Student Summer Series - Kaytia Price
To promote the next generation of authors, we’ve selected three works by high school students to be highlighted before the school year resumes. These students were all enrolled in NBBP’s co-owner, Sarah Faxon’s, English Language Arts class. This first student re-wrote Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” from the perspective of the main character’s sister-in-law.
The Yellow Wallpaper Creative Rewrite by Kaytia Price
It was two days ago when I received the letter. The letter in which my older sibling, John, had written and addressed to me. Oh, how thrilled I was to be officially named as an aunt! It was, however, the message at the bottom of the page that was truly the holy terror.
I was never interested in motherhood. Growing up, it was engraved into my head that I must be a well-put-together token wife and mother. I was never too fond of marriage either. For in the past year, I have fabricated a story to my parents in which I ran away with a boy to start our own life. I am very much in hiding however. Six months ago I received a letter from John, as he is the only person to know of my whereabouts. I was never close to him growing up, but I still trust him. Every six months he writes to me, checking up on me and apprising me on his life as well. He expressed how his wife, in whom I actually forgot her name, was pregnant and he was going to be a father. I was very much ecstatic for my brother, however a couple days ago when I received my half-annual letter, my emotions turned rather unfathomable.
He explained how his child was born and healthy, however, he couldn’t say the same about its mother. He admitted that he’s never seen her so hollow. He painted quite the image of despair. He sounded so helpless that I couldn’t stop my reactions of empathy. He is very passionate about his entitlement of a doctor, so he took it upon himself to aid his wife in becoming better. He had wished for me to come and take care of the child in the meantime. I couldn’t even forge a second thought before I was subconsciously packing my things and heading towards the location he provided me.
Two days have passed and I have arrived at the house that John is temporarily living in. I honestly wouldn’t even call it a house. It was quite the luxury of distress. I was greeted with a tight embrace by my older sibling. I took a quick glance over his features and noticed his dark brown hair had turned silver in some areas. People always thought John and I were twins when we were growing up. Truthfully, I never agreed because when you look closely, his nose is slightly more crooked than mine. I am also blessed with little angel kisses across my cheekbones, but it is only I who have ever noticed them. John grabbed my single suitcase and led me inside the home. “It is wonderful that you were able to come, Jennie, please make yourself at home.”
John guided me to the room closest to the baby, downstairs next to the foyer. I wandered into the baby’s room and was quite stunned to see a beautiful floral pattern brushed on the walls. It had very neutral tones of light pink and beige. As exhilarating as it was, I did find it quite peculiar for a newborn child. However, I learned at a very small age to never question my brother, so I will leave it alone for now.
“Where is your-” before I was able to form a perfect sentence, my brother was already three steps ahead of me. “Her illness is getting worse. I have concluded that I must keep her stranded in that room in order for her to progressively heal. I have left her nothing but a mattress to keep her company. As for you, my dear sister, I would be forever grateful if you were to check up on her sometimes and of course nurse our baby until further notice.” My brother concluded his speech by looking up the stairs and gazing at a dark brown door that is secluded from the rest.
“How are you sure she will get better?” I asked him with a tone of concern. “I have dedicated years into my studies. I have gone as far as to reach out to her brother, who is a doctor as well. He and I have established that this is what is best for her.” John had glanced down at his feet for a brief moment whilst declaring this. It was always a bad habit of his and it showed a sign of uncertainty. Once again, I was taught never to question him. So I simply nodded before returning back to the crib his baby was sleeping in.
I never thought hard about what I wanted to do with my life. I used to help with children back at home, however it wasn’t enough to spark any interest. John’s baby nevertheless, was a whole new life for me. Everything I had sworn against, I’m holding in my palms. I don’t despise it as much as I thought I would. The baby is quite delightful. I do hope its mother gets better before it gets well acquainted with me.
