continued from Pilgrimage/Day 1
(Marguerite / Bonnemaman)
The visit is shaping up rather well, but you don’t let down your guard. You never do. Some people pay attention, some people learn from experience. Some people are idiots.
A bit disappointed. Surely they ought to have known you’re due a larger portion of everything, especially ice cream. On your first night you let it slide.
You’d prefer to turn in but fatigue is best kept to oneself. A few hands of Russian Bank will hardly be a challenge, and she’s rarely won, not against you.
Cassie’s set three cookies on a Minton saucer. A good sign, you didn’t have to ask.
People seem to think manipulation is wrong. How else would you get your way? You call it clever strategy. Now, when it’s her turn, you let her know that she’s already behind.
Suzanne, I’m really liking this story and hope that someday I will see the rest of it. The set up is very intriguing. I like the “voice” of Bonnemaman. She scary, intelligent and has an unknown agenda. A perfect character for a good murder mystery. I also admire your effective use of the “You” point of view.
Nice Work,
Judy — I commented on your wonderful piece at the same moment!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here — hmm, interesting idea, a murder mystery.
Enjoyed spending the weekend with you!
Love the continuation with this one! The manipulation and the second-guessing and potential double-crossing. I like a story where everyone is watching their back and looking over their shoulder. Reminds me a bit of Knives Out the movie haha
Suzanne! I’m so glad you wrote more about Bonnemaman/Marguerite! I need her take on life—especially her belief (rightly so) that: “Some people pay attention, some people learn from experience. Some people are idiots.”
I laughed out loud! YES. You are inspiring me to create a character who can think these thoughts, who doesn’t let her guard down, who is ready to fight, who is, goshdarnit, due A BIGGER PORTION OF ICE CREAM. I want to be Bonnemaman someday. And Cassie is shaping up to be a wonderful character as well. She knows to put the cookies on the saucer—there’s a good girl—and she knows learning Russian Bank from grandma is a rare and important opportunity.
Again I’m finding my wannabe-one-day-self agreeing with Bonnemaman: “People seem to think manipulation is wrong. How else would you get your way?” YES! Oh, my wonderful grandma had her manipulation skills honed as well, and I could hardly blame her for it. And this: “Now, when it’s her turn, you let her know that she’s already behind.” That sounds so wonderfully sinister! I want to keep reading! Please do keep writing Bonnemaman’s story!!! Thank you so much for this juicy installment—maybe it’s even more addictive this way! 😉
My best,
Wendy
I developed a fondness for Bonnemaman on Day 1–I’m so glad you stayed with her and that we got to see your take on writing her in 2nd person POV. (Btw, you had me at Russian Bank Day 1–my grandmother taught me to play it when I was a kid and I haven’t thought of it in YEARS.) I love the characterization–the quirkiness is delightful and in a way you soften the edges (a good thing) by revealing that she knows she’s manipulative and feels she has to be. The life lessons she imparts and the details (e.g., three cookies on a Minton saucer) are terrific. Selfishly, I’m hoping these two characters stay in their collaborative standoff even longer.