D-L Nelson is an American-born Swiss-Canadian writer and journalist. Visit her website www.dlnelsonwriter.com
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Maura D'Orlando
Maura O'Connor D'Orlando is my second character in Day Care, the story of four single moms who form a support team to make life easier. For the interview, we find her in the emergency room of a hospital where her daughter has been brought because she could not stop throwing up.
Me: How is your daughter.
MOCDO: They've stopped the vomiting. As usual she'll have to stay until she's no longer dehydrated.
Me: That's good. What causes it?
MOCDO: I don't know. I just wish I could get them to make it more seriously. I mean, this happens every few weeks. The last attack was only two weeks ago.
Me: Isn't it hard to work when she's in the hospital so often?
MOCDO: I suppose I am lucky that my boss is understanding. Probably because he had a kid that had cancer once. Thank God his son has been clean for six years now.
Me: Where do you work?
MOCDO: At a real estate agency, only job I've ever had. We couldn't afford for me to go to college. My dream was be a photographer, but that wasn't practical. I'm trying to get my real estate license to make more money. That's practical.
Me: What about your husband?
MOCDO: Ex-husband. He left me for another woman. Not even one younger. Can you imagine? She's three years older than he is.
Me: That's tough.
MOCDO: At least he's almost good with support payments. He doesn't see Violet much and I suspect he does see her at all because his mother, a good Italian mama, would kill him if he didn't.
Me: How did you meet him?
MOCDO: He was two years ahead of me in high school. Teenage hormones and all that. I should have listened to my family when they said he wasn't good husband material.
Me: What does he do?
MOCDO: He's a hairdresser. Has his own salon. It does okay.
Me: What about your family?
MOCDO: My Mom and Dad are great. Good Irish Catholics. They help me financially when they can, but I don't like to ask too often because they've scraped for everything they have. My sister and brother resent them helping me, but they are doing so much better financially than I am.
Me: What do you think about. . .
Before Maura can answer, the doctor comes out of Violet's room and says she can go back in. I thank her for her time and wish her luck. She smiles, but it is a tired smile. I want to hug her and wish her courage but that would slow her getting back to her daughter.
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