Choices

Eva and Percy at Thetis Lake, B.C.
May 2016

Situations of many sorts arrive 

every day whether asked for or not. 

There could be a plan for doing 

exciting things like washing the floor 

or putting away everything from 

the party the evening before. 

But then a kitten, or maybe a puppy, 

does some cuteness to distract your 

attention from anything other than play. Chasing the laser beam that 

never gets caught, or bringing the leash to you from where it hangs at the door. 

‘Let’s go for a walk!!’ So which would be 

more fun? Washing the floor or playing 

with the kitten ~ or maybe it’s a puppy. 

At night, the floor is still waiting for your 

attention. Deflated balloons and cake crumbs 

are just as patient ~ they have nowhere to go

But you’re wearing a smile when you say hello to your pillow.

“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”

~ Michael Jordan

Epilogue - A New Year Fond Farewell - Situationally Theirs

Open hearted and sad, the residents of The Beaufort Estate were gathered together for a meeting. It had become evident that it was time to say good bye to the Storyteller. Martha Haverstock-Digby and her husband James Digby had talked quietly over the Christmas holidays about their futures. On Christmas Eve, they had Samuel Forrester and Elizabeth Saunders to their cottage for supper. The four of them had been working at the Estate for well over 20 years. James and Samuel had actually been raised on the Estate. James Digby took over butler duties when his father retired. Samuel Forrester took over the groundskeeping when his father retired. Martha, the housekeeper and Elizabeth, better known as Cook, came to the Estate at the same time. They had all seen marriages, deaths, children and even a little ghost girl. So on Christmas Eve they agreed that a meeting was needed for them all on the Estate. The pandemic was long over, even if the Covid virus was still hovering about. They were all getting on with their lives, their individual stories quiet but moving forward. 

Included at the meeting was the chauffeur, Giles Thornton and his family; Martha’s daughter and a teacher, Joanie Richardson and her children, Ben and Abby; Brigitte Smithson had been a maid and personal assistant to Emelina. All of this little community had been affected in some way by the pandemic. But as they always had, they rallied around each other.

After the meeting, Digby drew up a letter to the Storyteller, explaining their decision. He had to go to his office and close the door to get his thoughts in order. While he was composing the letter, Cook served tea and coffee, and fresh baking to the tearful group. Martha kept trying to find ways that they could send in their stories as they had the previous Christmas. Samuel was just quiet. Martha’s grandchildren were off in a corner with Gile’s sons not knowing why they had to be there anyway. Joanie sat by her mother and comforted her. 

Digby returned to the long table in the big old kitchen. He read out the letter in a strained voice, clearing his throat several times. “We are all very sad about our decision to end our relationship with the Storyteller. However, each of us has to get on with our lives whether it is retirement, paying attention to our growing children, focusing more on our jobs here, or taking holidays away from the Estate.” He paused. “This may sound ungrateful, but over these last couple of years, making sure our stories are told has become an interruption in our lives. During the pandemic, it was important to tell our stories and how we dealt with coming back together again. We have all become closer because of it and grateful to all those people who have read our stories.” Dez stood and turned to her sister, “I would never have known any of you if that nasty virus hadn’t upended my life.” She wiped her eyes and sat again. Emelina hugged her and said “If I hadn’t been left alone that night, when the radio told us all to isolate, I wouldn’t have had to get out of bed and out of myself to go find you, Dez.” She looked around the table. “You all saved my life by leaving me to myself that night. You are so like a family to me.” Samuel, his face stern, was quiet. He never had liked all this kind of gushy talk. Elizabeth, her back to the group filling the tea pot, wiped a tear from her eye before returning to the table. “Enough going on and on. We will still come to work tomorrow and get ready for the next wedding, right Miss Dez?” 

Tension dissolved as the women started talking about wedding plans. Digby, Samuel and Giles started talking about what the winter would bring. “No snow forecast, Giles? How was the highway in all the rain? Ground’s pretty mushy out here.” 

