All I ever wanted to be was famous. For people to know who I was. I went through most of my school life feeling like I was invisible. Even though she would never admit it, I was sure my mother had never wanted to have kids. My father disappeared when I was three and never bothered to reach out after he left. My mom at least cared enough to keep food in the house and kept me clothed and the electricity on. Other than that, I was usually on my own. She worked long hours at the local hospital and when she got home, she usually wanted to just relax.
I often thought being famous would keep me from being invisible and maybe people would actually remember my name. I had a few friends at school – a group of us who were often considered to be outcasts, but I didn’t care. I finally had people who I could talk to and tell secrets to because I knew my mother wasn’t much help. She sometimes asked about my day, but never seemed to listen to what I had to say. Journals and stories were the only way I managed to tip my stories from my imagination and straight onto paper. I knew I had talent only because I took as many creative writing classes as I could in school and my teachers encouraged me throughout. The more writing I did, the more confident I became in my ability. Writing would become the way I could get out of town. A way to get everyone to know my name. To remember my name. I just needed a way to convince my mother to let me get an after school job.
A part-time job would help me get the tools I needed to advance my career. Advance my options in life. Allow me to apply for grants and college scholarships and even buy a laptop. Everything changed the day I won my first writing competition. It was the first day in years my mother congratulated me for something she didn’t have a part in and it was the first time I ever had any sort of spending money. The first thing I bought was a new coffeemaker for my mom.
Standing Room Only 
2 responses to “Rich and Famous”
I had the same upbringing as you, but I never wanted to be rich and famous. I would’ve liked to have enough money not to worry, and to enjoy life, especially when my son was young. Towards the end of my mother’s life, she did ask suddenly out of the blue as my husband was pushing her along in a wheelchair. “How your book was coming along?”
I was in tears. I was busy writing my third one, but I didn’t care it meant the world to me that she remembered I was writing to be published.
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It’s captivating to read about your aspiration to be famous and how it stemmed from a desire to be seen and remembered. It’s unfortunate that you felt invisible during your school years and that your mother seemed distant and preoccupied with work. It’s heartening, though, that you found solace and companionship in a group of friends who accepted you for who you were.
Your passion for writing shines through as an outlet for your creativity and a means to express yourself. It’s inspiring to see how you nurtured your talent through creative writing classes and the support of encouraging teachers. Your determination to use writing as a way to escape your town and make a name for yourself is commendable.
Winning your first writing competition was a turning point, not only because it brought recognition and congratulations from your mother, but also because it provided you with a sense of accomplishment and newfound financial freedom. The fact that you chose to buy a new coffeemaker for your mom shows your thoughtfulness and love for her, despite the challenges in your relationship.
It’s an intriguing start to your story, and it leaves the reader curious about what lies ahead for you as you pursue your dreams of fame and use writing as your vehicle to create a name for yourself. Keep exploring your talent and determination, and may your journey lead you to the recognition and fulfillment you seek.
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