Synopses

September 8, 2015

This page may always be under construction! Details may change at any time. Items will always be added to this, as I go along.

October 8, 2015

This page has been written in very informal English. I may try to fix some of the tenses, as I do the rearranging of the page. I have to limit the amount of time I can spend doing this. I am simply trying to get the various synopses on here. Some day I'll have to do a better job of fixing things. As I rearrange the text on this page, I can't seem to keep the formatting the same all over. The spacing is different for certain paragraphs. I don't know how to fix that.

There is overlap with these stories. Some of the text is duplicated. The radio dramas and short stories tell only part of the stories of the novels I would like to write.

I am putting these on here in, story order, rather than the order I was working on them.

"Lums Chapel Radio Drama," aka., "Violets," aka., "Mrdrmys"

This is the original Lums Chapel story I was going to write as a radio drama. The original working title was, "Mrdrmys," [MuR DeR Mis] which stood for, "murder mystery". It was the way I fit the words, "murder mystery," onto the file name when I first saved it to computer. I recently found some early hand written notes from 1990 and 1992 for the, "Lums Chapel Radio Drama".

I was married in September 1989. Within a week, I went to Texas to visit my family. While I was visiting family in Olney, "Hollywood," was in Archer City filming the movie, "Texasville," the sequel to, "The Last Picture Show". (Archer City, is down the road from Olney.) I was inspired to write a story of some sort by the movie gossip that I heard while I was in the area.

As I was being inspired to write a story, I am not sure exactly when, but I heard over the short-wave radio that the BBC World Service was going to have their first, "Radio Playwriting Competition". I thought, "how hard could it be?" and "I can probably do that". Soon reality hit and I thought, "How in the world do you write a radio drama?". A big question that I had was, "How do you format a radio script?". I didn't have a clue how to write a radio drama/play. This was before we had the Internet and before there was, "Bookfinder," or, "Amazon". The first book I discovered with any, "how to write for radio," in it, was an old university textbook for broadcasting. "Handbook of Broadcasting" by Waldo Abbott (1941). This book has some drama writing instruction in it, but the main focus of the book is general broadcasting. It was some time before I found a purpose written book on how to write drama for radio. That book was from about 1940 also. The end of the book contained chapters about writing for Television. I special ordered a modern British book from a local, "new," book shop. And with the Internet now, I have quite a collection of how to books, modern and, "historical". The Internet has examples of how scripts should be laid out. I have learned all sorts of valuable information off radio writing websites.

"Driven to Abstraction"

To read about the inspiration for this radio drama, click on this link, "Driven to Abstraction".

In April 2007, I entered a radio drama in a radio drama competition in London, England.

I began writing the drama as they were starting the process of selling my grandmother's house. I took the competition as an opportunity to write about a family that is similar to mine. I was trying to deal with emotions I guess. I tried to give this fictional family the "feel" of my family. Yet, I wrote about very different people.

The one hour restriction of the radio drama limited me in many ways. There was so much I wanted to say but couldn't get it in there. Some day I hope to rewrite this radio script, "Driven to Abstraction," in novel form calling it, "To Then That's Left". I want to add to and expand the story in the script.

In, "Driven to Abstraction", Josephine Argyle is a secretary who works at a Detroit publishing company. Her mother, aunt and uncle, are preparing to sell their parents home.

The script was supposed to start with a bang. Josephine was given a job in London out of the blue. Her boss wants her to help a British actor, Nigel Mumford, write his memoirs. She is a fish out of water in a way. And then there's her family looming large in the background. Josephine's parents are going through marital difficulties. Her grandfather is dying. She might have to leave London on short notice, to attend the funeral. The family "back home" (in Texas) is in the process of selling the grandparent's home. It is not an easy time for Josephine, as visiting this house was like "crawling back into the womb". It is not an easy time for the rest of the family either.

Josephine starts to help Nigel with his memoirs. He is a very private person. This is a very difficult thing he has to do. He is also learning lines for a play he is going to be in. In the middle of all this, there's culture clashes between Josephine and Nigel; Josephine is helping her mother with the house selling (via long distance); she is helping both her mother and father sort their marriage issues; and she finds herself terribly home sick. If that's not enough, Josephine's beloved, Grandpa Josh dies. She has to rush off and fly home to Lums Chapel for the funeral.

