Margaret Caldwell
Margaret Caldwell (born Gaston) and her mother and brother moved into Merryweather when she was a sophomore in high school. Her life had been transitory up to that point, moving every two or three years, wherever her father could find work. He eventually abandoned the family when she was 10 years old, leaving them to fend for themselves. Margaret’s mother found work as a hairdresser, and eventually saved up enough money to buy her own small beauty shop, Bonne Bea’s. Margaret loved to help her mother in the shop, with the daily buzz of activity and especially all of the gossip. Margaret learned from an early age how to take care of herself. Her precociousness and smarts allowed her to easily manipulate others, although the tendency to find herself in crisis bordered on a personality disorder. She was cute and fun to be around. For four years following high school, Margaret worked at the local newspaper, Merry’s Word, owned by Jack Caldwell. She begged him for a reporter job, and impressed him with her knowledge of town happenings. Jack hired her to write about social events and news.
(Character sketches created by the composer. All people and places are fictional.)