“Orion’s pile of clothes – only takes one week to get this bad. Kids I tell ya” – Francine Willastride
When I was first asked to write a blog about myself, I jumped at the opportunity before the request was even complete. I mean between all the laundry needing to be picked up, all the lunches and dinners to be cooked, and cleaning this monstrous house, it can be a feat all in its own just to find some time for myself. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better break as that stuff can be absolutely exhausting. (Really I’d prefer to be knitting a new afghan, or sewing some new wall-hanging.)
Oh, where are my manners? I’m sorry. Let me introduce myself. I am Francine Millicent Willastride; close friend to the Martins, and personal nanny to Orion. I’ve known the Martins family for almost as long as I can remember. I was even there for Orion’s birth…all 9 lbs 2 oz of him.
Yeah, he was a big boy. Still is actually. I look at him and I don’t see a boy only one week away from turning fifteen. No, I see a young man wise beyond his years. Although, every time I make him his favorite snack (Cold Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich-putting the jar of peanut butter in the fridge really does take things to the next level, trust me), or each time he asks me to go play hide & seek, I’m reminded just how young and innocent he is. He doesn’t know how evil the world can be. But that’s where we come in…Eagen and me. We swore to protect him, and that’s just what we’ll do (even if that means continuing to keep the world of Val’Terra a secret.)
Francine’s specialty: Cold PB&J
But that’s enough about Orion. This blog is supposed to be about me. I was born and raised in Val’Terra in the bustling metropolis of Furtayman. When I was born, there was a great divide amongst the various races in the city, but things were beginning to turn around through the efforts of Chief Eagramen and the boys of F.L.E.A.R. As I grew up, things continued to get better. So much so that races began to move out of their specified districts and began to integrate. In fact when I was a teenager, a nice Razorback family moved in next door and their daughter became my best friend of all time; her name was Physasha.
Francine has had her eye on a leopard print one for months now.
Despite the advancements made in breaking down the racial barriers, there was still a ban on races mixing. And I guess that’s kinda how I ended up here. Physasha wed a Spellcaster named Bynam, and instead of keeping their love a secret, they decided to move to the only place where their love could blossom – the Constant World. When she found out she was pregnant, Physasha asked me to join them and help her raise the child. At first, I was reluctant. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Bynam and Physasha was the closest thing to family I had left. You see, both my parents had passed away (they had me at a very old age) and my brother, Pollack, left when I turned twenty never to look back. So it only made sense to leave.
When Physasha passed away during Orion’s birth, I stepped up. My natural motherly instincts kicked in and I’ve never been the same since. But you know what, other than losing my best friend, I don’t think I would change anything about my path to this point. It’s made me who I am – Momma Francine.
Well I think that’s enough for now. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go slip into my Snuggie and make myself one of those Cold PB&J sandwiches I was talking about.
Farewell.
Click Here for Francine’s Bio on the Characters Page.
Jeremy Shory
@JeremyShory
Jeremy@TheOrionChronicles.com
photo credit: Sappymoosetree cc and Nomadic Lass cc and Shawn Allen cc via photopin
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