The Emu Girl

The latest article prompt I chose to fulfill involved creating a story about a photograph.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY GAZETTE Tues., June 24, 1885

INFAMOUS "ANIMAL GIRL" MAKES PUBLIC APPEARANCE! By W.B. Stubbins

Her reputation in the city preceded her, but that did not prevent Miss Drusilla Markham from shocking bystanders when she made her public debut on Thursday last. The remarkably malformed twelve-year-old, a resident of an undisclosed address, alighted from a cab in the company of her father, and walked on all fours into Carmody's Photographic Studio, located at 1729 Mariette Street.

Known generally as "the animal girl," Miss Markham wore a frilly blue dress with elbow-length sleeves, stockings, and low-cut laced shoes. She did not frown, but nor did she smile, and her eyes were constantly roaming as Jakob Carmody prepared for her photo session. A woodsy scene was selected by Drusilla and her father, Mr. Alexander J. Markham, who reported his profession as carpenter. The young lady's mother was not present, and Mr. Markham declined to comment on the subject. There are rumors at large that the mother was in fact an African emu and is now deceased. It would seem that these unsubstantiated reports were enough to cause Mr. Markham to lose his situation as a Chicago banker.

A number of circuses, freak shows, and other entertainment groups have long sought Drusilla Markham to join their acts. Mr. Artemus B.L. Kornblum, a theatre impresario of this city, recently offered a weekly salary of seventy-five dollars to make the girl a featured act. But the protective father has refused all inquiries so that his bizarre offspring can enjoy as much of a normal life as possible.

Following the photographic session, Drusilla brightened considerably when asked about her hobbies and preferred activities. She claimed reading as her favorite pastime but also professed her enjoyment for knitting as well as writing letters to her many correspondents worldwide. At this point, Mr. Markham closed the interview and escorted the young lady out to the waiting cab, ignoring the gawking, muttering crowd.

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