In the end Nigel's play closes early. Josephine decides to move back to Lums Chapel. And instead of starring in, "The Flower Petal War," directed by Henry Dullard, Nigel will be starring in, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". That's a story with familial connections to Josephine.

The story ends with Josephine telling Nigel she is quitting work at Widecombe publishing; she is moving back to Lums Chapel to maybe open a, "writer's book shop". Nigel tells her he will see her in Lums Chapel as he and Henry Dullard, will be there filming Arthur Miles', "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Nigel asks, "Have you ever heard of an author, Arthur Miles?". "Have I heard of him? He's my cousin's brother-in-law!".

In 2009 I wrote a page of, "Updates," to this story.

"To Them That's Left"

In April 2007, I entered a radio drama in a radio drama competition in London, England. See entry above, "Driven to Abstraction".

The one hour restriction of the radio drama limited me in many ways. There was so much I wanted to say but didn't get it in there. Some day I hope to rewrite the radio drama script, "Driven to Abstraction," into novel form calling it, "To Then That's Left". I want to add to and expand the story in the script. I want to write it as Josephine writing in her journal. It would cover about a year of her life maybe.

In, "To Them That's Left", Josephine Argyle is a secretary who works at a Detroit publishing company. Josephine is entered into a secretarial contest at work by her colleagues. She doesn't know she is entered. First prize entails being sent by her boss to travel to London, England. She is to help an actor write his memoirs [which in some places on this site, I may erroneously call an, "autobiography"]. She takes dictation. Josephine has to go outside her comfort zone to accomplish this job.

The back drop (main story) in, "To Them That's Left," is Josephine Argyle and her family. I had to take most of that out from, "Driven to Abstraction" in order to get the story down to an hour. This script was supposed to start with a bang. Josephine was offered this job in London out of the blue. Her boss wants her to help a British actor, Nigel Mumford, write his memoirs. Josephine is a fish out of water in a way. And then there's her family looming large in the background. Josephine's parents are going through marital difficulties. Her grandfather is dying. She might have to leave London on short notice, to attend the funeral. They family "back home" (in Texas) is in the process of selling the grandparent's home. It is not an easy time for Josephine, as visiting this house was like "crawling back into the womb". It is not an easy time for the rest of the family either.

Josephine starts to help Nigel with his memoirs. He is a very private person. This is a very difficult thing he has to do. He is also learning lines for a play he is going to be in. In the middle of all this, there's culture clashes between Josephine and Nigel; Josephine is helping her mother with the house selling (via long distance); she is helping both her mother and father sort their marriage issues; and she finds herself terribly home sick. If that's not enough, Josephine's beloved, Grandpa Josh dies. She has to rush off and fly home to Lums Chapel for the funeral.

In the end Nigel's play closes early. Josephine decides to move back to Lums Chapel. And instead of starring in. "The Flower Petal War," directed by Henry Dullard, Nigel will be starring in, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". That's a story with familial connections to Josephine.

The story ends with Josephine telling Nigel she is quitting work at Widecombe publishing; she is moving back to Lums Chapel to maybe open a, "writer's book shop". Nigel tells her he will see her in Lums Chapel as he and Henry Dullard, will be there filming Arthur Miles' "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Nigel asks, "Have you ever heard of an author, Arthur Miles?". "Have I heard of him? He's my cousin's brother-in-law!".

Synopsis of the short story or, "Chapter I," of, "To Them That's Left," that I was working on.

[Started, March 22, 2010]

Josephine Argyle lives near Detroit in a suburb. She is a secretary at Widecombe publishing. Her colleagues entered her in a company secretarial contest. The grand prize is a trip to London, England to help an actor write his memoirs.

Josephine's beloved Grandpa Josh is in a nursing home. This is her mother, Momma Granfield's, father. Momma Granfield, her siblings and the family in Lums Chapel are making preparations to sell the family home.

Josephine decides to fly to Lums Chapel to visit the family. She can't stay long. Mr. Wister her boss will soon need to know whether or not she accepts her prize. It is a big decision. She would be going out of her comfort zone to go. Part of the reason she is coming home, is to get advice from her closest confidents-- her mother, sister and cousins.

Josephine has decided to try and write a short story for the company magazine. She takes the current issue of the magazine along on her flight. While she thumbs through it, she sees the photo of an old printing press. It brings back floods of memories. Her father's brother-in-law, Josephine's uncle Elmer, owns a print shop. She spent many after school, summer, and holiday hours working in the back of the shop. Josephine, her sister Emily, and her cousin Eleanor, [plus Eleanor's siblings] would do such tasks as sweeping and sorting papers.

