Post by Dr. Walter House on Oct 24, 2007 22:24:21 GMT -5
He had always resented his parents. He was the first born, fourty years ago, and though his sister wasn't far behind she was more or less ignored. But Walt adored Marjorie. He hated that she never spoke up about this unfair treatment and he hated even more that he didn't either.
He had started his residencey, she had gone into vaudville. He begged her to find something more respectable, she refused his offers to help and his money.
Then she married, without telling Walter until afterward, and he stopped speaking to her. He travelled and gave excuses not to see her but never hid the fact he was angry with her. She didn't apologize. She wasn't ashamed of herself or her husband. Marjorie wrote Walter, telling him she was going to have a child. She wanted him to be there, possibly even deliver. He responded, "I'll be in Egypt."
Walter met her husband, Matthew Rippy, for the first time at her funeral after Lara was born. Marjorie had died from complications of childbirth. Walter paid for the funeral. Walter made more excuses not to see them, but now had a job at Mount Siani Hospital.
Matthew kept their visits short and rare. It was clear Walter wanted little to do with them, through he wasn't cruel. Then Matthew came to Walt, alone, asking for help. The troupe was in a slump and Lara was ill. Walter agreed to take her in. That was three years ago. Lara was thirteen.
Matthew moved with the company, wrote postcards. But it was difficult to write back, he often didn't know where they would end up next.
Financially Lara was secure. Emotionally, Walter's relationship with his niece was lacking. He resented her for being the reminder of his failure. He resented himself for thinking so and blamed Marjorie's death on his pride. This reason, of course, was never mentioned to Lara. Marjorie was never spoken of either.
They had their moments, even fun, sometimes, but Walter was quick to anger and even quicker with a reprimand or give tiedious punishment for forgetting something or doing something wrong.
Then Lara mentioned her mother. They were arguing, heatedly, something very rare as Lara was very much like her mother, down to the blue eyes and dark hair. Walt didn't even remember what about exactly. Marjorie was the subject. And Walt backhanded his neice, with a closed fist. He was too stunned at himself to even apologize. Lara locked herself in her room and Walt left her alone. The next morning she was gone and a suitcase missing.
He had searched, and found her finally, dressed as a boy and yelling headlines as a newsie. An agreement was settled upon and Walter apologized profusely. She returned to living with him.
He had started his residencey, she had gone into vaudville. He begged her to find something more respectable, she refused his offers to help and his money.
Then she married, without telling Walter until afterward, and he stopped speaking to her. He travelled and gave excuses not to see her but never hid the fact he was angry with her. She didn't apologize. She wasn't ashamed of herself or her husband. Marjorie wrote Walter, telling him she was going to have a child. She wanted him to be there, possibly even deliver. He responded, "I'll be in Egypt."
Walter met her husband, Matthew Rippy, for the first time at her funeral after Lara was born. Marjorie had died from complications of childbirth. Walter paid for the funeral. Walter made more excuses not to see them, but now had a job at Mount Siani Hospital.
Matthew kept their visits short and rare. It was clear Walter wanted little to do with them, through he wasn't cruel. Then Matthew came to Walt, alone, asking for help. The troupe was in a slump and Lara was ill. Walter agreed to take her in. That was three years ago. Lara was thirteen.
Matthew moved with the company, wrote postcards. But it was difficult to write back, he often didn't know where they would end up next.
Financially Lara was secure. Emotionally, Walter's relationship with his niece was lacking. He resented her for being the reminder of his failure. He resented himself for thinking so and blamed Marjorie's death on his pride. This reason, of course, was never mentioned to Lara. Marjorie was never spoken of either.
They had their moments, even fun, sometimes, but Walter was quick to anger and even quicker with a reprimand or give tiedious punishment for forgetting something or doing something wrong.
Then Lara mentioned her mother. They were arguing, heatedly, something very rare as Lara was very much like her mother, down to the blue eyes and dark hair. Walt didn't even remember what about exactly. Marjorie was the subject. And Walt backhanded his neice, with a closed fist. He was too stunned at himself to even apologize. Lara locked herself in her room and Walt left her alone. The next morning she was gone and a suitcase missing.
He had searched, and found her finally, dressed as a boy and yelling headlines as a newsie. An agreement was settled upon and Walter apologized profusely. She returned to living with him.