T Tales
Digging for?
19:15
I've been thinking -- the first aid kit I found in the kitchen, it's new. Brand new, and very well-stocked. It has the construction company logo on it, so I guess that's who provided it -- in case a worker was injured. Which makes sense, but...
It just seems...damn convenient. I can't tell if I'm being unreasonably paranoid. I like to keep my paranoia reasonable. I want to go up to the third floor for the best chance at cell reception, but I don't want to leave Ramirez alone.
I wish I knew whether to feel sorry for him, and protective, or smug and self-righteous about what happened to him.
If he's NOT involved, and he WAS actually attacked -- I guess I can feel extra crappy, later, if it turns out he has nothing to do with any of this.
I'm making us something to eat. At least the wood burning appliances haven't yet been replaced by electric ones or we'd be down to breakfast bars and trail mix.
20:03
Soup, crackers, and coffee have warmed and relaxed us. Ramirez is using the brandy for a painkiller, but I'm going to steer clear and stay clear. Someone might try to get in here and I need to be ready.
20:45
Ramirez isn't feeling much pain, now. He's starting to consider the cool factor of the eventual scar. He's pretty darn cute when he's helpless and tipsy.
I need to focus.
When he's like this, I feel guilty for thinking he might be involved in this scam -- IF it is a scam. That's not to say I believe the house and estate are haunted, but there could be odd... things going on, mixed in with the direct, human involvement. I don't dismiss "odd" out-of-hand.
I'd like for Ramirez to not be involved in this, obviously, but I can't believe blindly. He's asked me to read aloud to him from some of the journals. He says working on that will take his mind off the pain and help to pass the time. I pointed out that he probably didn't feel any pain already, but that I could use the distraction too.
21:48
We've been going through all of the diaries, journals, and notes; jotting down points of interest and dates, or guesses at dates, putting together a timeline of events. There are inconsistencies, glaring ones.
The stillborn baby seems to be the focal point, things are relatively normal until that event. Well, American Gothic normal, I suppose.
There's talk of rats, a lot of talk, and some property disputes with locals, but it was after the baby's death that things got "out of control odd." Supposedly, the wife was sent abroad to recover after the stillbirth, but the maid writes about her downward spiral in health and spirits like she never left, and also remarks on the husband's health deteriorating. He apparently became obsessed with the spirit world of the Native Americans in the area, the same ones with whom he was having the property disputes.
The husband's new spiritual interest is apparently what brings the Native American man in the painting, to the estate.
Oddly, though the husband's journals indicate he sent his wife away almost immediately after the death of their child, the maid's diaries suggest that some time passes -- maybe as much as a year. Ramirez has begun adding the Latin translations to our timeline. These journals were kept by the family friend, the doctor, and he had another opinion about things.
He insists the infant's death was unpreventable and even "a blessing." He says the child was "imperfectly made" and that those imperfections caused the infant's death. He must have meant some kind of terrible birth defects.
Ramirez isn't sure if the doctor's delicate description of the infant's condition was a product of the era, or an effort to spare the husband and wife's sensibilities, in the event they were ever to lay eyes upon his notes.
Whatever the case, he didn't allow either of them to view the body, and there's a suggestion that the coffin that was buried was empty, that the baby was buried in an unmarked grave to prevent anyone from seeing its condition.
Ramirez said that might have been done, not only to protect the emotions of the family, but to keep "freak collectors" from stealing and preserving the body to peddle for sideshow exploitation.
Something about the unmarked grave, and Ramirez' remarks struck a cold chord in me, and I quickly looked through the paintings for one in particular -- the gardener at night.
I thought it was a depiction of a gardener because he was digging in the garden.
Digging.
(This story originally appeared on my main page. Archived here. The rest of the original story, with new images, will follow.
Original comments are below.)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Elite Fashion Model - Vicky Macnelly and 38 more people faved this
Alex Allen
9y
nice shot
Teddi Beres
9y
Alex Allen (hugs) Thank you!
cold pail (deleted)
9y
I should have left you some cake!
