Character Interview: Aunt Sue from What Comes After

Today, I'm tangling, er, talking with Aunt Sue from What Comes After. If you haven't heard, Aunt Sue gets a bit of a bad reputation in What Comes After and she's here today to clear that up... well, sort of. I ask her to anyway. She's also talking about "what comes after" (see what I did there?) for her and more.

1) Sue, there are two sides to every story. Will you tell us in your own words what happened that day at the lake?


I will not allow a child to break bad in my house, and some need to learn their lesson the hard way. That’s how I was raised. That’s how the girl’s mom was raised. I did not touch a hair on that girl myself. It might of gone too far, OK, but sometimes things happen. That don’t make it criminal. It’s just what is.


2) You mention that Iris is just like her mother. What did you mean by that?


Spiteful. Doesn’t appreciate what she’s given. Thinks she’s better than anybody else. Thinks she’s pretty.


3) Your son's name is Book which I've never come across before. Is there a story behind his name?


Yes there is, but that’s between his daddy and me, and his daddy is out of the picture, and removed himself from the picture before Book was born and he can go to Hell for all I care and that’s all you need to know.


4) We hear Iris's side of the story and how hard it was for her to leave her home. But will you tell us how you felt when you got a call about having your niece come and live with you?

Didn’t feel much about it one way or another. The girl’s mom--my sister—run off and left me alone back here with Momma and Daddy, so I figured I was owed something. Did I feel sorry for the girl because her daddy died? Sure, who wouldn’t? But you get over it and no need crying about it.

5) What are you plans for the future?

Back to the farm. If WalMart won’t hire me back I’ll get on at Target or K-Mart. About time Book was done with school anyway and working to pay his way, unless he can still get a scholarship and start bringing in money from that and then the professionals. There’s some colleges out there that pay for football. I’m thinking about expanding egg production in the barn—taking on more chickens, turning the whole business over to eggs. I’m done with them damn goats.

6) I know you like reality television. If you could be on one show what would it be and why?

"Survivor" of course. What the hell did you think? "The Bachelor"?

7) Is there anything you'd like people to know about your story?

I said enough already. But I know what you're looking for. You're looking for me to say how sorry I am for what was done to that girl. You're looking for me to be sorry for making Book do what he done. You're looking for me to be sorry for everything. Well maybe I'm sorry for some things and maybe I'm not sorry for some other things, and that's all I'm gonna say about it. There is one thing. Connie who I went to high school with and who works at the jail? I been thinking about giving her a call and maybe buying her a beer when I get out. I might kind of owe her.

Feel free to leave a comment for Aunt Sue, if you dare!

Thanks so much to Teen Book Scene for making this interview happen: