An introduction and fair warning.
It would be a good idea to read 'The Dentist' first, as there's no overt rehash of that story here. Second, this is told as a series of entries in a diary so Eugenie, being a woman, is not constrained by linear thought. Third, again it is a woman doing most of the talking so keep that in mind; it might run a little long. Fourth, I went back and reread Troubadour's 'How High a Price'; that story is an all-time classic, but it got scathing criticism and terribly low votes. I think that alone speaks to some of the people who write remarks. And last, remember this is Eugenie's story. If Chase can forgive and still love her, maybe you could show a little compassion too.
It starts and ends with Chase as he opens, reads, and then comments on his wife's diary.
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Her Sequel to The Dentist.
Hello readers. My name is Chase McClendon. You may have heard or read about Eugenie the mother of my three daughters, and the woman I married and will love till the day I die. I got a surprise this morning; it seems Eugenie's been keeping a diary. Well if anyone knows anything about Eugenie and me it certainly won't surprise them if I decide to do a little eavesdropping. Let's open this up and drop in on her...
Dear Diary:
This is entry number one: my first day.
OK, this is how I'm going to begin. For a few minutes I'm going to pretend I'm Edwin Booth; brother to John Wilkes Booth the man who murdered Abraham Lincoln.
Remember both brothers were famous stage performers. Right after Lincoln's murder Edwin left the stage, and he stayed out of the public eye for quite a while. Later he went back to work; the house on opening night was packed. People wanted to see the brother of the man who murdered the president. Many wanted to lynch him. And what did Edwin do; he took a chair, and before the play was set to begin he went out on stage alone. All alone he sat down and let the audience yell at him, call him names, and throw things at him. He sat there all by himself and said nothing. Finally the people in the audience grew quiet; they began to realize Edwin was even more ashamed and more despondent about what his brother had done than they were.
The audience did finally quiet down. Booth went backstage and prepared for his performance. He played the role of Hamlet; a role that over the years he made especially famous.
That's not all diary; a few years later while Edwin was starring in a play there was a tragic accident in the playhouse. Lincoln's son was there, and his life was in peril. Well Diary; just guess who saved the boy? That's right Edwin Booth saved Lincoln's son's life; the murderer's brother saved the life of the murdered man's son.
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Entry two: it's still the first day.
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Sorry Diary I had to go and have a good cry. I've been crying a lot these past few months, but I'm getting better. Oh the guilt and shame is still vividly there, but I'm doing better. I've had help. I've had a lot of help. I've had Chase.
I know everyone hates me. I know what they think of me. They all think I'm the round heeled, two-faced, home wrecking, unfaithful, self-centered bitch who tore up everything Chase and I built. Yes, I destroyed my family. I was the cause of the loss of all our property. I'm the reason my three girls, my precious girls, have nothing; they don't even have a bed of their own. I ruined my husband's happiness. I destroyed everything. That's why people hate me. I don't blame them. I hate me too.
Well Diary, you're my secret friend and hidden witness so I'm here to say that the Eugenie who did all those awful things is dead. Like John Wilkes Booth died in a barn in southern Maryland, the old Eugenie died while wrapped in her sweet, still loving, and unbelievably forgiving husband's arms.
Like John and Edwin I'm here to say, even as John was the murderer and the destroyer, and Edwin was the rescuer; I, one time Eugenie McClendon nee Bonheur now Eugenie the 'Worthless Nobody' make these solemn promises. First I vow Eugenie the destroyer is henceforth now and forever dead, or she will be soon. Second I vow a new Eugenie will emerge from the ashes of the terrible heartbreak and destruction she created. I vow the new Eugenie will earn back the respect, love, and trust of her ex-husband and her three girls. And last I solemnly vow and swear the new Eugenie will find a way to restore her family to a position of good emotional and economic health. By Almighty God I promise I will do these things. I swear by Jesus and Mary his mother I will save my family. I promise I will restore what I destroyed.
Good night for now Diary. I'll be back real soon.
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Entry three: several days later.
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I'm sorry I've been away almost a week, but I've been doing some serious thinking. I've begun to go to work too, not at a job though, I've started on something a lot more important.
I've been thinking about the 'Old Eugenie', what kind of person she was, and how I can confess my guilt and still retain the small fragments of 'Old Eugenie' that weren't totally bad.
Well here goes; I've had to go back and give myself an honest appraisal, I've had to assess what I've been like, and why I've been that way. It's like I'm Dorian Grey, and I'm looking at the awful portrait that shows my real self. I tell you I don't like what I see.