Chapter One, Episode 107 - Sarah's Relief - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
Wow! I could have added a comma here, or taken out a word there for this episode, but there didn't seem any real reason. It would only have been busy work. Little ghostly Sarah has indeed been left to her own devices!

I did provide the actual date for my **Author's note. My writing life continues and seems to have found more light and space for creativity.

Sarah's Relief

Sarah wasn’t nervous or angry. She was really quite excited - as excited as a ghost, hundreds of year old, could be. The living had come through her house since she had been born a child ages ago - the child of a pioneering family - she had loved her life. It wasn’t an easy life. Especially for her mother who had been born into high society. Much higher than this isolated, but beautiful, land her father brought them to. But her father built this home, grand by pioneer standards, for her mother. He made sure of linens and china and all the fine things her mother had known. He hung the swing on the ancient redwood, for it was ancient even when their little family began their journey. Sarah would gather wildflowers and twine them into the thick cables of her swing. They were her favourite places - the great meadow with wildflowers and the swing that her father made for her.

When the child Sarah passed from the living to her ghostly form, her mother and father cried unconsolably. Sarah could not leave them. In their white-haired years, only one year apart, her mother and father became stars in the sky when it was their time. But Sarah stayed with her home, with the wildflowers and with her swing. As each Beaufort family was born, lived and died the wildflowers were cultivated away, replaced by her father’s apple orchard that lived on as Sarah did. 

All of them were all going away, except for the woman they called Cook. Sarah breathed a soft ghostly sigh of relief. She would have her home and her swing to herself if only for a short time.

Sarah had been listening.

“We’re all ghosts. We all carry, inside us, people who came before us.”

~ Liam Callanan, The Cloud Atlas

**Authors note from July 09, 2020: beginning Friday, July 10, 2020 and for the next several days, my blog posts will be quite short and/or sporadic. I am making an exciting life change that requires my close attention and energy. My ability to write and post my blog will be temporarily impacted. Please bear with me.

Chapter One, Episode 106 - Places to Go - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

Revision - or should it be remodeling - I've increased the wording in most paragraphs. Some of it was in support of dialogue. Others it was to more clearly set the scene.

Written the day before my big move from B.C. to Saskatchewan, I am pleased with the first draft and surprised that there were no typo's.

Places to Go

They all had places to go. At the kitchen table one evening and after the regular staff meeting, they were all having a ‘family’ meal. Dez and Emmie, Digby, Martha, Brigitte and even Giles were helping themselves from dishes with warm potato salad, thick slices of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and gravy with fresh green beans. Samuel had brought the beans and potatoes in from the garden well before supper. Never comfortable around more than two or three, he seldom came to any of staff meetings. It wasn’t unusual for him to be missing from this meal, despite the comfortable atmosphere. Cook would be saving him, not only roast beef for his sandwich, but a generous slice of apple pie. In fact, dessert was a delicious warm apple pie, served with sharp cheddar cheese, always the star of these dinners.

Anyone walking into the kitchen would wonder why such a big meal in the middle of the week. But this meal was part of a newly established Estate tradition, an accidental happening because of Cook's normal food preparation routine. One evening, after Digby’s monthly staff meeting, they were ready to adjourn and go home,   Cook had a surprise for them all. She always attended the meetings, but often was getting food ready for the next day. 

She could always count on at least one person to hover around her like a pesky fly. Usually it was Giles Thornton, the Estate chauffeur. He always commented on how hungry he'd become followed by a hopeful comment. “Cook - have you made us supper? I don’t have to be home tonight for supper, and I’d sure like a sample whatever it is you’re making.” He often hovered around the cooking area, ‘sampling’ whatever Cook was making. A good natured quarrel would soon occur. “You get yourself away from here, Giles Thornton. You’ll not get another crumb from me.” Giles would always pretend to look offended, wipe his fingers on the edge of Cook’s apron string and step away from the Cook’s wooden spoon. Cook thought about what Giles had said. She didn't see any reason not to just serve supper for anyone that wanted to stay. So, one month, Cook just set up a buffet a few minutes before adjournment. During the many days of pandemic restrictions and isolation, there were no Staff Meeting Suppers, leaving only silence, instead of the laughter and camaraderie that the old house had warmed to. As restrictions were eased, and staff meetings restarted, everyone was ready for the Staff Meeting Suppers to begin again. 

