Here is an interview with Vivian Klein, my main character for my soon to be released novella, Resurrection of Hope. Vivian has long auburn hair and large brown eyes and looks like the silent movie actress Lillian Gish. Vivian, I thought I might introduce you today since the novella about your life is due to be released on July 11th. Could you tell me a little about yourself?
I don’t know what you want me to say except I’m just a normal girl from a farm in Western Ohio. I was born in 1899 and had a younger sister, but she’s dead now along with my folks.
I’m sorry for your loss. How did your sister and parents die?
Same as most people around here who died in the last year or two. They caught the influenza. I did my best to take care of them, but I couldn’t help them. Reverend Krieger says God will comfort me through this, but I figure He doesn’t want anything to do with helping me through anything.
What would make you say that Vivian?
He didn’t help my James, did he? James Wagner was my fiance and the best thing that ever happened to me. He was a good decent man, but God let him die in the Great War. Then my folks and sister died. If that wasn’t bad enough, the sheriff showed up to evict me from my family farm because of some mortgage my dad hadn’t paid. I was left destitute.
That terrible. What did you do when you left the farm?
I went to Greenville and got a job at the hotel, but I hate it. I work from sunup to sundown for very little pay, and the boss, Mr. Adder, is horrible to me. The worst part is he wants to marry me. He says he can improve my situation, as if I’d ever marry that toad. I’d die first.
I hear Henry Bauer is back from the Great War. He got back yesterday. Have you heard anything from him?
Henry? No, but there’s no reason he’d come around here. He was my friend when James was alive, but now that he’s dead, I don’t expect to ever hear from Henry again. He pretty much keeps to himself. Besides, he doesn’t even know where I am. Nobody does since I left the farm.
I have a feeling you might hear from Henry soon.
I doubt it. I’m planning to end it all tonight. I don’t have anything to live for anyway. No sense in hoping things will get better. They never do.
Vivian, please don’t do that. There’s always hope in Christ.
This interview was done right before the novella started. To find out more about Vivian’s story, order a copy of Resurrection of Hope on July 11th.
Word Sharpeners 