Consider Kitty Kowalski, One of My Original Characters
So, who is Kitty Kowalski?
When I was first developing Mettle, a pair of names came to me quickly: Kitty and Mink.
Where Did Kitty Kowalski Come From?
She arrived nearly fully formed. But never confuse this malignant narcissist with Athena’s birth, at full adulthood, from Zeus’s forehead.
Rather, I knew I wanted a mean girl character. And then, as I continued writing her, Kitty became essentially just barely this side of a psychopath.
Yeah, she really is so bad as all that.
The Past is Prologue — Backstory for Kitty Kowalski
When I finally get around to writing the prequel to Mettle, some of her backstory will get a lot clearer. But a big part of it is best said by songwriter Al Stewart in his song Carol.
“Your TV mother with her cocktail eyes….”
While Kitty’s mother isn’t necessarily an alcoholic, I see both her parents as being neglectful. But being wealthy means people think of them as being eccentric. And, more importantly, no one calls Child Protective Services on them.
When Mettle first starts, Kitty isn’t living with her parents, and she’s only fourteen years old.
‘Nuff said.
Kitty Kowalski, a Description
Short and blonde and ethereally light, Kitty resembles actress Dove Cameron. Unfortunately, Cameron is already too old to play this role.
Purpose/Theme/Motivation
The truth is, as the consummate party girl, Kitty’s main motivations in life are to get high and piss off everyone around her.
She has no other depth from me because as a person she truly has no other depth.
Quotes from Kitty Kowalski {Yes, she really is this nasty; this is the morning after the power has gone out}
Kitty inspected the saucepan. “Gross. You’re really gonna eat that?”
“You got a better idea?”
“It’s fucking gross. You don’t just eat corn for breakfast.”
“You gonna make me pancakes, or something?”
Kitty wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m not your slave.”
“Hey, you brought it up. I was perfectly happy just making my own breakfast till you decided it sucked.”
“Well, it still sucks. Where’s the fucking internet?” she whined.
“Same place as the fridge and the washing machine and the shower.”
“I miss my phone.”
“Yeah, that, too.” He turned off the flame. He washed a pair of bowls and forks from the dirty dishes in the sink. “Want some?”
“No, are you fucking retarded or something, Dez? That’s just, ugh, it’s repulsive.”
“Suit yourself.” He dumped the corn into a bowl.
Mink entered the kitchen. “What’s left in the cabinets?”
“Green beans, some tuna, I think I saw tomato paste,” Dez said as Mink opened the cabinets and looked for herself.
“There’s pumpkin pie filling, too, and we still have peanut butter. I wish we had bread.”
“Want some corn?” He offered her the second bowl and fork.
“Sure, thanks.” He dumped about half his bowlful into hers. “Kitty, what are you gonna have?”
“I want French toast.”
“If we had eggs, we could make French toast, if we had bread. And a working toaster. Aunt Doreen used to say shit like that.”
“Yeah, she’s hysterical.” Kitty folded her arms and scowled. “This blows.”
Mink shrugged and ate as did Dez. When they were done, she bused the dishes to the sink and washed them and turned to wash more dishes. “Man, we don’t have to live like pigs. Can somebody dry?”
Kitty made a beeline out of the kitchen.
Relationships
Like in the case of a lot of narcissists, Kitty doesn’t have any relationships unless they are transactional. That is, she only wants to know: what’s in it for her?
Dez Hunter
Dez is probably her only conquest who doesn’t just hang on her every word. But at the same time, he has got to be stoked that he is with the hottest girl in their grade. Kitty conveys a great deal of cachet.
Then again, that’s also why Minka Lopez hangs around with her. But don’t mistake their time spent with Kitty as being out of affection. Rather, it’s spent out of a need to social climb within the rigid societal hierarchy of middle school.
Conflict and Turning Point
When Kitty rejects even the meager help being offered to her—the only help anyone can possibly offer—she’s kicked out of the group. Mink tags along because she feels she has to, and they leave.
Which turns out to be so disastrous for both girls.
The reader only learns about this later when Mink is able to rejoin the fold. But we never see Kitty again. Is she dead?
Even I have no idea.
Continuity/Easter Eggs
In Lizzie Borden is Vital to the Timeline, the time travel agency’s director is named Sylvia Kowalsky. And while the spelling differs, that story takes place around 1600 years after the end of Mettle.
So, is Sylvia related to Kitty?
Again, I have no idea.
Future Plans
Since I don’t honestly know whether she’s alive or dead at the end of Mettle, there is little sense in planning anything else for her. But she will be in the prequel.
Kitty Kowalski: Takeaways
As the Schrödinger’s Cat of Mettle, Kitty’s endgame could go in nearly any direction. But unlike Jeannie Scutter Firenze, I just don’t see myself writing a redemption arc for her.
But never say never.
Want More of Mettle?
If Mettle resonates with you, then please be sure to check out my other blog posts about how changes in the periodic table nearly kill us all.
• Noah Braverman
† Craig Firenze
• Dez Hunter
† Dr. Elise Jeffries
• Minka Lopez
† Nell Murphy
• Olga Nicolaev
† Dr. Mei-Lin Quan
The Mettle Universe, the next blog post
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