This particular ‘staff meeting’ had only two topics to discuss. The wedding, and what everyone else was going to do while the Butler and the Housekeeper were on their honeymoon. Martha and Digby were going to one of the Gulf Islands. Of course, they kept their actual destination private. Dez was going to a week-long workshop on The Care and Management of Fruit Trees. Brigitte had a four day orientation to the lengthy Lady’s Maid course she had signed up for earlier in the year. Afterwards, she would be spending a few more days at her parents cottage at the lake. Giles was taking his wife Melanie on a very belated honeymoon. Their children would be staying with grandparents for the five days the couple were away. No particular destination, they would start by just driving up island until they decided to stop. And Emmie?

Digby had kept quiet while everyone else was talking excitedly about their plans. He broke his silence with the question that was on everyone's mind. “So are you going to tell us what you have planned, Miss Emmie?” Hesitant to answer, Emmie sat back, calmly listening to the casual banter and jibes. She was so pleased, thinking back to the fragmented and lonely days she had spent before the pandemic. Granted this Covid19 virus had only given tragedy to too many people. For Emmie, it had brought her renewed life and Jeremy. “Well, Dr. Crawford and I have plans. That’s all I can tell you right now. He is still trying to get some time off from the hospital and won’t know for a few more days. You’ll find out, just not today. Cook, can I have another piece of that apple pie - with ice cream?”

Cook recognized a distraction when she heard one and, to help her employer out, she immediately cut a smaller slice of her rapidly disappearing pie. Serving it to Miss Emelina, with ice cream on top, Cook gave up her own plans “Well, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll probably just stay home. There won’t be you hungry folks to cook for so I’ll just be at home with my feet up for a few days.”

In unison, all of them at the table looked at Cook and said “And Samuel? Is he going away?” Cook started picking up the empty serving dishes. “Have no idea what Samuel will be doing. That’s his business.” Cook averted her eyes when she spoke of Samuel. Quite abruptly she said “Is this meeting over yet? I need to put away the leftovers. The lot of you take your plates to the sink, rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher.”

“Meeting adjourned.” All Digby needed was a gavel. 

“Planning is bringing the future into the present 

so that you can do something about it now.”

~ Alan Lakein, author

**Authors note: beginning Friday, July 10, 2020 and for the next several days, my blog posts will be quite short and/or sporadic. I am making an exciting life change that requires my close attention and energy. My ability to write and post my blog will be temporarily impacted. Please bear with me.

Chapter One - Episode 105 - Taken - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
Describing locations is an exercise that authors of writing present to beginning writers, starting with the details of wherever we are - kitchen, coffee shop, park.. wherever. This Episode has three locations: the hospital, Jeremy's home and Emmie's car. As I write this, I recognize that Emmie's car did not get much attention. A question: would more detail about her car have furthered the story? 

I did enjoy taking the elements of the many hospitals I've worked in and weaving them into Jeremy's story.

Taken

Dr. Crawford opened his mail. It had been piling up for days. The shifts at the hospital had been long. So long that he slept in the Resident Interns room, because he couldn't get home. A housekeeper tiptoed in every hour to wipe everything down. Fortunately, he was not on her checklist. 

He ate in the cafeteria, on the first floor, where everything was prepackaged in cardboard-like containers, labelled with date and contents. Housekeepers buzzed like bees around a honey pot, cleaning surfaces and not letting garbage pile up. One day, mid shift while eating a hasty lunch, one of the housekeepers slowed then stopped at his table. He hesitated and then told him to go home, or “I'll have to take you out with the recycling.”

