Behind the Label: Gloria & Will
Behind the Label: Gloria & Will
“You’re late. I said eleven.”
“Something has come up. You know that girl I brought to the house the other day for band practice?”
“Yes. I do remember her.” She spoke slowly. “Gloria.”
“Okay, well, Gloria’s mom has just had to go to the hospital. And, well, Gloria called me to help her out. I was home before eleven, honest, but I had to help her. So, I’m here at her house and she needs to sleep somewhere tonight. Can she sleep at our place?”
“It’s late,” said Clara.
“I know. But she has nowhere to go.”
“I need more information, Willa,” she said.
“It was an emergency.” I paused but only for a second. “Oh, and the police will be bringing her.” I rushed those words out. “It’s a tricky situation, but her mom had to go to the hospital by ambulance. She’s a bit of a wreck. Not Gloria. The mom.” I was babbling like an idiot.
“The police?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. Just know they’ll be on their way to the house soon. They want to talk to a parent, and since Mom and Dad aren’t home, you’re the one. They have to make sure everything is okay for her to stay with me.”
“Okay, Willa. I’ll be waiting.”
“Thanks, Clara. I really appreciate this.”
My heart thwacked against my ribs as I drove home. Poor Gloria. What was she thinking right now, sitting in a police car? My heart broke for her. What a mess. As I drove, I thought about my parents. What would they think about me bringing Gloria home? I couldn’t think about that now. They weren’t home, so they were one less obstacle.
When I got to my house, the police car wasn’t there yet, so I parked in the garage. Then I went inside to find Clara. I was just about to call her name when she met me at the door leading from the garage to the mudroom.
“They’ll be here soon,” I said. “They had a few things to do.”
She nodded. “What happened to Gloria’s mother?”
I shrugged. “I think it’s an overdose. Gloria called me to help her. When I got here, I found an empty pill bottle and alcohol bottles. Gloria’s been in foster care before, and tonight she didn’t want to stay alone or go to some strange place, although I think, at this late hour, I have no idea where they would have put her. Maybe in some group home.”
“This is a good thing you’re doing, Willa.”
Tears lurked behind my eyes. I looked away. I’d never cried in front of Clara before. What was wrong with me? Tough Willa was turning to mush. Then I felt Clara’s hand on my arm, the touch tender and warm.
I’ll help you with this.”
I swiped at a tear and said, “Clara, you’re the bomb.”
She smiled at me, just as the doorbell rang.
“Clara answered all the questions the police officer asked. Then she showed the officer around the house. When the inspection was done, we all stood at the front door.
“Gloria’s social worker will be by tomorrow for a visit,” said the officer. “I’ve been in touch with her.”
“I’ll be here,” said Clara. “And so will Willa’s parents. They fly in tomorrow.”
My eyes widened. Tomorrow? What? I was stunned into silence. Was that why they had called me? More than once. I’d missed the calls when I was at Gloria’s, and I know they were texting me, but I hadn’t looked. I’d been a little busy.
“Thanks, again,” said the police officer. “I’ll be in touch.” Then she left.
As soon as the door shut, Gloria turned to me. “Can I sleep with you?”
“Sure,” I mumbled. I was still trying to process the fact that my parents would be home tomorrow.
“Mom and Dad are home tomorrow?” I said to Clara.
“Yes. But, Willa,” said Clara slowly, “I’m proud of you. I will help you here.”
Had I heard right? Clara was proud of me. No one in this house was every proud of me.
Willa is a senior in high school, and, although her parents are hoping that she goes to university to become something ‘important’ like them (her dad is a CEO of a telecommunication business and her mother is a genetic scientist), Willa has her mind set on being a musician. To make her independence known to her parents, Willa is sporting purple dyed hair, got a piercing, and even got a tattoo of a dragonfly on her neck - which her mom hates. Things haven’t been going really well for Willa, and she is returning to school from a suspension for drinking with her boyfriend, Calvin, in his car on school property. Her parents are both leaving on business trips, and so Willa’s mom lays down the rules for Willa: She will go to school, see her math tutor and her piano teacher. Also, Willa’s mom has worked it out with the school’s principal that Willa will attend the Best Buddies club that pairs students with special needs with senior student mentors. Willa is not impressed with this, but she knows that Clara, their housekeeper, will make sure that she keeps on track.
With her parents gone, Willa makes a deal with Clara that her band, the Kicking Demons, can rehearse at the house. Willa knows that the tutors and lessons are because her parents want her to improve even though she was diagnosed in elementary school as having dyslexia, but Willa’s parents denied it and just kept telling Willa to “Try harder”. It didn’t matter how hard Willa tried, nothing seemed to improve. She just got more angry and more rebellious, but a change is on her horizon.
At the Best Buddies meeting, Willa is paired with Gloria who lives with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. At first, Willa isn’t sure about the pairing, but it doesn’t take long before the two are close friends. Willa learns about Gloria’s life and knows about the struggles she and her brother have trying to live with their alcoholic mother and staying out of foster care. The more time that Willa and Gloria spend together, the more they are both able to help each other grow into their best selves. Willa begins to move away from the negative influence of her boyfriend, and, with the help of her bandmates, she is able to explore her songwriting and even win best song at a battle of the bands competition.
Willa and Gloria have to make difficult decisions, but together they are able to help each other. Willa is able to confront her family about her needs with her dyslexia, and Gloria is able to find a friend and a safe space from where she can begin to negotiate her life for the better. Both teens prove to themselves and those around them that, although life can be hard, having friends, support, and believing in ourselves can make dreams possible.
Behind the Label is an intimate story told with the alternating voices of Willa and Gloria. Presenting both teens’ perspectives in this way allows the reader to more deeply understand the struggles that each character faces throughout the novel. Presenting the two from very different socio-economic worlds, but pairing them together in their struggles with special needs, offers a fresh perspective into how, although people sometimes see themselves as alone, they may be more similar to others than they first think. The author does a solid job of rounding out the characters and creating believable situations despite the many heavy topics presented in the novel. This novel is filled to the brim with sad reality, joy, and hope. It would be an excellent read for teens looking to see themselves as more than just a label.
Penta Ledger is a teacher-librarian at Gravenhurst High School in Gravenhurst, Ontario.