All characters belong to Baltimore Productions & NBC, except Katherine the first and Rachel. Big props to the DPS girls and the Spoon River Anthology. Standard disclaimers apply. Please send feedback.
American Girl
Violet
Katherine Flannery Howard
(1918-1989)
Granddaughter, you have my name,
My hair, and something of my bones
In your face. I see myself
When you smile.
You don't do that so much, lately.
I still don't know what drives you
To do this thing you do,
Why anyone would make their living
Poking around with the damned and the dead.
From this side, I don't see why
It makes such a difference.
But that's you, and I suppose there's no point
Trying to argue with it. Only,
Smile more. Laugh more.
Let your hair down.
It suits you.
Caroline Ellen Howard
(1962- )
I'm writing this on the beach.
It's a beautiful afternoon, but that's
Spring in Italy for you. In a way,
It reminds me of home.
How do you stand it, Kay?
Don't you just want to get out?
Don't you ever just want to throw
Caution to the winds, and run away and live
On your own terms?
Maybe you don't. Growing up
You were always the big sister, you
Pulled us together and kept us
In line. God knows what Dad would have done
Without you. But you don't have to be
The dutiful daughter all the time.
I'm thinking of coming home for a weekend
In the fall. Dad's not getting any younger,
Neither are we. I think I'm falling
In love again. I'm enclosing a picture.
Isn't he pretty?
I'll talk to you soon.
Al Giardello
(1938 - 2000)
I always thought you'd come back
To Homicide, someday. I knew you needed time
After what happened, to Beau, between us.
Things went to hell without you.
Not that you could have done anything
To help. Some things just happen the way
Fate wants them to happen,
Though nothing's set in stone.
So you're heading up Fugitive now. Bene.
You'll do good work. You always did.
And you're strong. I'm proud of that.
I like to think you learned some things from me,
And from my mistakes.
I always thought that you'd come back.
Wesley Arthur Howard
(1939 - )
Hey, kiddo. How's life treating you?
I didn't have much to do
This afternoon, so I thought I'd drop a note.
We're holding up here, as best we can.
Hope you're having an easy week,
Though you've never been the type to shirk the hard ones.
Congratulations again
On the promotion. I know you'll be
A good Lieutentant, even if you don't
Talk about your job the way you used to.
Are you happy? You don't have to stay there,
You know. You're not beholden to anyone.
Times aren't like they were
When I was younger. I guess that's obvious.
The best advice I can give is something
You already know so well. Don't let anyone
Plan your life for you. Leave if you want to leave,
Stay if you want to stay.
I'll see you for Easter, I'm sure. Until then,
Take care. I know you will.
Charles Tyler Howard
(1967- )
I'm listening to Tom Petty
And the Heartbreakers. "American Girl."
It made me think of you.
I don't know why. Maybe just
Because Dad's upstairs writing you a letter.
It's been a long winter,
And I'm getting restless. Maybe it's just
Boredom. I'm thinking I might take the car
And just drive for a while.
Down to Florida, or up to Pittsburgh.
I don't know. Just someplace.
Dad's proud of you, Kay. Me too. I mean,
I'm proud of you. I'm not sure he's proud of me.
Except that I'm the only son, and I stayed here,
And he misses you girls.
"It was a great big world, with lots of places
To run to. And if she had to die trying, she
Had one last promise she was going to keep."
I'm telling you,
You should've been the boy.
Beauregard Felton
(1959-1998)
Damn, Howie. I never thought I'd live
To see the day. Bad joke. I know.
I know. But look at you.
In charge of everyone, so responsible.
I guess it makes sense. You always
Whipped me into shape.
Don't forget how to have fun. Don't
Turn into a boss. You were too good
As a grunt. Remember the streak? All those names
In black, under yours. I teased you,
But I was always impressed. You know that.
Take a day off, now and then, would you?
Take your shift out for a couple beers,
But stay away from the Waterfront, it's a pit now.
I hope Lewis comes around and tells everyone
About the time you saw a ghost. You'll blush.
I hope you stay in touch with Munch, and with
Your midget boyfriend. There, you'll blush again.
I'm not a sappy guy, you know that too.
But all right, I'm proud of you,
And if anyone got out of Homicide
Alive and sane, I'm glad you were the one.
Stay cool, Howie. Stay cool.
Rachel Wharton Howard
(1940 - 1973)
You were my first baby. So tiny
And crying so loud it frightened me.
But I loved you, I knew it the first time
You nuzzled your small nose against my skin.
I know I tried to teach you
To be conservative and careful, to stay away
From risks, and stay close to home.
I wanted to keep you safe, that was all.
You didn't understand that, a small girl who wanted
To play, to run, to get away.
I think you understand me better now.
We could have become friends again, I think,
When you were grown. You missed me
At fifteen, eighteen, twenty-one, when you needed
Advice a father can't always give.
In the hospital, I told your solemn
Thirteen-year old self, look after the family.
You did. You did so well
You're part of the family. Look after yourself.
I wanted you to marry happily, have children
Of your own, but more than that I want
You to be happy, to be at peace.
Don't forget I love you,
Watch over you. I always have.
My small, rebellious girl. My good, beautiful woman.
My daughter.
You've done so well, so far.
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