“Do I look that bad?” The housekeeper just shrugged and walked away, shaking his head. Jeremy pulled himself up from the table. Taking the elevator to the sixth floor, he found the doctor in charge of the Covid unit, chart in hand, walking toward a patient room. Expecting to be told to just go take a nap, his colleague just glanced at him and said “Get out of here, Jeremy. I need you as a doctor not a patient.” 

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jeremy knew he could leave. There were no more Covid19 patients in the ICU. Those that were still in the hospital were recovering nicely. He didn’t need to be told third time. Jeremy left for the locker room, his colleague's last words echoing behind him. He showered thoroughly in hot soapy water before dressing in his own clothes. The only tooth brush he had, needed replacing but he swiped his teeth with it anyway. Breathing deeply of the early evening air, he sauntered to his car, which had sat untended for a week. At home, he took another thorough shower with hot soapy water. He again brushed his teeth with a proper tooth brush, scrubbing them free of hospital food. He put all his clothes in the special hamper he called his Covid Clothes, and drank two big glasses of water. He grabbed the lone apple from the refrigerator and bit into its crisp clean delicious flesh. In clean and fresh smelling pyjamas, Jeremy flopped on his bed, picked up his mail and started to flip through it. He yawned. “What’s this? A wedding invitation?” Stifling a second yawn he read it out loud James Edward Digby and Martha May Haverstock request the honour of your attendance on…………… his voice trailed off as his eyes belied his desire to read further. Jeremy was asleep, the invitation in his hand. The apple rolled on the floor. After an hour, Jeremy stirred, muttered unintelligibly and rolled over clutching for a blanket. The invitation fell between the sheets. In his sleep, Jeremy tried to cover himself from the cold, muttering something about ‘stupid housekeeper took my blanket’. All together he slept for twelve hours, only waking with the persistent ringing of his cell phone. He ignored it until it stopped ringing. He dozed. The phone rang again. He slurred aloud ‘If it’s the hospital I’m not answering.’ He lifted his cell phone and was suddenly awake - almost… “Emelina. Oh! Emelina!?” Jeremy sat up, rubbing his face with his free hand. “Hi….no you didn’t disturb me…..what is it? Anything wrong?”

“I did wake you up, didn’t I?” Although Jeremy tried to sound awake and together, Emelina heard the tiredness in his voice. She was in Hartley and hadn’t seen or heard from Jeremy since he’d been out at the Estate several weeks prior. She decided to check up on him. “Jeremy I’m coming over and I’m taking you to see Cook. Pack an overnight bag. Breakfast is at the Estate and she's expecting you.”

Jeremy looked around at the mess of his bed. He didn't have time to clean it all up and pack a bag. “I can drive out there myself, Emmie. I can be out there in an hour or so.” He knew it would take longer than that to do a proper job, but he was trying to buy himself more time. “You don’t need to bother………….” Emmie cut Jeremy off before he could finish his sentence.

