1956

Chapter One: Happy-Go-Lucky

The floorboards moan and groan as Eleanore, who admittedly is heavy-footed, takes painstaking steps towards the kitchen. It's 6 am on a Saturday morning and Eleanore isn't interested in waking the whole household, lest she wants to be kicked out. It's a no-brainer that each step is carefully made to remain silent, like a mouse. Which really has proved to be of no use. It seems the harder she tries the louder she becomes. Go figure.

Tip-toeing with nothing more than–what must be–luck, she makes it downstairs and to the kitchen. Quickly her feet carry her toward the dishrack where she grabs a cup and fills it with haste, "Finally" she whispers as the cold water hits her tongue, relief spilling over her completely.

There is nothing better than a fresh cup of water in the morning.

"Morning Sugar" her grandmother calls from not far off behind her.

"Morning Mamaw" she sighs, relieved that she hadn't woken anyone else up.

Carefully her grandmother slides up beside her beginning a fresh pot of coffee, "Want any Sugar"

"No thanks, I'm alright you enjoy it for yourself." she smiles, "Mamaw deserves a nice cup of coffee for herself from time to time, she's earned it." she means it and in full earnest. She loves her Mamaw, that woman is single handedly the best woman she has unironically met. She understands her weird antics and believes in her when the others don't.

Eleanore is the black sheep of the family, mocked for being different. Wanting to be an actress wasn't on anyone's bingo cards. Apparently being heavily sheltered her whole life has laced the world with a so-called "perfect" veil that falsifies it as a neat, put-together place. Hollywood isn't actually a place where dreams come true (so she's been told) and in actuality it's where they promptly die, never to be quenched.

Her family makes remarks about Hollywood and acting, dismissing the whole thing as nothing more than a fantasy. When they really want to push her buttons, they ask when she'll give up acting classes and take on a normal job like working at the clothes store just ten minutes down the road. Or as her mother likes to chide, "What about finding a nice young man to marry, you're old enough now and that way you wouldn't need to find work. You'll truly be able to fulfill your part of womanhood that way."

Her siblings often tease her in small ways. They like to hide her props to secure her tardiness to class. This way she'll be sure to flunk or better yet be kicked out. Neither have happened due to her apparent "star" quality, the professor says she's a key part to class. He says he sees the "it" factor in her, promising her a career, which will lead her away from home. Which is exactly what she's looking for.

Mamaw however, is the only one to show up and cheer her on. In secret she learned that Mamaw too, had wanted to be an actress. She wanted that all-American dream that once was promised to everyone when she was little. But alas, there wasn't much work to be given to a woman and as she grew the dream died. Mamaw told Eleanore when she was nothing more than a darling little thing, to never let the dream die. She had it and now it was her responsibility. "It's yours now, and you must fulfill it. You must promise you'll fulfill it" Mamaw had whispered softly, her voice warm and fuzzy. Safe, she could only think of how safe she felt here, with Mamaw tucking her in bed offering words of wisdom. And so, Eleanore promised.

She promised.

Luckily no jokes had been played on Eleanore this morning, the bag was still where she had left it seemingly unbothered. Her props and things were still there untouched. She felt the breath she had been holding gently release and her heartrate steadied. Gently, she slung the bag over her shoulder. She bid Mamaw a farewell before turning and skipping right out the front door. Happy-go-lucky has always been her middle name.