Miseries of Being Missy

Missy was beautiful, imposing; and with a father married to the celebrity of a local television news program, she quickly became the queen of our little fourth grade hive. Her drones? They were all of us hapless female counterparts who were unlucky enough to have mere mortals for parents, simple members of the general viewing audience. Missy expected complete compliance and obedience from her minions and was seldom disappointed in this. To disobey would mean to be exiled, frozen out from the rest of the fourth-grade female population – the boys generally paying us all no mind unless we were exceptionally skilled at kickball. Our queen ruled her territory with a cynical smile or look of disdain, a few cynical words were all that was required to retain her power. When given, they worked as a type of authorization, a permission slip of sorts allowing and in fact advocating the participation of others to join in with cutting, taunting and hurtful remarks of their own. It’s funny, but looking back I can’t remember her ever laughing out of sheer joy, instead only out of derision to others.

Now, this many years later, it would be easy to imagine Missy as having married “well” to a husband who, having grown bored with her, has moved on to new companions without offering the courtesy of ending their union leaving his wife to inhabit an upscale home with nothing but vodka and cigarettes for company. Or perhaps, her beauty did not outlive her teenage years, and as it faded subsequently so did the power she held over others. She would married the first who would take her as she had not prepared herself for anything else, and spent her days toiling trying to make enough out of too little. The drudgery and pressure of life wiped out all other charms, even those of her children.

Yes, it would indeed be easy to plop Missy into either of these lifestyles, but these might have opened up her heart, given her a warmth, developed in her some character. No instead, I envision our Missy as having married and now engaging herself in the life long pursuit of perfection, or at least the appearance of it. However, in truth, she is hollow, but an empty shell. Too scared to face any potential inadequacies she may discover within, she has never really found that at which she could excel, instead living life trying to fill the void left by never discovering who she is.

In visiting Missy, one can immediately see the tasteful elegance in which see resides. Guests are served exquisite refreshments on delicate china, the delicacies brought in and whisked away so effortlessly, no one would guess someplace as menial and domestic as a kitchen existed on the premises. No where does one see the clutter of children, the only evidence of their existence being the large portrait hanging over the fireplace depicting the perfect family. And Missy should be proud of her children, her son a little scholar and budding scientist while her daughter is a standout on the soccer field. Yet, one is left to wonder if the love for the children would be as strong if their excellence was not quite so evident.

Yet, despite the refinement and grace of the home, it is her sister Amy’s house that the family always seems to prefer – something Missy just doesn’t understand. Yes, Amy’s house is clean, but you can see worn spots in the carpet that detail the routes taken daily as the family navigates through their home. And no matter when you arrive at Amy’s, even for plans made well in advance, she is always in the midst of cooking or baking something, leaving the family to gather in the large kitchen area instead of conversing in the living room as civilized people would do. Also, though always respectful, Amy’s children were always traipsing through the house, a couple other neighborhood kids always in tow, to raid the fridge or engage in some boisterous game. The only discipline her sister ever seemed to think was necessary was an occasional warning that the riotous noise was a little too loud and needed to be moved outside. Sometimes, in fact, she even joined in the antics acting as little more than a child herself. Missy worked hard to maintain a stylish and orderly home maintaining the façade of poise and respectability; that her sister’s was still preferred caused this poor soul endless confusion and bespoke more than anything else could how she so thoroughly had missed that the key to life’s happiness was in the caring for others.

In exploring Missy, her life and her home – I learned quite a bit. It showed me how much one’s chosen environment can define their state of mind, but reinforced my belief that one’s true character can be evidenced by their treatment of others. I like the fact that I choose not to villainize Missy, but instead to victimize her, but I still found it hard to really like her which in turn made it difficult for me to want to focus on the details of her life. I think I would have liked to explore the reactions she might have had if her child had been bullied in school. Would witnessing the pain fill her with self-righteous indignation, anger and contempt for the lack of parenting skills that would result in such an attack, would she feel shame that her child wasn’t the best and most popular, or would it take an instance such as this to breath some type of humanity into her character?

I liked the opportunity to poke through the closets and refrigerator of a character. I never before would have thought to do such a thing, but it really does help give a glimpse of every aspect of their live, much like looking in someone’s medicine cabinet when visiting the home (not that I ever have done such a thing – really). It not only reveals personality traits, but morals and values as well. In creating characters, I think several “prop lists” such as these could be useful, ones for different settings, different periods in their lives, even different moods: when depressed, when angry, when motivated or at peace. Not only that, but it is kind of fun to do. I always like to think of what books my characters would read, or what music would be the soundtrack to their lives. It is just taking that idea one step further.

My dissatisfaction with Missy is that I left her a bit too clichéd, too stereotypical. Perhaps I should have abandoned my vindictiveness in order to create someone more original. Definitely something to take into account next time.