Teddi Beres
9y
Mmmm, cake! (giggles)
belladonna quixote
9y
I love this story! (If you ever need an extra, let me know!)
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote Thank you, and you know I will! (hugs)
Chatwick Harpax
9y
The Brandy seems to be coming in quite handy? Maybe you need to investigate that angle a little bit more In-depth ;)
Teddi Beres
9y
Chatwick Harpax (giggles) SOMEbody has to stay sober! We're in danger!
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Candy Rinq [mabelcnls Resident] and 28 more people faved this
belladonna quixote
9y
Ted, pick his pocket while he's passed out. lol
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote There is NO way I'm sticking my hand into his pocket. That's EXACTLY his plan. (giggles)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Candy Rinq [mabelcnls Resident] and 29 more people faved this
belladonna quixote
9y
OMG! That's a RAT! (jumps on a table)
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote (falls over, giggling)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, ARnnO PLAneR and 41 more people faved this
Erebus Darkfold
9y
Hey, I look super sinister! Excellent work!
belladonna quixote
9y
Dark and creepy. You guys scare me. lol
Art Dreamed Award
Art Dreamed Award ;
Teddi Beres
9y
Erebus Darkfold Just captured the inner you. (giggles) Thank you!
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote Hooray! It's working! (huggles) Thank you bunches!
Chatwick Harpax
9y
Cannot wait till the next installment, on pins n needles ;)
Teddi Beres
9y
Chatwick Harpax Yay! Thank you lots and lots! I'm so glad you're enjoying it and...the wait is over! (There's a new Bluff image up.) hugs you
Precious Note (deleted)
9y
This is my favourite so far!! I love the concept and composition!
Teddi Beres
9y
Precious Note That's super terrific to hear! I was trying to create a sense of depth, along with the darkness and I'm all bouncy-happy that you like it! (hugs)
Digging for?
19:15
I've been thinking -- the first aid kit I found in the kitchen, it's new. Brand new, and very well-stocked. It has the construction company logo on it, so I guess that's who provided it -- in case a worker was injured. Which makes sense, but...
It just seems...damn convenient. I can't tell if I'm being unreasonably paranoid. I like to keep my paranoia reasonable. I want to go up to the third floor for the best chance at cell reception, but I don't want to leave Ramirez alone.
I wish I knew whether to feel sorry for him, and protective, or smug and self-righteous about what happened to him.
If he's NOT involved, and he WAS actually attacked -- I guess I can feel extra crappy, later, if it turns out he has nothing to do with any of this.
I'm making us something to eat. At least the wood burning appliances haven't yet been replaced by electric ones or we'd be down to breakfast bars and trail mix.
20:03
Soup, crackers, and coffee have warmed and relaxed us. Ramirez is using the brandy for a painkiller, but I'm going to steer clear and stay clear. Someone might try to get in here and I need to be ready.
20:45
Ramirez isn't feeling much pain, now. He's starting to consider the cool factor of the eventual scar. He's pretty darn cute when he's helpless and tipsy.
I need to focus.
When he's like this, I feel guilty for thinking he might be involved in this scam -- IF it is a scam. That's not to say I believe the house and estate are haunted, but there could be odd... things going on, mixed in with the direct, human involvement. I don't dismiss "odd" out-of-hand.
I'd like for Ramirez to not be involved in this, obviously, but I can't believe blindly. He's asked me to read aloud to him from some of the journals. He says working on that will take his mind off the pain and help to pass the time. I pointed out that he probably didn't feel any pain already, but that I could use the distraction too.
21:48
We've been going through all of the diaries, journals, and notes; jotting down points of interest and dates, or guesses at dates, putting together a timeline of events. There are inconsistencies, glaring ones.
The stillborn baby seems to be the focal point, things are relatively normal until that event. Well, American Gothic normal, I suppose.
