Joyous and painful time for me
My son Charlie and I are going through two huge tubs of my
late daughter Laura’s memorabilia, photographs, letters, report cards,
certificates of commendation. There are even news clippings and photos of Laura in Madison
High School drama department productions, as Cornelia Otis Skinner in Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, Mrs.
Einsford-Hill in My Fair Lady, and
Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible.
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| Laura as Mrs. Einsford-Hill |
We were frantic. When the girls finally appeared, we saw
them emerge from a ratty looking panel truck down the street. Under parental
grilling, they confessed that they had hitchhiked home. We read them the riot
act. The letter is in response to our parental terror, our worry over what
might have happened, our admonitions and the question of suitable punishment.
Always the arbitrator, Laura offered several options for
restrictions, starting with the most severe. I can’t remember how we reacted,
but after all these years, the letter is stunning evidence and reminder of the
incident.
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| Laura Jeanne Costales |
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| Birgitta Krause |
This morning, it dawns on me how similar the hitchhiking
letter is to one written by my sisters Lynn and Jeanne explaining how the black
India ink was spilled on mother’s yellow silk chair. Both letters point out the
penchant for pragmatism that runs so deep in our family.
Here, for your delectation, are the letters:
Undated
letter from Laura:
Dad
and Mom,
Yes, we hitchhiked. We bought lunch and forgot
to save enough money for the ride home. It didn’t dawn us until just before we
left the beach. I didn’t find out what time it was until too late. I’m sorry
about this – I think that I should have a punishment – if you feel that it’s
fit – 1-2 weeks of restriction, ie: lose of time to go to a friend’s hose, etc.
& should lose* 1 week of my already drawn upon allowance. That would be 3
weeks from now. * (or maybe TV & Reading).
I’m sorry I worried you & hope you
enjoyed your evening anyway. You’ve had to put up with a lot from me & you
deserve to have someone better than me. I’m sorry – really, truly – I’m sorry
& I love you both very much. I’m so sorry.
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| Laura and Birgitta on the day of Birgitta's arrival |
Give me whatever punishment you see
fit – love you both, Laura J. Costales.
Two other girls
From
my memoir titled Zingers: I did find
the missives [from Jeanne and Marilin (which is what she called herself then) written
on yellow paper. They were left for mother and dad when the girls spilled ink
on mother’s yellow silk chair. The writing was as I recalled it: Lynn’s was
ornate and neat, and Jeanne’s was scrawled all over the page.
Jeanne had also written in crayon
all over Lynn’s part of the note: “This is all a lie. Beleive [sic] me —
Please.”
Dear
Mother, wrote Lynn, I didn’t mean too [sic] honestly. Don’t blame me about the pen its [sic] mine and I needed it. Jeanne started after
it and caught hold of my arms. I threatened to throw it if she didn’t stop. But
she paid no heed.
Marilin
P.S.
About the gum [in
Jeanne’s hair]. I meant to get it on her
forehead but I missed. I then tried to get it out before she would notice but
she discovered and put up her hand and got it entangled more deeply.
Jeanne wrote: Dear Mother & Daddy:
There
were no phone calls, but Marilin put gum in my hair and we can’t get it out.
Please wake me up and cut it off. She also said if I tried to get the pen she
would toss it some place which she did. It landed on the yellow chair and ink
went all over the chair. It was the yellow one. The ink is washable, thank
hevens [sic], because it is Blink blue washable ink. She
threw the ink first of all, then she put the gum in my hair.
Jeanne
P.S.
See if you can see the ink.
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