The Front Porch Is Gone
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At the time, Svea thought that driving in the new station wagon was like being carried off to a wonderful adventure. When the car stopped it was in front of a house on a beautiful tree lined street which Ellen told Joan was
Ellen handed Ronnie to Joan. She held Svea’s hand tightly and the two walked to the front door of the big house. She rang the bell. Then Ellen turned to Svea and said,“Svea, you must be on your very best behavior here.”
Just as Ellen reached to ring the bell a second time, a tall man with black hair and a black beard came to the door. As Svea looked up at his face it seemed a long way to look past the grey flannel trousers and cream colored shirt. Even his neck seemed long. Svea’s head had to fall backward in order to see the man’s face. She thought he was the tallest man she had ever seen. Behind him was a woman. She looked quite a bit like Ellen, with blond curly hair and big green eyes. She and Ellen both looked quite small next to the man. The couple greeted Ellen and put out their arms to bring Svea into the house. Mother and daughter followed the couple into the very large foyer. The couple spoke briefly with Ellen.
After conversing with the two strangers, Ellen turned and kissed Svea. She hugged her little daughter tightly. Then she held the frail little child by the shoulders and said, “Svea, you must be a good little girl and stay here with Mr. and Mrs. Jennings. I will come to see you as soon as I can. They will take good care of you, Honey. Remember, Sweetheart, you must be on your best behavior. I love you.”
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About the Book
ABOUT THE BOOK
The story of Svea Jansson unfolds over the course of many years. It is the story of a child growing into womanhood who finds that there is a great family secret. Throughout her life Svea reflects upon her earlier years. To her it is as if there is a mystery that encompasses her very being….secrecy, abandonment, secrecy, abuse, secrecy, hidden stories, secrecy, a heritage. This is the story of seeking answers and of discovery.
Throughout the story Svea Jansson reflects upon earlier incidents in her life.
She is a child of a mother who is elsewhere. She is a child that is moved from place to place, from home to home until she cannot recall where she lived or why. One place however, stands out in her mind. That is the house on
When her grandmother dies, Svea is cast about again and lives with an aunt and uncle for a short time and then is moved into a home in another town with her mother, Ellen and step-father,Gordon Knox. Struggling with her frailty and overcoming the illnesses she encounters, she grows into her teen years. It is then that she finds the piece of paper that she has never seen before. That paper, divorce papers of her mother’s, discloses that the father that she has always been told is hers is not. When she uncovers her birth certificate hidden away she realizes that there is more to this cover up of her birth records than she had imagined. Grandmother Knox tells her, “Your mother was in a terrible scandal.”
What is the scandal? What is the story behind this woman who she is to call Mommy and Mother. Svea spends much of her life seeking answers to these questions. She is satisfied with some of them.
About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dorlee Clark Rohlfing was born in
At a young age she became a professional dancer. At a later time she became a teacher and a Student Services Specialist in the Milwaukee Public Schools. She has been married to her husband, David, for forty-seven years and had two children, Mark and Alison.
During her career as a teacher and administrator she has written short articles for educational magazines and brochures. This is her first novel.