Josephine gets picked up at the airport. She stays with her mother and sister at their family home. But at some point all the cousins get together at Eleanor's house. The main bulk of the story will happen here.

The full cast of characters will be, Josephine, Emily, Eleanor, Cousin Kristi, and Momma Granfield. A great many other characters will be talked about of course.

I know a lot of things I want these people to talk about. They will be doing tons of reminiscing. I will rely on my memories of conversations I have heard around the dining table and in the, "lady's room," at my grandmother's. I won't be writing verbatim conversations I remember. I will just write the kinds of things I remember.

"Historical Fiction" aka., "We find Ourselves Returning to Find Home"

This is the radio drama I hoped to write for the 2016 competition.

From an earlier document:

At the end of, "To Them That's Left", Josephine decides to move back to Lums Chapel. Also, "The Flower Petal War" movie doesn't get made because of the, "political climate". The director decides to make another movie, "At the Other End of Rhubarb," instead. Nigel Mumford signs up to star in that movie. This makes for the second story in the series, "Lums Chapel Whoop-de-do," which is about Josephine's family. It is the story I was originally writing for the radio drama competition. In that story, "Hollywood" comes to Lums Chapel, Texas to film, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". The author, Arthur Miles, is originally from Lums Chapel. He is Josephine's cousin, Eleanor Miles', brother-in-law. ...

As we know from, "To Them That's Left," Josephine has been to London, England to help Nigel Mumford with his memoirs. Her grandfather died as a result of dementia etc. She came back to Lums Chapel for the funeral. It is not long before Hollywood shows up to film, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Josephine decides to move back to Lums Chapel. She is helping her mother clean out the Cooper family home. Josephine learns that Nigel Mumford will come to Lums Chapel to star in, "At the Other End of Rhubarb".

I have decided not to mention anything about Nigel Mumford and Josephine's trip to London in this particular story.

Eleanor's parents are in the process of downsizing. Perhaps her father has health issues? He wants to retire from the newspaper/printing business he owns. Eleanor is working part time at the newspaper in the, "big city," near by. She writes a column about life in Lums Chapel. The editor of the, "big city," paper suggests that Eleanor interview Arthur Miles about Hollywood making a movie of his famous book.

Here is text from the, "Radio Writing Journal"... I add to it some. [August 10, 2015 entry]

I had scribbled at the end of my hand written edits to the July 10, 2015 entry, the following... I stick it on this page, [November 17, 2015]

"Eleanor's Story," was going to be after the movie was made, not before. Maybe Eleanor's Mom doesn't die, the couple [Eleanor's mother and father] decide to downsize. These upsetting letters that Eleanor finds, "after her mother dies," could be found as she helps her parents move."

I am pretty certain that I am going to have Eleanor and Josephine as the main characters in this radio drama. Their mother's are next. Josephine and Eleanor talk a lot about Aunt Margaret and Arthur Miles, but I doubt they will actually be in this. I could put a conversation with Eleanor and Arthur possibly. Arthur would be a token male I guess.

Josephine has moved back to Lums Chapel. She is living with her mother temporarily. She is about to move into an apartment. [Probably in one of the only purpose built apartment buildings in Lums Chapel.] It would be a temporary dwelling until she found a suitable house to buy. Josephine's father would be wanting her belongings out of his barn as soon as possible. Josephine gets a job at the Lums Chapel Mercantile. Eleanor goes in there for something, and finds Josephine as a cashier. They agree to have lunch where they catch up on their lives. Josephine's children are nearly teenagers if not in their early teens. She works part time at a newspaper in the nearby, "big city". She is supposed to get an interview with her brother in law, Arthur Miles. There is some history there. She is reluctant to talk to him. Josephine is helping her mother clean out her grandparent's house. It is the long time family seat. Eleanor is helping her parents downsize. There are family issues with both of them.

Josephine, and Eleanor belong to their Aunt Margaret's book club. Aunt Margaret is wanting to start a, "writer's critique group". Josephine wants to join it. Josephine finds her family history isn't all she thought it was. Eleanor finds out similar things in her family, she learns things about her mother she wishes she never knew. There are parallels to their stories. I imagine this big family gathering-- [Thanksgiving perhaps] where Eleanor, her mother, and sister [and her brother?] have issues. There would be stress on Eleanor, what with the big interview looming, to organize a Thanksgiving dinner.

