A one room school was Wilhelmina's introduction to education. Her name Wilhelmina was intimidating to other children. So they shortened Wilhelmina to Willy. Wilhelmina HATED being called Willy only slightly more than she hated being called Wilhelmina.
Her Father's name was Willard. Her Mother was convinced that Wilhelmina was going to be a son. Since she was the first child it seemed normal to name her after her Father. The name would have been Willard Lucas Bond, Jr. When the baby was NOT a boy, her Mother still named her for her Father.
When being obedient, a model student, and practically perfect in every way did NOT gain her absentee Father's attention Willy began to pick on smaller children, or poorer children, or pretty much ANY children that she could get away with bullying. She decided that she would rather get her Father's attention for negative behavior than to never get his attention at all. Her nickname became WICKED WILLY. This name gave her pleasure because she WAS Wicked. Somehow her misery seemed less when others were also miserable at her hands.
Her parents sent her to a very elite school for women in Switzerland. This was a dream come
true for Willy. She determined before she arrived at school that she would NOT be called Wilhelmina, Willy, or Elizabeth. Beth was a beautiful name, and it would be hers, she would make certain!
When she arrived home after three years in Switzerland she looked very different. She had learned how to wear clothes elegantly. Her hair was dressed in a new style that was very becoming to her long face. The most important difference was that she was extremely confident...actually she was more arrogant than confident. She felt that she was better than anyone else. Especially in the tiny town where she had grown up.
The one person that made her return to Calkington was Eric Calkin. As a tiny girl she had decided that she was going to marry Eric. He was the oldest son of the founder of the Calkington, and the heir to the amazing Drifting Anchor Ranch. Imagine her dismay to discover that her worst childhood enemy Angela Butler was engaged to Eric. There was nothing she could do to stop their marriage, or was there?
Interesting. I'd like to see where it goes.
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