Speaking of the mother, I have checked up on her a couple of times. I provide her meals when necessary and update her on the baby when she asks. I was told to do no more, but I do wish I could keep her company at times. She seems rather odd in that room. Not only her actions, but her herself. When you walk in there, two things stand out. One, the yellow wallpaper. It’s gruesome to my bones. It does not match any theme or tone of the house. I wouldn’t even send my worst enemy to stay in that room. I suppose it helps with treating the illness, although I don’t understand how. The other thing that definitely stands out is the mother. You can immediately notice what distress she is under. A woman, no, a human doesn’t belong in a treacherous room as such. She belongs with her child. John won’t go into much explanation as to what is supposedly wrong with her, but he says it’s nothing contagious to the baby so I shouldn’t worry. But it is not the baby whom I am concerned for.
Every day she is staring at that wallpaper. I can’t even begin to fathom how she could withstand it. I must admit sometimes I catch myself going in there more than necessary just to try and see what she does. But it always stays the same. Except for her. Whenever she communicates with me, I see a whole new personality. I never knew what it was like to begin with, but now she almost seems too sane. How, she is hardly phased by that monstrosity at all! She stares at it like it’s an artist’s greatest treasure. Like it’s her own child. But I am the one who has to care for her real child! She’s too busy nursing that wallpaper so I have to be left with what’s actually hers! I mustn’t get angry at her, however. I know it isn’t her fault. John thinks she is getting better, but I truly see what is happening. I know better than to interfere though because I am not a mother nor a wife. I am just a sister.
It has almost been three months since I left my temporary confinement. I adore John’s baby, and adapting to this home has been quite a delight as well. John has discussed with both his wife and I that he believes that she has gotten better and is preparing to leave the estate rather soon. He is currently on a trip outside the city, which spares me a little more time to try and understand the whole of this situation. I try to visit her multiple times a day now. I make up rather silly questions that she must be tired of answering, but she hasn’t grown suspicious of my antics yet. This last time I entered, I tried to study the wallpaper instead. I widened, squinted, and even winked at it to try and comprehend it better. I still have no explanation. I walked up to it slowly and slightly brushed my hand against it, almost caressing it. I felt an intense glare from the woman behind me causing me to back away and provide her with an apologetic smile. It was that moment when I learned that I was not crazy.
Today is the last day in the house. Soon John and his family will return to their home and begin a new chapter. Although she was declared to be better, my brother requested that I keep her in the room, at least until he returns at dusk. I always follow orders from him, however, having the same instructions be repeated to me daily, like an alarm clock, grew quite unremitting. Therefore, the rebellious voice in my head unleashed, for I told his wife that she is free to leave the room once her husband leaves before sunset. However, she was very much uninterested.
“Oh no! That’s rather okay as I’d like to get as much rest as possible!”
She doesn’t even give me a second look before the door is shut on me. I go back to caring for the baby, who I’ve grown very close to, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m its mother. There are many things taken from us, but you cannot steal that title away from any woman. I proceed with my daily activities until nighttime.
The baby was fast asleep and I was preparing myself to do the same. I just couldn’t fight away the urge to go up there again. Maybe I’ll let her sleep in her baby’s room tonight. I don’t even know the last time she had even looked at it. I walk up the delicate wooden stairs to the same door I had been looking at for three months straight. I don’t decide to knock this time, as I presume she is attempting to sleep. I opened the quiet creaking door and I immediately pinched myself to wake me up from this dream.
It was all gone.
The same tones of beige that had been a common theme throughout this house were suddenly blessed across the walls. My mind had subconsciously disregarded the giant pieces of yellow paper on the floor and the woman behind it all. I briefly looked away from the wall and in that split second the woman captured my attention.
She was beaming with pride, but I could feel something much more grim and sinister inside of her.
“Where’s John? In spite of him and Jane, I’ve got out at last!”
Hollow.
That’s what he had used to describe her. I now see it though. She is no longer hollow, as it has filled her entirely.
As for him, in great time, he too will become hollow. And will have to suffer the consequences of it all.
Wow! What an incredible young author! Here’s to Kaytia and her future writing! Follow our blog to see where the next young writer will take us!