Inspiration Behind the Writing of THE MOLLYS B. Part 2
the mystery and the magic
I had found my way into the story, its “spin,” if you will, but now what?
While not uncommon, the format of parallel storytelling is not utilized all that often. But two wonderful titles new to the library shelves are Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare by Gene Barretta and Martin and Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank by Nancy Churning. Both served as inspiration for my book. However, as excited as I was to tell the story of two Mollys in a parallel format, focusing the theme on their shared experience of nearly drowning, in the background there was a potential problem I could not ignore.
Margaret Tobin Brown’s side of the book is about a remarkable woman who lived around the turn of the 20th century.
Photo Credit: Staff Photographer Linda Thompson, The Missoulian
Molly the bovine’s side of the book is about a heifer running all over town creating havoc.
Once they survived their near drownings, Margart continued living her life – after being rescued by the RMS Carpathia, she was taken to New York City where she probably enjoyed a hot bath and a couple of Mint Julips. Molly the cow was returned to the meat packing plant where her life was again threatened with slaughter. No Mint Julips for her!
Photo Credit: Denver Public Library Special Collections, [X-21704]
While the reader may admire Molly’s fortitude, it’s the “why” of her actions that highlights an irrefutable issue just beneath the surface: the theme that tangentially addresses the topic of raising and utilizing animals for food. How could one possibly write a story for young ears that had to do with a cow galavanting all around town making a victorious escape when that escape was from imminent slaughter (figuratively, that kid’s next fast-food cheeseburger)?
For the older child, we have a notable collection of books that address the loss of innocence - The Red Pony, Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, and most famously, of course, Charlotte’s Web. But for the picture book audience? Undoubtedly, the potential for my story to initiate conversations a parent may not want to have with their young child was there. Kind of a thorny predicament, instigating the kinds of conversations only vegetarian parents might feel up to.
I had to ask myself - what was my responsibility here? I really wanted to tell Molly’s story – her gumption amused and inspired me, and I was not the only one. As the news made its way around the world, there was an outpouring of support for her. People wanted her rewarded with freedom. For some reason, her actions spoke to people – girl empowerment, perhaps? Self-determination? Fortitude in the face of adversity?
After much self-examination, I returned to my original concept: I would focus my telling of the Mollys by concentrating on the experience they shared – a few hours in each of their lives. And for the parents of the astute child who questions Molly’s presence in a slaughterhouse in the first place, I’ve provided a resources section that will hopefully guide parents in finding answers for the toughest of questions they may find lobbed at them.
