KNOBS COUNTY,TENNESSEE
THE STARLET
The year was 1941. Olivia Hamilton, Age 19, was in a terriblerage.
This scene had happened before. She was anxious to leave the household. She hated Knobs County and wanted to get away as soon aspossible.
Her father had suffered an accident at the steel plant near their home six months ago, where he was a Supervisor and was unfortunately now in a wheel chair for an indefinite period oftime.
Her mother tried to keep things together by taking in washing and sewing for people. She made enough to put food on the table, but little else. Both parents had never gotten to a higher grade than grammar school, the 8th grade, but they truly loved and cherished their only daughter, Olivia, and they wanted the best for her. It wasn’t their fault that they had been so underprivileged and sometimes destitute that they couldn’t give their daughter the finer things in life she deserved. Why it gnawed at them night andday.
“Mama! You cannot stop me this time! I’m leaving Knobs County and I never want to come back, do you hear me?!”
“Olivia, please! Can’t you see we’re doing whatever we can. It’s not Papa’s fault he had that accident. The plant had no disability insurance for their workers at that time and there was very little savings in our bank. It’s toughHoney.”
“Iknow all that Mama. We’ve gone through all this before; but at least I graduated High School. Look at me, Mama. I’m attractive and have a good figure. Even the kids in school all told me that. I want to go to New York City and become an actress on the stage. I’ve always dreamed of this; even as a little girl, Mama. Youknowthat.”
“Oh,please Olivia. Your Papa and I would be absolutely heartbroken if you leave us. You are what keeps us alive. Our only child. Don’t go honey,” Her mother pleadeddesperately.
Olivia turned her back on them and headed for her bedroom to pack her things; as she did so, her Mother got down on her knees and grabbed the hem of Olivia’s skirt and tugged at it in a last-ditch effort to get her tostay.
Olivia slapped at her mother’s hand for her to letgo!
“Do you think