“No. You are not driving out there yourself. You’ve been on your feet for at least two weeks. You’re exhausted and don’t need to be behind the wheel.” Emmie was firm and, for Emmie, almost maternal. Jeremy had been a good friend for many years. She really wanted to take care of him for Michael’s sake. Her husband, Michael, and Jeremy, met in University, and had been such good friends for many years. Now that Michael was gone, as well as Elaine, Jeremy’s wife, it was important that she take care of him. He had no other family or friends in the area. He had given his every waking minute to his patients, especially in this pandemic time. 

~~~~~

On the way out to the Estate, they talked about the upcoming wedding. It was to be quite a humble affair. To keep in line with the restrictions, only the residents and staff of the Estate would be coming and, of course, Jeremy. It was to be held outside under the spreading branches of the ancient redwood in the front yard. Emmie told Jeremy all the details of how Martha and James had ordered their wedding clothes through online shopping. Cook was to be maid of honour, Brigitte an attendant and Giles and Samuel the best man and usher. Joanie would give her mother away. Joanie’s children were all part of it too: Abby, the flower girl and Ben, the ring bearer. Emmie chattered on about all the arrangements. Jeremy tried hard to stay awake but kept dozing off. “I told you that you were too exhausted to drive, Jeremy.” Emmie glanced over at him - he was sound asleep. She whispered “The wedding is in just a few days.”

“It was hell to be so tired, and still care.”

~ Lois McMaster Bujold, Shards of Honour

**Authors note: beginning Friday, July 10, 2020 and for the next several days, my blog posts will be quite short and/or sporadic. I am making an exciting life change that requires my close attention and energy. My ability to write and post my blog will be temporarily impacted. Please bear with me.

Chapter One, Episode 104 - Listening In - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
This was a pleasant read through. When I have a question about what a character is doing, either while they are speaking or are listening, this is one of my thinking times. I take my hands off the keyboard or put my pen down to imagine the scene. In this Episode I had Brigitte, Martha, Dez and Emmie interacting in a central part of the episode. For the first three, I wanted to 'see' what they were doing. Standing like lumps while one of them spoke, or were they actively listening, focussing on something else with only half an ear to the conversation? These are some of the things I find so very interesting about story writing and word crafting. (besides fixing typos, also part of this morning's revision.)

Listening In

Dez, Emmie and Brigitte met at the Estate for morning coffee. They weren’t going out to the orchard, to the garden or even to where the bees would be housed. Instead the three women walked over to Martha Haverstock’s duplex. They didn’t want to intrude, keeping their distance, so they waited for Martha. Her work day ahead of her, she was just leaving her house as they arrived. After a cheery  “Good morning!” Martha exclaimed. “I was just about to lock up, but you got here before I left. What good timing, Miss Emelina. I’ll put you in charge of my house key. Just bring it back to me when you girls have had a chance to go through the house.” Still chatting, she said “This afternoon, James and I are meeting with Reverend Tucker again. He is such a nice man. No wonder Joey has such good manners with a father like him. So kind but very firm. His son Joey has a good man to look up to.”

Dez had been half listening, anxious to see inside Martha's home. Brigitte, sharing Dez's anxiety but familiar with the Tucker family, spoke up. “Martha, I’ve met Mrs. Tucker and I think you’d like her. She can be a bit sharp sometimes but has a heart of gold. I don’t know that she’d ever come here but you never know.”

As chatty as Martha was, she also knew how to get on with her own agenda. So, very kindly she said “Well, my dears, I must get over to the Estate house. I only have a couple of things to talk to Cook about. Seems our grocery bill has hit the roof. All these Covid restrictions have pushed the cost of groceries almost out of reach for some unfortunates with families! With all the comings and goings over the last couple of months, we're feeding more people.” Martha waggled her head, waved and sung out a happy ‘Toodle-ooo!’. Off she went with a spring in her step and humming a tune. At the last minute she stopped, turned around and called out “You let me know what you decide and I’ll tell Joanie.” Martha’s daughter Joanie lived in the other half of the duplex. She would miss having her mother next door, but wanted her mother’s happiness with James to be undisturbed. At the same time she welcomed the idea of a new neighbour. 

