BLOGWORDS – Saturday 19 August 2017 – CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – VIVIENNE HAMPTON
CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – VIVIENNE HAMPTON
“Vivi had draped herself across the chaise longue, her lacy coverlet laid loosely about her. I wondered had Edna had done this before she left. I stirred and tried to sit, but found myself quite weak, my head yet swimming. I had rustled the covers, though, and the whispered sound apparently woke Vivienne for she sat up just then.”
“Vivienne was nothing but kind and gracious, and served me quite flawlessly. Grier made biscuits, especially for me, Vivi told me. There was ham and scrambled eggs and fresh peaches and cream. There was fresh churned butter and honey from the beehive for the biscuits. And glorious coffee.”
rem: Bonjour, Madame, bienvenue. It’s lovely to chat with you today.
VIVIENNE: Bonjour, Robin. I believe it totally fitting for you to address me by my given name. You did give it to me, after all.
rem: You grew up on Saisons Plantation. Tell us what that was like.
VIVIENNE: Oh my goodness. I was born the year after the war started. My first memory is Papá announcing freedom to all the Negroes. He gathered us all under the great oak tree—the one with the swing now—and told them that any who wished were free to go.
rem: What a poignant moment.
VIVIENNE: Oh, it was indeed.
rem: What a tremendous thing your father did. I’m sure they were grateful for their freedom.
VIVIENNE: smiles They were, Robin. But none of them left Saisons. They all stayed with us and were paid servants instead.
rem: I recall how benevolent your papá was.
VIVIENNE: He was kind to all.
rem: You and your husband run the plantation now, correct?
VIVIENNE: Henry has a passion for the tea and rice.
rem: You have a special blend of tea. How did that come about?
VIVIENNE: laughs When Eti and Gérard and I were small, we were playing at making tea, using pecans.
rem: How inventive you were.
VIVIENNE: We were small. We used what we could. laughs We also made pies from mud.
rem: Who’s idea was it to use pecans?
VIVIENNE: sighs Eti’s. She always was most inventive.
rem: I understand you and she were close.
VIVIENNE: nods
rem: Can you tell me about her.
VIVIENNE: hesitates, takes deep breath She was a ray of sunshine, a bundle of joy. No one didn’t love her.
rem: You had the same birthday didn’t you?
VIVIENNE: smiles Yes. She arrived the day I turned three. Just months before the war ended.
rem: She followed after you wherever you went.
VIVIENNE: And mimicked everything I ever did.
rem: Was that annoying to you?
VIVIENNE: Mercy, no. I delighted in it.
rem: pause She died a very tragic death. Can you tell us what happened?
VIVIENNE: She was pushed. We all knew it. She was in her wheelchair, and fell from the balcony outside her rooms. She couldn’t even stand—she was yet recovering from another fall.
rem: Also not an accident, correct?
VIVIENNE: Suzi was so tiny but she saw… She didn’t know who it was, and couldn’t describe very well.
rem: You knew who it was though, didn’t you?
VIVIENNE: Yes. We all knew. It was Lissette Fontaine.
rem: Vivienne, I’m so sorry.
VIVIENNE: Thank you. Please forgive my temper. After all this time… I forgave the woman, but it still pains me.
PAUSE
rem: You raised her girls, didn’t you?
VIVIENNE: loud sigh Yes, I did. They were a delight.
rem: Where was their papá, Monsieur Rowan?
VIVIENNE: closes eyes She seduced him. And then ran off—and took our dear Simone.
rem: Dear Vivienne, you have suffered great loss.
VIVIENNE: We all did. Violet stopped talking, Suzi became most belligerent. They both had nightmares. pauses We adjusted, though. They are now delightful young women.
rem: A change for you, I’m sure, after raising three boys.
VIVIENNE: laughs Most certainly different.
rem: Vivienne, I thank you for chatting with me today. My condolences on your losses.
VIVIENNE: I thank you, Robin. And it has been my pleasure.
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“The pursed expression on Eléanore’s face was most entertaining. Clearly she viewed Violet’s mute tongue as a deficiency, and her ability to communicate using her hands as some sort of sacrilege.
Violet looked to Vivienne, who signed back to her that all was well, and to dismiss the vieille vache. The old cow.
Vivienne smiled quite demurely, laughing most gaily with her amber eyes. Violet smiled large and satisfied.”
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