Bernadette Letters Analysis

Bernadette’s Letters

Copeland was place in which a community did not exist. It was not the quintessence of a stereotypical small town consisting of nosey neighbors. Everyone commuted into the city for work by themselves. The concept of a “Block Party” had not been discovered. It was feasible that you could live in Copeland for a decade and not know your neighbors first name, or even bother to ask. All children played indoors; entertaining themselves with solitaire. Their only way to see the outside world was through the television. Even in the school yard there wasn’t much socializing. Your small group of friends was established in preschool; these groups were practically static all though high school. Whenever it came time to leave for

Everyone grew attached to her but no one really wanted to show it, because they feared the scornful eyes of their peers. They were embarrassed because they thought she was untouchable. You could think of her as an expensive gem; people can look but they can’t touch. Who wants to associate themselves with a jewel thief? Bernadette was the girl who just wanted to be loved; she would do everything she could just to fit in. She joined almost every club, rotated lunch tables and constantly talked during class. It seemed as though no matter what she did she was still incapable of connecting with anyone. Bernadette eventually lost her feelings of connection and self-worth. Next she lost her will to live, after that, she lost herself. On the outside she flashed a whimsical lie. Her smile stretched from cheek to cheek hiding the scars that others had inflected upon her. As the smile grew, so did the

Most of the envelopes lay in unkempt piles, unable to fit into the small box. A few even floated to the floor. Nobody bothered to pick them up for fear of disturbing the angry words inside. Her parents left the urn and everything on the table to be buried the next day. The guest got up with their dried puffy faces, got in their cars, and drove away. One by one the automobiles scooted down the beaten road as if to escape their past. Soon the church was only a vacant structure; except for a figure in black. The figure, dressed in black, had waited for the entire church to clear out; then it slowly sneaked down the balcony staircase. The figure walked right down the center aisle, grabbed the oak box full of letters and started reading them on the floor of the