~~~~~

Martha was happy and humming because of her impending nuptials. Martha and James had their timing backwards. Their wedding rehearsal came first on Canada Day. Several days later, they were meeting with the Reverend. The rehearsal had been lovely. It had been in their new backyard with their closest friends, her daughter Joanie and Reverend Tucker on a beautiful warm evening, brushed gently by a soft breeze. Today, they would be having a sit down with the Reverend in the back yard of his rectory to discuss what had become known as 'grey marriage'. Martha had been certain that such a meeting was unnecessary. After all, she’d been married before and felt she knew anything that James would need to know. James, on the other hand, wanted to talk about this pending marriage with a third party present. Martha felt this was important, so she agreed to the meeting, even if it was out of step with the usual process of things. When she asked James why he didn't just talk with Giles, James, choosing his words thoughtfully said “Giles is my closest friend, but I just don't think Giles would be as objective as I'd like.” And, like Martha, he was pleased with Reverend Tucker from the moment they met. When he told her that, Martha decided then and there, that she would bring a little jar of her homemade Pineapple Marmalade for his wife.

~~~~~

Meanwhile, back at Martha’s duplex, Emmie said. “You two go ahead and look inside. I’ll just wait out here on the front step. You don’t need me in there while you decide which one of you is going to rent from Martha.” Brigitte and Dez had learned that, once Martha and Digby moved into their cottage, her half of the duplex would be empty. Although she could have left it to the rumour mill, Martha had sent out an email to staff members (except for James, of course) that her home would be up for rent. It wasn't long before she was contacted by Dez and by Brigitte. Emmie mused on the upcoming changes while the two women were in Martha's home. Waiting for them outside, for the next thirty minutes Emmie sat in the morning sun. She was tempted to open her iPhone and scroll through her pictures, but changed her mind. Putting her phone away, she stretched out her legs, and enjoyed the quiet morning. She barely listened to Dez and Brigitte calling out to each other as they went through the house. “…‘good storage’  ‘……nice windows’     ‘………appliances look new'. Emmie knew that Brigitte lived with her parents and would like the independence of her own place. Dez had her own apartment in Hartley, and was always welcome to sleep over at Emmie’s house. She knew that Dez was considering giving up her apartment in Hartley, renting from Martha so she could be closer to  her work at the orchard. So they had to go through the motions. Even so, it was pretty clear to Emmie that Brigitte would take the duplex.

Emmie was right. Brigitte would be renting the duplex. When they went back to the house, Emmie gave Martha her keys. Martha and Brigitte sat down - Martha with tea, Brigitte with coffee - to work out their rental agreement. While they were talking, Dez told Emmie “When I was in Martha’s house, thinking about my own apartment, I just decided I really didn’t want to move out here just yet. If it’s all right with you, I’ll just keep using your spare room when I need to be out here.”

“Of course, Dez!” Emmie really was quite relieved. She enjoyed having her sister with her every now and then. “I do enjoy it when you’re out here. Movies and popcorn in an evening after both of us have been working all day is just wonderful.”

~~~~~

Little ghostly Sarah, hovering at the top of the stairs, wondered at what she heard.

“A person hears only what they can understand.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Chapter One, Episode 103 - Allowances - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update:
This review has reminded me that I have to pay close attention to Martha. A fairly excitable character, her dialogue tends to jump from one person to the another without much warning. Sometimes, no warning at all. Her dialogue with Joey, regarding her wedding, was the subject of the majority of my revisions today.

Allowances

Mr. Tucker, Reverend Tucker to some in his community, had been asked to perform a wedding ceremony at the Beaufort Estate. The Covid19 virus had infected even the spiritual side of life. Reverend Tucker was asked to close his church to the general public and limit the number of services, but only temporarily. Some Sundays, there was little in the collection plate. He had to revise his spiritual teachings to fit the time. His pulpit had become the telephone and other forms of technology, even small group services over social media programs. Weddings, baptisms and funerals had to be cancelled or postponed. He didn't like to think of the morgues in the city filled with those that had passed on, awaiting their final resting place. 