You can read more about this story via the "Radio Writing Journal".

January 29, 2016 Hiatus...

I will not be writing to the story, "Historical Fiction," aka., "We Find Ourselves Returning to Find Home," for the time being. The opening of the radio drama contest has come and gone. The deadline is nearly upon us. Sometime in early November 2015 I decided to use the, "Writing Map," I bought. ("Write Around the Bookshop") The first entry in the notebook was from November 7, 2015. I thought that since the opening of the radio drama competition came and went, I would put my radio drama on hold in order to concentrate on the work I needed to do around the house. We always have lots to do getting the house ready for a Christmas guest. I was tempted and distracted by the Writing Map. I figured that it would be something simple to keep me from getting involved in a major project that would detract from the house work. The writing map was indeed simple. There was more room left in the notebook when I was finished. So I downloaded more writing prompts. Around the time I did that, I had started a notebook for notes to a fully fledged story. Please look at the index page for, "How I Learned to Read a Book," in order to learn more. There is also a Journal for that story as well. I will write more to this journal when and if it becomes relevant. The main character of, "How I Learned to Read a Book," is, "Constance," who has been a pen pal of Josephine's for many years. March 31, 2016--- This story could very well be the, "first," of all the, "Lums Chapel Stories". Although, the events in, "How I Learned to Read a Book," do not happen first, in this story, I seem to be introducing a good many of the, "Lums Chapel", characters.

"Lums Chapel Whoop-De-Doo," aka., "Violets," aka., "Mrdrmys"

The years went by and I still took notes for my radio drama. The BBC competitions came and went. I struggled to write a script using Windows Word-- without any sort of add-on template for writers. I kept fighting with the default settings. It was very frustrating. I tried to take some notes on green airmail paper via a manual typewriter. (A person goes cross eyed trying to read the notes, because of the color of the paper. I have no idea what that paper was originally used for. It comes in handy for other purposes sometimes.) The, "Mrdrmys," story changed over time. It became what I thought of as the first in a series of tea cozy mysteries.

Early in this story there is a town bar-b-que to honor the Hollywood dignitaries. The, "Whoop-de-doo," of the title, refers to this party. It also refers to the fact that Hollywood has come to town. Another, "whoop-de-doo," is what people say when they don't give a darn about something, "Well, whoop-de-doo!". Like, if someone makes a big deal of something and the other person could not care that they say that.

From an earlier document...

There's Aunt Margaret Dumphries who is working on her first murder mystery. The phone rings and it is Doris Jean who owns the local beauty parlor. Doris Jean tells Margaret that "Hollywood" is coming to town to film the book, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". The book was written by Lums Chapel's famous son, Arthur Miles. People believe that Arthur was writing about Lums Chapel in his most famous book. They believe that Arthur is, "The Author," and that Eleanor is, "Eloise" in the book. Arthur always denied this. Eleanor has always had to defend her reputation because of the book. Henry Dullard, the director, Nigel Mumford, the lead actor, and Amber Rare, the lead actress, are the big news in town. Arthur Miles is coming back to town after being away for a long time. A crime of some sort happens. The patrons of Doris Jean's, Style Shoppe, beauty parlor, expect Margaret to be a sleuth and solve the crime. She knows very little about being a real detective. Margaret ends up a reluctant almost sleuth. In the end the police solve the crime. The movie gets made and all is well. This ends up being a mystery sort of story, maybe without a murder. It is a fraud crime rather than a murder. The story has as a theme, gossip and its consequences.

Arthur Miles, from small town Lums Chapel, moves to the, "big city," and writes famous book, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". It is a story about an author, "The Author" from small town Rhubarb and the residents of Rhubarb. It's about the townspeople's efforts to keep the railroad from closing Rhubarb's train station; which will be the first nail in the coffin for this once vibrant town. Early on the residents of Lums Chapel think the book is about them and are angry. Years later, Arthur is very famous. Hollywood comes to Lums Chapel to film, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Residents have forgotten their anger. They are now proud of their famous son. One resident is still angry. My story is about the filming of the movie. The town gossips gathering in the local beauty parlor. The movie star gossip they tell. The gossip and ruined reputation of the one resident. How the one resident gets her good reputation back. There's an element of, "murder mystery," without the murder, in there too. ...

