; l beautiful with sun
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November 5, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Glad you had a good road trip. They can go either way.
Can the wife stay or does she have to go back for house closing details?
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November 5, 2016 at 11:22 pm
The house is under contract with an inspection that already took place. If it goes through then she’ll be on a plane and here after thanksgiving. But until we know the house payment is gone she had to keep her job. She gets to retire from one job and find another.
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November 6, 2016 at 12:23 am
Sounds promising, at least. Better than Christmas.
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November 6, 2016 at 12:14 pm
It’s going to be interesting 4 weeks.
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November 2, 2016 at 3:34 am
There is an authenticity to this piece, the way you have woven the family relations. Back then they had so many children but so many died that always breaks my heart when I think on it.
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