His son, sixteen year old Joey Tucker, while working out at the Beaufort Estate, came upon a small piece of work for his father. It would get him out of the house and face to face with the couple wanting to marry. In a wicker rocker on his front porch, Reverend Tucker took his pipe from its pouch and tipped a little tobacco in the it’s bowl. He set it aside on the small side table, picked up his newspaper and flipped it open. After a few moments, he folded it and put it beside his pipe. “I think I’ll accept their offer. One ceremony doesn’t pay much, but Joey seems to think I should take it on. And it will do me good to get my robes on and be out in the country.” Putting his pipe in his mouth, he picked up his newspaper, flipped it open and finished reading the article on Covid19 and the religious community.

~~~~~

Joey thundered down the stairs, the upstairs all dusted, vacuumed and polished. He slowed as he heard voices in the kitchen. “Elizabeth, the pastor we had booked for our wedding, had to bow out. Too busy at the hospitals. I do understand and wish him well, but James and I may have to postpone our wedding....”.  Hearing the thumps down the stairs, Martha hesitated. Glad to see Joey, her greeting was warm and welcoming to this young man she had liked from the moment she met him. “Hello, Joey. How are you and how is everything in the upstairs? Did Sarah bother you at all today?” 

Sarah, the twelve year old resident ghost at Beaufort, had previously had a crush on Joey and had become quite an annoyance. She kept the upstairs in constant disarray in a vain attempt to keep him there longer. Joey, on the advice of his employer, enlisted Sarah’s help. After only a short time, Sarah tired of this activity. She drifted away, fading away through one of the upstairs windows. Joey had stopped telling his father about Sarah's ghostly escapades, concerned that his mother would overhear. If his mother ever got wind of Sarah’s presence, she’d stop Joey from ever going out to work for that ‘uppity woman’. His father, the Reverend Tucker, on the other hand was quite pleased. Joey came home still full of energy, after a long day at work cleaning, then gardening and a five mile ride home. He always had a smile on his face, something that had been in short supply in the last many weeks of restrictions.

“I'm just fine, Miss Martha. There's nothing I need right now upstairs. I've got everything I need. I've made up a list of things I use so if I run out of anything I can let you know. If you're not here, I'll just put a note under your door. Will that be ok?” Martha nodded towards her office door. “See that little basket on my door. I have a file in there marked 'Supplies Needed'. You can just put it in there. I check it, first thing in the morning, everyday I'm in. Now, what about Sarah?” Martha had been a bit upset about the turmoil Sarah had caused. She didn't want to lose this young man because of it. Joey grinned. “No more problems there. She didn't like having to move things around all the time unless it was her idea. Just like a girl.” Joey hesitated to go further, because he didn't want Martha and Cook to think he was an eavesdropper. But his father really needed to get some work that wasn't computer work so he pushed on.

“There is something else, though, Miss Martha.” Still pretty new at Beaufort, he was a bit nervous, but jumped right in. “My father is a pastor. I heard what you were saying when I came down the stairs.” Joey saw Martha's face light up. “I could ask him if he could do the ceremony. That’s if you would want me to.” 

“Would you? Really, Joey? It would be such short notice. Our wedding day is coming up very, very soon. We’d like to do a rehearsal on July 1st............” Excited and relieved, Martha abruptly turned to Elizabeth. “Let's set up everything up over at the cottage and plan the rehearsal supper. James has already called Giles. Did you talk to Samuel? Of course you did, Elizabeth.” Suddenly, Martha remembered that Joey was still there. “Please, ask your father if he can marry us. Should I email him or phone him?” Joey always carried a few of his father's business cards. Mostly because he was proud of him. But today, he was glad he had them. A little wrinkled and bent from the pockets of a teenage boy, but still legible. Martha was so pleased she had the young man on staff. “Thank you, thank you, Joey. You've saved a very special day!” 

~~~~~

So it was, that on the evening of July 1st, Emmie and Dez would see five people at the cottage. The person they did not recognize was none other than the Reverend Tucker, Joey's father. Two others arrived a bit later ~ Giles, the estate chauffeur and Joanie, Martha's daughter, also to be in attendance, were on their way. 

“Sometime, reaching out and taking someone’s 

hand is the beginning of a journey. 

At other times, it is allowing another to take yours”

~ Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration