Black Water

by Joyce Carol Oates

Sometimes Joyce Carol Oates takes real stories and fictionalizes them. For example, My Sister, My Love is based (loosely) on JonBenét Ramsey’s life and death. Black Water is her fictionalization of the Chappaquiddick incident.

Written in 1992, our story takes place on Grayling Island, Maine in the present. Elizabeth “Kelly” Kelleher has just met her political hero at a 4th of July party. Her idol, of course, is the unnamed senator, who is clearly Teddy Kennedy. He is older and experienced, and Kelly is in awe of him.

When they leave the party intoxicated, and the senator takes a wrong turn, Kelly’s life changes forever. From the dirt road to the black water, suddenly Kelly is clinging to life in the car, while the senator swims away. As she waits for him to return with help, Kelly considers her past and prays for a future.

Oates creates powerful images with the innocent young woman clinging for life in the black water. The Chappaquiddick incident happened before I was born, and I cannot help but to wonder how Teddy got away with such a crime.

4/8/10