Bella Speaks
A character from my unfinished novel
(Photo by Nick Hillier on Unsplash)
Hello. My name is Bella. My friend Anne asked me to stop by for a short while to give you a little of my philosophy for living well while we’re here on this Earth.
What’s that, Anne? You see that she’s already interrupting me, don’t you? The woman doesn’t know the meaning of silence.
Okay, what? Oh. She’s reminding me that I didn’t tell you my last name. I have a good reason for that. I’ve been married several times and I’m always afraid I’m going to give the wrong last name at the wrong time and that’s just hurtful. To avoid that situation, I usually just don’t give a last name.
Oh, the other thing she wants me to say: when I first spoke to you a minute ago and mentioned living well, to me that does not have anything to do with being financially well-off. Living well means being happy with how you’re living whatever that happiness and living mean to you. Be happy with who you’re with. Or live alone. Live in an RV, a flat, whatever feels most like home and comfort to you.
Where was I? I talk straight-forward, unlike most Southerners. I don’t see any sense in beating around the bush. Good manners are sometimes an excuse for cowardice.
