July Character Studies ~ Beliefs, Ideals, and Morals

Well, it’s time for another Character Studies! This time we have “Beliefs, Ideals, and Morals” for the subject. It’s a fun one.
I’ve noticed that most people are doing unfeeling pessimists. Or perhaps that’s just me. At any rate, I’m doing a character I don’t know much about, so … maybe she’s an unfeeling pessimist. Goodness knows!
Introducing Mrs. Collier, or Granny, Adele’s mother and Judy’s grandmother from The Lady of the Vineyard.
Oh, before we go, I’d better do some reminding for new readers and old ones who don’t remember:
Character Studies is a monthly character interview hosted by Morgan Dusky @ Studies in Characters. You can find out more about Character Studies here! You should totally do them; they’re one of my favorite, fun ways to develop characters.

• Do you believe in true love?

I do. I believe it exists for some, and that it existed for me. I do not believe that it should be the primary motivator of a person’s life.

• How about love at first sight?

No. That’s unbelievable. Attraction and/or infatuation at first site, perhaps. But not love. Not real love, anyway.

• Have you ever been in love—like really in love?

I was in love with my husband. Nothing dramatic; I just was.

• Do you believe in second chances?

Forgiveness, you mean? Yes.

• Is there something more to life?

Then …? Then what? Do you mean is there something coming after life? As in Heaven or Hell, depending on whether you’re a Christian or not? Then, yes. Yes, there is.

• Do you believe in unicorns?

Um … excuse me? I hope this is your idea of a joke.

• Are you superstitious? Why?

No. I have no reason to be superstitious because there’s nothing to be superstitious about that isn’t all nonsense.

• Somebody you just met claims to be a time-traveler from the future. Do you believe them?

No. The future is likely going to be so sinful that everyone’s a liar. Of course I don’t believe the.

• What would paradise look like?

Goodness knows I can’t tell you what heaven looks like!

• What are your thoughts on balloons?

Useless things, hazardous to toddlers when popped.

• What happens, do you think, when you die?

Heaven or Hell. There is no other option.

• Are you afraid of dying?

No. You see, I chose the former (^).

• What is the most irrational fear you have?

I don’t think I have any. I’m not afraid of anything that hasn’t already happened, you see. The War terrified me. I suppose I’m also afraid of another war coming, but that’s not irrational, now, is it?

• Why are you afraid of that thing, even knowing it’s irrational?

See above.

• You’ve just been threatened and told that if you tell anybody about what happened to you, you’ll die (or worse). Do you tell anyone, or do you lie about what happened?

I tell everyone. I wouldn’t mind dying if it’s my time. And what else do I have to fear, quite honestly?

• The one person who could save you is the person you trust least in the world. What do you do?

Wonder why my daughter is the only person who can save me, useless creature that she is.

• Would you, or have you, ever killed anyone?

Excuse me?

• Do you have any recurring dreams and/or nightmares?

Yes. There’s the one where I only just can’t save my late husband from something that is apparently under my control. It’s irrational. I couldn’t have saved his life. I wasn’t even there, but I’m afraid I have enough of an imagination to know what it was like in France in 1915. I need to stop thinking about the way he and my boys died, but I can’t.

• You’re going to die in exactly fifteen minutes. What do you do with those minutes?

Sit down. Wait. I’ve already got my will and everything else in order. I might like to speak with Adele one last time. I don’t know.

• How long is your attention span?

As long as it needs to be, I hope.

What do you think about Mrs. Collier? Have you done this month’s character interviews?

~Kellyn Roth