Anywhere But Burbank

Chapter 22: Where In History is Serafima Nelson?

(Flashback: Carrie is 9 and is watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit with her grandmother Lucille.)

For what felt like the millionth time, Carrie was at the movie theater watching 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'. This time, she brought her grandmother Lucille with her. "Carrie, are sure you're not getting tired of this movie? Last time I checked, this has been the 6th time you've seen it." Lucille chuckled as they went into the theater. "Nope! I feel a connection with the female detective in it." Carrie chirps as they paid for tickets, and concessions and the two made their way into their seats.

As the movie played for them, Lucille then saw what Carrie meant when she felt a connection with the female detective. She sees the person on screen and immediately tears up at seeing who it was: It was her mother. Lucille grabbed a box of tissues and began wiping her tears. It had been so long of seeing her, that she was getting too emotional for words. Carrie saw her saddened look and got concerned. "Is something wrong Granny? You don't like it?" she whispers and Lucille looks down at her granddaughter, shaking her head. "Oh no, I love the movie. It's just the character you talked about. You think we can talk about this on the way back?" She whispers back and Carrie nodded in agreement.

(Later, At her grandmother's house.)

Carrie was getting ready for bed, snuggled up nice and cozy. "Granny? Who was that lady you were crying over? And was her kid you?" Lucille sat at her bedside and strokes her head. "I should tell you the truth. That female detective? That's my own mother. Your great-grandmother, Serafima Marigold Nelson." She gave a look of surprise and then gave a huge grin. "Really? That's amazing!" Lucille gave a soft laugh and looked through the old photos, picking up a very special one. Carrie looked at it to see Serafima standing side by side with Eddie Valiant, along with a 17 year old version of herself, and the son that they had together.

"That was from the little anniversary since she and Eddie finally admitted their love together, also my graduation from school." Lucille points to the photo. "Though it wasn't easy being raised up to where I got." Carrie looks at her. "What do you mean Granny?" "Well, before I was born and a few days before the Great Depression, my real father went to New York on a business trip, and before the stocks crashed.. He ended up getting crushed and trampled by the crowd trying to buy stocks." Lucille sighs softly. "Momma always told me he was a handsome man. He had a shop back where we lived." Carrie pouts and she comforted her. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Granny. I bet he was an amazing person."

Her grandfather Benny comes in, knocking on the door quietly. "What are you still doing up, squirt?" "Granny is telling me about her family and who her mother was." Carrie clapped her hands together. "Ah, good ol' Sera, eh? Lucy is always one to talk about the family." He picks up one of Lucille as a young kid, on the tire swing in her childhood home. "Oh the old tire swing. That was my favorite part of being in a nice house. I would always go outside when I got done with my homework and played till dinner was ready." Lucille then looked in the closet and pulled out Serafima's detective outfit.

Carrie puts the articles of clothing on her, but as expected from a kid, they were way too big. "It's nice!" "You'll grow into it eventually sweetie. Serafima would be proud to meet you." Lucille hugged her and Carrie went to sleep. Benny and Lucille stood up and left the room. "Goodnight, little bird." They whispered softly before turning off the light and closing the door behind them. Lucille puts the clothing back and sighed softly. "I sure do miss Momma." She looks at the photo of her when she was young and holds it close. "Why did the bacterial pneumonia have to be the one that killed her?" She sniffs softly and Benny hugged her. "It's alright beauty.. Let it out." The two share one more emotional moment before going to bed.

(End of Flashback.)

Carrie was going through storage and picked out something she hadn't seen when she was a little kid. It was her great-grandmother's outfit she wore for work. She spin changes into it and looks at herself in the mirror. Then the mirror reflection turns into Serafima herself and she looked at Carrie. "Hey, my little mini me! Carrie, welcome back to your connection." Carrie nodded and got closer, placing a hand on the mirror, and Serafima placed a hand near it. "As I told Ed many times before.. Be brave and bold. Be brave and bold, kid." Before disappearing as the reflection turned back to Carrie's own reflection. Carrie looks at herself before spinning out of the outfit.