gg-fiction

This is the first pass at a story that has been in my head for years, a story triggered by an 11-month diary of a young girl from this time. This story was presented by Vermont Stage Company during its 2007 Winter Tales production.
NOTE: Feel free to continue this story or to create other diary entries...
Here's the link to the BOOK PAGE version of this story. Just add a child page to it. (You must be logged in.)
gg

By Geoffrey Gevalt
YWP Editor

December 24, 1894. Barton, Vermont. Four below. Cloudy. Storm brewing.

My name is Lydia. I’m 18 years old and live in Barton at a small farm with four brothers. I write this by candle, near the edge of my bed. It’s been a month since the trouble, since I disobeyed Pa and went out riding with Nathaniel in his two-wheeled gig. It was a cold November day, and we was bundled up against the gray. I was supposed to be home doin’ chores. I knew that. But when Nathaniel had stopped by, I just went anyways.

I’d met Nathaniel in the summertime. I was home doin’ the floors. I’d been baking pies for two days using the early apples and Pa and Ma had gone to town with the boys to sell them. Had some eggs and butter and the last of the wool, too. I was to stay at home. I always stay at home it seems like. Pa says it ain’t right that no one else’s come to courtin’, says goin’ to town is like parading me around. So my only day out now is Sundays to church. Pa says at 18 I’m almost past marrying age.