There's the thread in this story about what the, "art world," thinks of art vs. what, "ordinary people," think of art. Henry Dullard, has been signed to direct, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Nobody in town has ever seen any of his movies. Mr. Dullard filmed one movie they have heard of. Henry Dullard is an "art house" director whose famous work is, "I Dictionary," about a guy who sets out to memorize a large dictionary so he can "become one with it". (whatever that means) When it is mentioned, people scratch their heads and say, "Why would anyone...".

Not everyone is happy. People have thought for years that Eleanor was the model for "Eloise" in the book. And when it is learned that Amber Rare will play "Eloise" that just rubs it in.

Originally, Josephine was named Joan. She was much younger and her personality was a little different. Joan worked as a cashier in the Lums Chapel Mercantile. She was web savvy and found a Nigel Mumford fan site to ogle over. Nigel Mumford the lead actor in, "At the Other End of Rhubarb," bought a pack of gum from Joan and their eyes met across the counter. Nothing ever came of it, not in this book anyway.

"Murphy Wears White Sox"

I was hoping that, "Lums Chapel Whoop-De-Doo," would be the first in a series of tea cozy murder mysteries. "Murphy Wears White Sox" really deviated from that. It was supposed to be the second story. Things have changed as far as how I envision the stories. I doubt I will ever write this one. I don't think this story would work with Josephine as a protagonist. At least not the way I envision things now.

Here is how I thought the second story would go...

Originally, Josephine was named Joan. She was much younger and her personality was a little different. (See, entry for, "Lums Chapel Whoop-De-Doo".) Joan a young woman, around 19 or 20, was working at the Lums Chapel Mercantile when a man pays for something using an unusual dollar bill. This dollar bill has a rubber stamped phrase on it. It is closing time, and Joan decides to buy the bill from her drawer. As she is closing up, Nigel Mumford comes in to buy a pack of gum. He is dressed in a tuxedo. Nigel is in Lums Chapel for the world premier of the movie, "At the Other End of Rhubarb". Nigel and Joan's eyes meet across the counter again. He asks her if she wouldn't want to come with him to the premier. She says she doesn't have any formal clothes. Nigel replies that she must have something that would work. She remembers a brides maid's dress, or maybe the formal gown she wore to the Senior Banquet in high school. (Senior Prom) It isn't the most appropriate dress, but Nigel assures her it would work. Joan and Nigel go to the premier. Next thing you know the guy who gave Joan the dollar bill, ends up coming after her. Nigel tries to protect her. The guy wants his dollar back. It turns out he is an enemy spy or international criminal. The bill was the secret password that he needed so he could complete his mission. He was to give the bill to his contact so they would know who he was. As it turns out, there was a good guy spy in town as well. He helps rescue Joan and Nigel. I don't know how things happened exactly. I just envisioned a cross country train ride like the European ones in the James Bond movies. The two spies battle it out or match wits on the train. Nigel and Joan manage to fall in love. They come back to Lums Chapel and make plans to announce a wedding or maybe that they are simply, "an item". The story ends with a fairly happy ending of course. The good guy spy decides to stick around in Lums Chapel for a little rest.

"Eleanor's Story"/"Part of a Large Family"

This was going to be the third story originally as I envisioned it... It still should be the third full story. [I think of the Radio Dramas, and short stories, as partial stories.]

Eleanor is a little (pensive?)-- she is reflecting on what has happened recently. She is also thinking of some issues from her past. Some people have suggested that she write her memoirs and tell her life story. Her friends who suggest this, think her story would be inspirational and might help others. The good guy spy is still in Lums Chapel for a rest.

As Eleanor is thinking about her life story, she is also reflecting upon her present life and marriage. She wants a change. She loves her children and husband, but doesn't realize how much. She strikes up a kind of friendship with the good guy spy. He is exciting. She almost falls in love. He is a temptation. The good guy spy doesn't want to fall in love either. He is married to his work probably. Eleanor realizes what she will loose if she succumbs to this temptation. I am not sure exactly everything that would have gone into this story. The reader would learn about Eleanor's teenage years. They would learn about how her relationship with her parents [more than likely her mother] was strained at times. With the filming of the movie over with, we would see how the finished movie impacted Eleanor's reputation. This story is more somber than the others. It would still have hope to the ending.

As I envision the story now.... [See also the story, "Historical Fiction," above.]