There's talk of rats, a lot of talk, and some property disputes with locals, but it was after the baby's death that things got "out of control odd." Supposedly, the wife was sent abroad to recover after the stillbirth, but the maid writes about her downward spiral in health and spirits like she never left, and also remarks on the husband's health deteriorating. He apparently became obsessed with the spirit world of the Native Americans in the area, the same ones with whom he was having the property disputes.
The husband's new spiritual interest is apparently what brings the Native American man in the painting, to the estate.
Oddly, though the husband's journals indicate he sent his wife away almost immediately after the death of their child, the maid's diaries suggest that some time passes -- maybe as much as a year. Ramirez has begun adding the Latin translations to our timeline. These journals were kept by the family friend, the doctor, and he had another opinion about things.
He insists the infant's death was unpreventable and even "a blessing." He says the child was "imperfectly made" and that those imperfections caused the infant's death. He must have meant some kind of terrible birth defects.
Ramirez isn't sure if the doctor's delicate description of the infant's condition was a product of the era, or an effort to spare the husband and wife's sensibilities, in the event they were ever to lay eyes upon his notes.
Whatever the case, he didn't allow either of them to view the body, and there's a suggestion that the coffin that was buried was empty, that the baby was buried in an unmarked grave to prevent anyone from seeing its condition.
Ramirez said that might have been done, not only to protect the emotions of the family, but to keep "freak collectors" from stealing and preserving the body to peddle for sideshow exploitation.
Something about the unmarked grave, and Ramirez' remarks struck a cold chord in me, and I quickly looked through the paintings for one in particular -- the gardener at night.
I thought it was a depiction of a gardener because he was digging in the garden.
Digging.
(This story originally appeared on my main page. Archived here. The rest of the original story, with new images, will follow.
Original comments are below.)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Elite Fashion Model - Vicky Macnelly and 38 more people faved this
Alex Allen
9y
nice shot
Teddi Beres
9y
Alex Allen (hugs) Thank you!
cold pail (deleted)
9y
I should have left you some cake!
Teddi Beres
9y
Mmmm, cake! (giggles)
belladonna quixote
9y
I love this story! (If you ever need an extra, let me know!)
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote Thank you, and you know I will! (hugs)
Chatwick Harpax
9y
The Brandy seems to be coming in quite handy? Maybe you need to investigate that angle a little bit more In-depth ;)
Teddi Beres
9y
Chatwick Harpax (giggles) SOMEbody has to stay sober! We're in danger!
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Candy Rinq [mabelcnls Resident] and 28 more people faved this
belladonna quixote
9y
Ted, pick his pocket while he's passed out. lol
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote There is NO way I'm sticking my hand into his pocket. That's EXACTLY his plan. (giggles)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, Candy Rinq [mabelcnls Resident] and 29 more people faved this
belladonna quixote
9y
OMG! That's a RAT! (jumps on a table)
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote (falls over, giggling)
-:|:- Brit π Applewhyte -:|:-, ARnnO PLAneR and 41 more people faved this
Erebus Darkfold
9y
Hey, I look super sinister! Excellent work!
belladonna quixote
9y
Dark and creepy. You guys scare me. lol
Art Dreamed Award
Art Dreamed Award ;
Teddi Beres
9y
Erebus Darkfold Just captured the inner you. (giggles) Thank you!
Teddi Beres
9y
belladonna quixote Hooray! It's working! (huggles) Thank you bunches!
Chatwick Harpax
9y
Cannot wait till the next installment, on pins n needles ;)
Teddi Beres
9y
Chatwick Harpax Yay! Thank you lots and lots! I'm so glad you're enjoying it and...the wait is over! (There's a new Bluff image up.) hugs you
Precious Note (deleted)
9y
This is my favourite so far!! I love the concept and composition!
Teddi Beres
9y
Precious Note That's super terrific to hear! I was trying to create a sense of depth, along with the darkness and I'm all bouncy-happy that you like it! (hugs)