Sarah, the little ghost girl, had been at the meeting, sitting atop the cupboards. She had rather liked her story being told. She often felt lonely, but now that so many of these people were kind to her, she wasn’t worried. And she loved it when Cook made cookies, even if she couldn’t eat them or smell them. She remembered them. She sighed and floated across the ceiling and up the stairs to hide in the book shelf.

~~~~~

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Chapter Two, Episode 165 - Christmas Sleepovers - Situationally Theirs

The sad look on Rusty’s face made her feel almost guilty. But Annabelle knew that he would be going to Ben’s for a Christmas sleep over. He was just trying to find out where she was going. He’d find out pretty soon. Her dad called from the front door. “Come on, you two. I’ve got the car out. Have you both got your overnight back packs? Annabelle, Abby’s grandma is expecting you girls for supper.” Rusty’s face went from sad to confused!

“Coming dad!” She grinned at Rusty. “Abby and I are going to her grandma’s. So. There.” Rusty bent over laughing. “I knew that. Dad told me. He’s picking up Ben when he picks up Abby. Fooled you!!” Now it was Annabelle’s turn to have a sad look on her face. “Well, we’ll have more fun. And tomorrow morning Abby’s Auntie Cook will let us decorate her Christmas cookies.”

Abby was younger than Annabelle, but they had become good friends at school. Abby talked about bees and Annabelle talked about baking. Baking and bees led them to Auntie Cook on a cookie baking day. Elizabeth set the girls to work rolling out the dough and making bee shaped cookies. After that they were BFFs. 

Ben and Rusty were not in the same class at school, Ben a couple years older than Rusty. Rusty thought Ben was stuck up. Ben thought Rusty was, well, just weird. One day, Ben saw Rusty being bullied by two of the bigger guys in their class and backed him up. Ben had had his own problem with bullies and hated to see it happen to anyone else. By himself, Rusty was an easy target. With Ben having his back, the two bullies decided that they’d just wind up with bloody noses and took off. The two boys were friends after that. Not BFFs right away, but over a school year, they found they liked the same classes, Rusty played guitar, so did Ben and they both liked hamburgers. To an adult that wouldn't seem like a good basis for a friendship, but for young boys, it was enough.

~~~~~

Two nights. “When was the last time you and I had the house to ourselves for two nights in a row Madge?” The couple had slept all one night, slept in the next morning, spent the afternoon lazing in their pyjamas, went out dining and dancing the next night. “I thought that we wouldn’t know how to romance anymore, Grant. It was beautiful. Thank you.” Grant had surprised Madge with the dining and dancing in a restaurant usually out of their reach. Her only clue was that he insisted that they dress up. Their weekend over, Grant had picked up the kids and brought them home.

“Don’t talk over each other. Annabelle, you go first. What was the most fun with Abby?……..and make it short.” Grant always had to slow his daughter down. She tried to get every detail in all in one breath. “When I got there, her grandma had supper all ready, but needed the Christmas decorations on the table, so Abby and I got out the Christmas candles and the Christmas napkins, after supper, we got our pyjamas on, we watched Elf.” She took a deep breath. “We opened the presents that her Grandpa James had bought, we each got an Elf on the Shelf. Abby’s is dressed in green and mine is dressed in red, the next day we went over to the big kitchen at the Estate, it’s gorgeous and huge, Abby’s Auntie Cook had the cookies and icing and sparkles out…….”