As I have aged, Eleanor has gotten a bit older and rounder. I wouldn't call her fat though. The photo I pulled out of a magazine that represented how I saw Eleanor, has now become my vision of Josephine. Eleanor's children, rather than being the young children I originally imagined, are now early teenagers or nearly so. I am going to some how put some of this story into the radio drama I am working on at the moment. For that, I am combining part of, "Eleanor's Story," with a story about Josephine moving back to Lums Chapel.

Not long before Hollywood shows up to film, "At the Other End of Rhubarb," Josephine has moved back to Lums Chapel. Eleanor's parents are in the process of downsizing. Perhaps her father has health issues? He definitely wants to retire from the newspaper/printing business he owns. Eleanor is working part time at the newspaper in the, "big city," near by. She writes a column about life in Lums Chapel. The editor of the, "big city," paper suggests that since Arthur Miles is her brother in law, Eleanor should interview him about Hollywood making a movie of his famous book. She has a history with Arthur. She's not sure she wants to interview him. He is rather reclusive while he is working. Not doing the interview could cost Eleanor her job.

Eleanor is still reflecting on her past. She has some issues with her mother. She may have issues with a sister and a brother also. The sister and brother are there to help--- or not there as the case may be. One or both of them could be intermittent. As Eleanor helps her mother go through things in the house, she finds a bundle of old letters. Judging by the envelopes, they could be evidence of an affair between her mother and an old family friend. Eleanor is curious but does not read them. She discusses the find with her sister. When confronted, their mother tells Eleanor that there was no affair. Her mother met this man at church. He had a son who had health issues. Eleanor had her own issues that her mother dealt with. The families became close. There was a temptation there between Eleanor's mother and this man. The man moved his family out of state to avoid the temptation. The letters were the man and Eleanor's mother putting the situation to rest. Eleanor's family would visit the man's family at a lake in the other state. The temptation was not an issue by this point.

Eleanor and her mother begin to heal some about the things that they dealt with in Eleanor's childhood. Eleanor was the special child her parents struggled with. She was in some special classes in school maybe. They sought out various doctors in order to find an answer to their problems. Certain events put a strain on the family. Eleanor is desperate to learn from her mother, "what happened," or, "why did you do that?" about certain key events.

Here is text from the, "Radio Writing Journal"... I add to it some. [August 10, 2015 entry]

The text is about the radio drama I want to write, "Historical Fiction". I had scribbled at the end of my hand written edits to the July 10, 2015 entry, the following... I stick it on this page, [November 17, 2015]

"Eleanor's Story," was going to be after the movie was made, not before. Maybe Eleanor's Mom doesn't die, the couple [Eleanor's mother and father] decide to downsize. These upsetting letters that Eleanor finds, "after her mother dies," could be found as she helps her parents move."

I am pretty certain that I am going to have Eleanor and Josephine as the main characters in this radio drama. Their mother's are next. Josephine and Eleanor talk a lot about Aunt Margaret and Arthur Miles, but I doubt they will actually be in this. I could put a conversation with Eleanor and Arthur possibly. Arthur would be a token male I guess.

Josephine has moved back to Lums Chapel. She is living with her mother temporarily. She is about to move into an apartment. [Probably in one of the only purpose built apartment buildings in Lums Chapel.] It would be a temporary dwelling until she found a suitable house to buy. Josephine's father would be wanting her belongings out of his barn as soon as possible. Josephine gets a job at the Lums Chapel Mercantile. Eleanor goes in there for something, and finds Josephine as a cashier. They agree to have lunch where they catch up on their lives. Josephine's children are nearly teenagers if not in their early teens. She works part time at a newspaper in the nearby, "big city". She is supposed to get an interview with her brother in law, Arthur Miles. There is some history there. She is reluctant to talk to him. Josephine is helping her mother clean out her grandparent's house. It is the long time family seat. Eleanor is helping her parents downsize. There are family issues with both of them.

Josephine, and Eleanor belong to their Aunt Margaret's book club. Aunt Margaret is wanting to start a, "writer's critique group". Josephine wants to join it. Josephine finds her family history isn't all she thought it was. Eleanor finds out similar things in her family, she learns things about her mother she wishes she never knew. There are parallels to their stories. I imagine this big family gathering-- [Thanksgiving perhaps] where Eleanor, her mother, and sister [and her brother?] have issues. There would be stress on Eleanor, what with the big interview looming, to organize a Thanksgiving dinner.

You can read more about this story via the "Radio Writing Journal".