Character Interview with Pearl Etta Riggs (Smith) Codename: Viper

Hello, and happy Friday, everyone! It's been a minute since I did a character interview, and I thought this one would be extra fun. As you may know, Pearl is the main character in my Guerrilla Grannies series. She's a computer wiz, a chemical engineer, and a firecracker. I aspire to be her when I grow up. hahaha! I won't bore you with details. Let's get some coffee and dive right in, shall we?

Hello, Pearl, and welcome. We're excited to get this interview going. How are you today?

Pearl: I'm as tired as a boxer after the twelfth round, but I guess I'm holding it together okay. Let's just get this over with. I have plans with my friends later. *pats hair*

Well, you just look fabulous, if we might be so bold as to say so.

Pearl: *preens*

How about we start by asking how you met your friends: Ethel, Opal, Minerva, and Alma. How did you all meet?

Pearl: That's a great way to start. I love this story so much! Opal and I hit it off on day one of elementary school because of our names, and Alma came not too long afterward. We palled around together quite a bit until the first day of middle school. That's when The Great Milk Debacle happened, and Minerva and Ethel came into the fold. We've been friends ever since.

Whoa! I have to ask now. The Great Milk Debacle? We need to know more!

Pearl: There was this kid, Tommy Turner, and he was a terror. He was a straight up bully, taking other kids' lunch money or demanding their desserts. Well, Tommy was trying to take Opal's milk, and back then, she wasn't nearly as deadly as she is now. She's petite and quiet. She's not as small as Alma, but still... 

So, anyway, Tommy comes out of the hallway and crosses his arms, blocking our way to the cafeteria, our trays in hand. He holds out meaty paw and glares at us, demanding Opal hand over her milk. She goes to give it to him, even though Alma and I are telling her not to, when Minerva and Ethel appear between Opal and Tommy. They faced him and told him to go away; he wasn't getting anyone's milk. 

He made some snide remark, and Minerva's fist went flying at his face right as Ethel's foot went for his balls. I've never seen someone go down so fast. Minerva told him we were under her protection now, grabbed us, and rushed us away before any teachers could get involved. She and Ethel just kind of stayed after that. We like them okay, I guess. *smirks*

That's an admirable story. Minerva and Ethel, great defenders of injustice.

Pearl: Yeah. It makes sense that Ethel went into law enforcement when you look at it like that.

It sure does. We want to know more about you now. How did you meet Mansfield?

Pearl: We met right after I graduated college. He was trying to buy the lab I worked at, and my boss had all the technicians in his office when he met with the potential buyers. Manny came in with a bunch of other suits, and on his way out, he stopped and asked me if I'd like to go to dinner with him. I agreed. That sale never happened, but I got a husband and a free dinner out of it.

Where did you go to college?

Pearl: I went to Georgia Tech. Back then, it wasn't nearly the school it is now, but they were still great. I got a chemical engineering degree and picked up a bit of computer savvy along the way. You know, computers were just becoming a thing when I was in school.

Where did you get your love of technology?

Pearl: I'd touched a few computers before starting my career, and we ended up implementing a lot of them by the time I left the lab. They kind of go hand in hand with what I do.

That makes sense. So, we were told that we have to ask. Did you ever blow up a lab?

Pearl: Of course. *grins* We made all kinds of mistakes. Our professors told us it was part of the learning process, and I did learn a lot. I now know not to mix a metal hydride with water. *holds hands up* I mean, boom. *explodes hands apart* Unless that's what I'm going for.

You said you have plans with your friends later. What’s on the agenda? A bridge game or kidnapping another bad guy?

Pearl: I'm not at liberty to say.

Okay, okay. How about we ask: What’s the most illegal thing you’ve done that you’re willing to admit to?

Pearl: *taps chin* We might have put bomb detonators in fake old-folk buttons and pretended to be frail so we could evade questioning. 

Wait. What? When did you do that?

Pearl: I can't tell you when, silly! Then they'll know it might have been us.

Ah. I see. Okay, I'll change it up. If you and your friends had a theme song that would play when y'all walked into a room, what would it be?

Pearl: I love this question! I'm thinking Bad to the Bone. We're all pretty amazing like that, and it fits. Personally, mine would be Trouble by P!NK.

Those are very fitting, from what we know about y'all. Last question (because we're out of time for today): What’s the one thing you wish people understood about aging?

Pearl: There's more than one thing, but the top thing to remember is: Just because you're getting older, it doesn't mean you have to stop having fun or being the boss lady you are. Age is just a number; it's not what defines who you are or what you can do.

Oh, that's great advice! Thank you, Pearl, for joining us today. It was a pleasure having you, and don't worry about the blue hair. We think you look fabulous.

Thanks to everyone who joined us today. We hope you enjoyed getting to know Pearl and are eager to know more about her friends. Ethel has graciously told us she might be available for an interview sometime in the near future.

If you're interested in learning more about these awesome ladies, pick up a copy of Guerrilla Grannies: Gray is the New Black today.

I don't know about any of you, but I want to be Pearl when I grow up. hahaha

Well, that's all for today, folks! 

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo