Friday, December 14, 2012

the last book I ever read (Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, excerpt five)



from Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures by Emma Straub:

“It’s better to work than not to work,” she said. “But it’s even better to know why you’re working. When I was young, I made movies because people told me to, and hit my marks, and spoke my line. I made Farewell, My Sister without knowing what was going on most of the time. I did what I was told.” She paused. “I chose this,” Laura said, “but I chose everything else too.” Laura nodded, agreeing with herself, and then leaned over and gave the boy reporter a kiss on the cheek. She probably reminded him of his mother, or his grandmother, even.

“Um, thank you,” he said.

“You’re welcome, my dear,” Laura said, and walked slowly back to her dressing room. She wanted to talk to Florence on the telephone, and there seemed no reason to wait. She wanted to tell Florence everything she’d just said, and more, and for her brilliant, smart psychotherapist of a daughter to tell her what it all meant. Of course, Florence always claimed it didn’t work that way, but Laura thought she’d break down sooner or later and give her poor mother all the answers she was looking for.



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