Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Creation of a Brat



This post is inspired by the Red Dress Club prompt to describe a villain. I chose to revisit an earlier character that I created named Samantha Celeste. She first entered this world in my post Shock Value, as a surprising, shocking, spoiled, and assuming young artist.

Samantha Celeste scowled at her au pair.

The au pair began, “Sam, you -"

“Samantha,” Samantha clarified sternly.

The au pair sucked in a breath. “Samantha. You really must get your literature work finished. You still aren’t done with your final painting, and I know your mother will be -"

“If YOU would leave me alone, I could get something done. The MOST important thing here is my art, but how am I to focus on anything when I have a nanny hissing in my ear?”

The au pair stood rigidly, exerting all of her self control.

“I will leave you to it then,” she said and walked out, careful to demonstrate restraint and shut the door quietly.

Spoiled, rotten, evil brat, the au pair thought. No one will love her. Ha! She is ugly and nasty and will die alone. Someday, I WILL LEAVE her and this place, and I won’t be the first to leave her sorry ass…

Back inside the room, Samantha took a cleansing breath, shut her eyes, and meditated for a moment to calm her anger, always the anger, so she could begin to put color to the canvas.

People could never understand me,
she thought. The pressure, the talent within – I am unlike no other. Someday, someday, everyone will see what is truly inside me.

From a distance, Samantha could hear the distinct clicks of heels approaching. The familiar dread crept in, and she looked around the room, assessing her surroundings.

The door opened so quickly it banged against the wall behind it. Samantha’s mother stood unsteady in the doorway. The cocktail glass, a familiar prop, was half gone in her mother’s hand. She scanned the room before noticing Samantha.

“Where is the painting?” her mother said, already starting to slur a bit between words.

Samantha looked her mother coldly in the eyes. “I’m not done, Mother.”

“Don’t talk to me like that – you think you are something special?! You. You are NOT something special. You are lucky to have even had the last showing. I have made it happen for you. All of this – everything you have – you ungrateful…” she paused as her body swayed from the energy of her yelling.

Her mother stumbled. Her expression changed. She looked confused. She turned swiftly to walk out of the room and slammed the door.

Samantha’s anger swelled inside her. It spread out to all of her limbs in a flash. The anger, always the anger, uncontrollable and just below the surface started to race forward. Samantha was electric with rage as she grabbed the can of paint at her feet and hurled it at the canvas.

22 comments:

Liz Mays said...

That was intense and wonderful!

One Photo said...

Oh boy! I am just grateful after reading this for the "normal" toddler tantrums :-)

Nancy C said...

I love a good backstory. It adds so much to the character and explains all the underlying threads of a person.

Yup, when Mom is awful, the daughter is going to lash out. I'm glad she has a creative outlet...but where will it take her? Intriguing.

Rathi said...

Damn good! It was intense Kristy and i enjoyed the tension that lingered throughout... I read your first story only today and i enjoyed both.. the way you have related both....

Ca88andra said...

In my teenage years my mother took me to an art exhibition. One of the most expensive paintings looked just like that lil red blob! lol Well written and enjoyable!

Natalie said...

I like it!! I want to hear more about the mom character, too...she was interesting.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Natalie! I would love to know more about the mom too! This is so intense! Love it!

Venassa said...

Very intense. I love your writing.
I'm going to go read your previous post on Samantha.

Kitty Deschanel said...

There is a surprise for you on my blog. Come vote! :)

The Drama Mama said...

YAY!!! I'm so glad to see you writing for TRDC again!! I love this. Two villains you have painted here. LOVE it.

Kim said...

Not sure who is the villain more - the daughter or the drunk and selfish mother. Very good stuff here.

Jessica Anne said...

I love how this story explains her behavior overall and makes her a little likable or pitiable at least. Good job!

Nichole said...

I love that you have left me with a villain and a half.
The mother, for sure, but Samantha could go either way. You have room to play with her...she could turn out fine, in spite of her mother, or she could become just like her.

My only suggestion is that you rework this line, "I am unlike no other" because I'm thinking you meant "I am like no other."

I look forward to reading more about these women...

Oddyoddyo13 said...

I LOVED this. Especially the mention of the cocktail glass as a "familiar prop"-very refreshing way to describe it!

Cheryl said...

I also was left wondering who, exactly, was the villain. I love that you have many options for going forward with this.

Arti said...

Very intriguing, the character of Sam... Oh! Sorry, Samantha...
Loved the story, very intense:)

The mad woman behind the blog said...

I wanted to run the other direction. I read enough to know I don't want to know either villain.

Well done, well done!

Unknown said...

Good stuff - can't wait to hear more about Sam and her drunk Mother.

Kitty Deschanel said...

This is some wonderful writing! You're very talented :)

colbymarshall said...

This was a cool one! And nice touch with the paint at the end--I like it :-)

Okie said...

Great post. Love the passion and imagery

Vanessa Rogers said...

very interesting. I liked it! Keep up the good writing.