Character Interviews, Part 2

Good afternoon, Olivia.

Good afternoon.

I can tell from your accent that you're not from Oklahoma.

That's right. I'm from NY, as I'm sure you've heard by now.

Yes, I talked with Penny yesterday. Sounds like you have had your world pretty much turned upside down.

True.

What's helping you cope?

It's beautiful here. The sky is immense and the open space endless. To be honest, at the moment I feel like I'm on vacation or something, that I'll be going back home soon. I know I won't, but it's still too early yet for everything to sink in, I think. But it is easier to be here than at home where I'd expect to see them around every corner, you know?

I can understand that. How are things with your aunt and uncle?

Uncle Arthur is amazing. His appearance seems so gruff and he turns out to be the softest one of the bunch. Aunt Faye seems angry, but Penny says that's normal and it's just "determined." Penny--Penny's hard to figure out. And her brothers--well, Mom always said don't say anything if you can't say anything nice. Thankfully they don't live there.

So what helps you keep your balance with all the "new" around you?

Honey--definitely Honey. She's my Australian Silky Terrier. She also happens to be a point of contention.

How so?

Well, my Aunt Faye is a very practical person. She doesn't have much time for anything fancy or pretty--all it has to do is have a practical function. Honey's practical function is to warm my heart, and I don't think Aunt Faye understand that. She sees long fur and that doesn't mix with ticks and burrs. Dogs belong outside herding cattle, like Biscuit, their Australian cattle dog. Isn't that funny that their breeds both come from the same continent yet are so very different? What's even more hilarious is that they love each other. Biscuit's about 5 times the size of Honey but it doesn't matter to either of them.

That's pretty cool. So your Aunt is compromising about the dog?

Well, not willingly. Uncle Arthur understands though, and he has paved the way for me to have her with me as much as I can. And she spends a great deal of time with him and Biscuit when I'm here at school. So Aunt Faye just stabs her with a look if she happens to be in sight. We can live with that.

So is it really just the dog? Or is it something else?

Oh, it's more. Mom always said that she and Aunt Faye had had a falling out, but she never elaborated and I just assumed it had come and gone. She never spoke about it like it was a continuing thing. I think with Aunt Faye it's a continuing thing.

You have no idea what it's about?

No. I keep hoping I'll be able to ask Penny.

Why don't you?

Well, I don't know how much freedom I have with her yet. She seems so bent on pleasing her mother. I don't feel comfortable even talking about my parents yet.

*to be continued