Chapter One, Episode 68 - We All Have 'em - Situationally Theirs

Review, Edit and Update:

Although there were no typos, again there was need for more detail and some changed sentence structure. 

The most interesting addition was an Author's note. At the end of this episode I had written that 'Situationally Theirs would soon be coming to an end.' I was so wrong! This evening's post will be Episode 111, with no end in sight. It seems that as long as these characters are alive, they will have a story to tell.

We All Have 'em

As the sun approached high noon, the morning got a little warmer. It was only the shade of the toolshed overhang and a light breeze that made the morning pleasant. Samuel had been telling stories most of that morning. Most stories have a beginning, a middle and an end, but his stories did not follow that usual structure. In fact, the structure of Samuel’s storytelling was as fluid as water flowing down a stream. He glanced up toward the sun, just as someone else would glance at their watch to keep track of the time. 

Samuel pushed his well worn straw hat back on his head.“Well, ladies, I’ve told you all I can tell you about those early days. Remember. Them’s the stories that my gran’pappy told me when I was a young’un. That there apple orchard was one thing those early Beauforts wanted. And for years and years, there was apple pie, apple jelly and apple sauce, apple puddin’ and apple pancakes. Sometime along the way some of the Beauforts got tired of lookin’ after them trees. Mostly they survived, but just don’t set fruit like they used to.”

Emelina was becoming fond of the orchard. Samuel's colourful history lesson showed her that it was so much more than just a stand of fruit trees. It was a living part of the Estate's history. After a silent pause Emmie said “Thank you, Samuel. Your story tells me that the apple orchard has been a big part of the estate since the very beginning. Do you think those two little saplings are still in with all the other trees?” 

“Oh, they’re way at the back. So if your idea is to clean it up and have good apples again, you’ll be doin’ an old man’s heart good.” One more glance up at the sun, Samuel stood up. “Time for lunch. I suppose you ladies need to be gettin’ to your lunch too. I talked your ears off this mornin' and enjoyed doin’ it.”

~~~~~

“Listening to Samuel, and looking back over the past three months, we each have our own stories. Brigitte, we’ll have to get to the University library tomorrow. We've used up the whole morning. I didn’t want to interrupt the wonderful stories he was telling. ‘Mrs. Amelia Beaufort’  - what a lovely name! - driving a team of horses pulling a covered wagon. She and her husband must have been a strong pair.” Emelina was impressed with the Beaufort’s beginnings. 

Brigitte, in her confusing new role as Emmie's secretary or companion, was amazed. After listening to Amelia Beaufort's pioneering story sh realized that her own life had been one of the convenience of her own time. “My camping trips do not even compare! Running water, refrigeration and drive into town for groceries. They had to have everything with them all the time. And try to educate their kids at the same time. We have so many conveniences and helps to keep body and soul together,” Brigitte had tried to take notes, but after a while just sketched in a phrase or two. She would write her notes out in full later on. 

Emelina’s phone rang. It was Dez. “Have you two had lunch yet?”

“No Dez, we were just about go pick something up in town. Do you want us to get you something?” 

 Emelina listened to Dez as she said “I have a better idea. I’ll go to the burger place and get us each a burger. Check with Brigitte and see what she wants - then we can meet at that same park that we went to. You know. The long skinny one with a stream? We’ll have lunch and discuss what you want to do.”

Emmie turned to Brigitte “Brigitte, Dez is going to order hamburgers for us. What do you usually order and what would you like to drink?”

Brigitte thought a moment before she said “A double patty burger with bacon and cheese.....Oh, and a coke.” 

Speaking into the phone again, Emmie said “Did you hear that Dez? And I’ll have the same: double patty burger with bacon and cheese. Brigitte wants a coke and I’ll have a Mountain Dew. We’re leaving the Estate as soon as we get in the car. Giles is driving us in, then he’s off to do errands.”

~~~~~

The three women sat at a picnic table in the little park that wound through the city. A very friendly squirrel tried to join the conversation but when no food was offered, it scampered away. None of the women had much history with the estate. Dez was only there for the entirety of their isolation. Brigitte, although she had worked at the estate for four years, knew very little about it. She knew only her employer’s closet and daily habits. Now both of those had changed as Miss Em changed. Emelina, although she had been on the Estate for many years, was just learning about this wonderful piece of land. Three strong women wanting more and willing to do the work to get it. Each woman had her own story and her own dreams. To stitch that together with what had been would be their challenge. 

“We’re all stories, in the end.”

~ Steven Moffat, Scottish television writer and producer

**Writer’s note:  Situationally Theirs may soon be coming to an end, now that pandemic restrictions in B.C. are being eased and life is getting busier. How and when this will occur is unknown. Your guess is as good as mine!

**Author's note:  I was really wrong about the my statement above. This little saga has not seemed to have an end. I am still enjoying visiting with my characters as they grow and change. I am absolutely grateful to all of my readers!