Talk:The Pictures Beside the Fireplace/@comment-26399604-20180226211924

The biggest question I have: Why does mother have a photo of the clown to begin with? There isn't an implication that there is a connection between him and her (like a relative). Knowing what he did (and I'm sure she would've found out if he was a relative), I can't see her wanting to keep a photo of him on her mantle. The logic makes less sense, if say, she lost a child to him (possibly a sibling of the protagonist before he/she was born). If he's no one to her then, it still doesn't make sense or escape my question.

However, based on her reaction, there's clearly some history/knowledge of him. I feel like that should at least be addressed in some manner because once you find out the revelation, it makes the rest of the story sort of fall apart. This seems like a simple fix -- have a recollection of something she mentioned about the photo and her connection to it, then once we get to the end of the story that bit about her hoarding it would make sense, and if anything, could render an even bigger impact in the revelation.