Helen Beal: Difference between revisions

Helen Beal was born in Normany, France, as the end result of her artist parents' whirlwind and utterly utopian romance.  There she lived until the age of twelve, when the three moved to Los Angeles, California.  Despite the change, Helen experienced a typical and uneventful childhood.  In fact, it was likely easier than most, as Helen was exceptionally popular among her classmates and a favorite of her teachers.  Of course, this was partially due to her unapologetic French charm, but much credit should be given to Helen's own intelligence, wit, and attractiveness, and foremost to her artistic talents.  In many ways, she was an unusually gifted child who couldn't seem to avoid standing out.

By high school, Helen was slightly more aware of her talents and decidedly more French about them, in the unfortunately unflattering stereotypical way.  She became the socially elected It Girl, with a loyal clique following.  This grew tiresome rather quickly, but without a way to defeat the attention, Helen took deeper solace in her art.  Among her fellow young artists, Helen found friends who were more interested in life's complexities and less interested in homecoming.  One such person was David Lithgow, the son of a wealthy restaurateur, and as equally gifted as Helen in every way.  Love came quickly.

David, a seductive and mysterious figure, rapidly accumulated all of Helen's attention.  She lived for him.  Everything else took second place.  A few days before their graduation, the two eloped, much to the delight of both families.  For Helen's parents, their daughter was following in their love-blazed footsteps, and David's father gained a son who would now be forced to give up his "silly art habit" and provide for his wife in the family business.  David happily does this, but the joy fades quickly as he begins to resent abandoning his artistic aspirations.

Helen, free to continue her artistic study, was taken as an apprentice by Samuel Nathans, a colleague of her father.  Although twice her age and married, Samuel immediately fell in love with Helen.  He made several meek advances, which Helen--still very naive about the darker paths of love--played off as silly jokes, but when Samuel attempted to force himself upon her in his studio, she fled in horror.  Their professional relationship was also severed.  Confused and ashamed by her own foolishness, she told no one what had taken place.