Grant held up his hand. His daughter could tell them more later.  He had doubted that she could put the brakes on. “So you had a good time! Wonderful, honey. Let’s let Rusty talk now.” He hoped he sounded more patient than he felt. “Go ahead, Rusty.” Silence. “Not much to tell, Dad. We had a good time. Ben has all kinds of video games. His mom had hamburgers for us to eat. We didn’t have to go to bed until midnight both nights. We talked about the football game our school team is playing next week. Mainly, just guy talk.” 

~~~~~

“What a great way to start the Christmas season, Grant.” Their twins had been sleeping for a couple of hours. Grant and Madge were settling into bed. “Yes, my darling, it was, and we need to find a way to have our own weekends more often.”

“For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and 

in every child there lies the adult that will be.”

~ John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things

*Authors Note: Chapter One and Chapter Two of Situationally Theirs have 165 episodes each. Tonight’s post is the final episode of Chapter Two. I am suspending this story for the month of December while I determine whether to proceed with future Chapters. Thank you to everyone who has been following the characters of the Beaufort Estate.

Chapter Two, Episode 164 - More than Just Friends - Situationally Theirs

Samuel and Elizabeth had been out to a movie. There was an old movie house in a neighbouring village that played the classics each weekend. Complete with hand cranked buttered popcorn, worn velvet seats and cartoon shorts. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall had entertained them. When the lights went down and the reels started, they felt like teenagers again. As the credits rolled, they pointed out their favourite actors ~ not just the stars, but the bit players. When the lights came up and it was time to go, real life began again. With a difference. Their hearts were lighter. These evenings together and away from the Estate were their own. They had no kitchen, no garden, just the two of them enjoying each other’s company. 

As they drove home they took the scenic ocean route. The night hid the foliage and flowers, but the stars were bright. If it was a moonlit night, its bright light traced a path across the water. They would park at an overlook to the water. On a clear night, they walked hand in hand on a familiar path. Listened to distant foghorns. Pointed out the Big Dipper, Orion, the North Star. 

On this night, they were in the park when the snow started. Big, soft flakes that disappeared in the black water, clung to the fencing, brightened the night. Elizabeth shivered. “Time to get home and get warm, Samuel. Tea and coffee cake?” 

“Suppose we should. Don’t want to be on these roads if this snow keeps up. Sure is pretty though.” He opened her door for her, brushed the snow off the windshield and climbed in for the drive back to the Estate. “It’ll be gone by morning, don’t you think? It’s not cold enough to stay much into the morning.”

~~~~~

“Hasn’t been much to talk about tonight, Elizabeth. With the two couples off traipsing around the country and Martha and James keeping to themselves, the old place is pretty quiet.”

“I like it quiet. May be strange but, when I hear the news, and all the troubles in the world, quiet is just like I like it. I guess I’m not much of a talker. There was time when all I could do was talk and argue. Have opinions about the state of the world, life in general, whether I was being treated right. Guess that wisdom we heard so much about when we were young, has slowed that talking down.”

Samuel laughed. “You just might have something there, Elizabeth. All the talking that does carry on is just a bunch of going around in circles. The same circles folks have been going around for as long as there’s been life.” He cut himself another big cut of coffee cake, held it up where he could take a good look at it. “But for where I’m sittin’, this cake and the woman that made it, are all I need. There’s just no fight in me anymore. Does that sound like I’ve given up on things?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks felt warm when she heard Samuel’s sideways speech about his feelings for her. She knew some women would be offended, but she had known him for a long time. He did tell a good story, but feelings?

“That’s why I like going to the movies, or read a book. Listen to stories. That makes the troubles of that world all get fixed. When the story’s been told, it’s done. I can think of all the different ways that a story could be told, could end and leave it at that. I can’t fix what’s going on in the rest of the world, but I can take care of where I am.” She knew she was no better at talking about feelings than Samuel was, but had paid attention to the things that he liked. Those things she did take care of.

“Snow followed us here, Elizabeth.” Samuel had gotten up to get his coat on and looked out the window. Heavy wet snow was falling. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, two of their favourites, came to their minds at the same time singing “Baby it’s cold outside.”

“Get your coat off, Samuel. No point in you going out in that. You can go in the morning.”

“Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, 

continue firm and constant.”

~ Socrates

Chapter Two, Episode 163 - Family Circle - Situationally Theirs

“Grandma, mom is worried about me and I don’t think she needs to be.” Her little face set, her usual sunny smile missing, Martha set down her tea. She patted the seat beside her. “Now, now, Abby, mother’s do worry about their children. I still worry about your mother from time to time. Tell me about this worry.” Abby sat by her grandmother, stared at the table then looked up at Martha. “She thinks I’m not eating enough.” Martha glanced at Elizabeth. “Well, why would she think that? Everyone has a poor appetite once in a while.”

“I’m watching my weight, grandma. I want to be like the girls at school. My appetite is ok, except sometimes I get really hungry. But I always eat something at each meal.” Elizabeth stepped in. “So that’s why I’ve missed you after school. You always come in for cookies and chocolate milk until the last week or so.” 

For the remainder of the afternoon, they talked. The three of them, Abby’s grandma, her Auntie Cook and Abby, decided that Abby would see their doctor before she followed any diet. Martha hoped that would be enough, but decided to look up counselors in Hartley for her granddaughter.

~~~~~

“We may have caught a problem in time, Joanie. Abby’s been here this afternoon.” She told her daughter the plans they had set up. Joanie sounded relieved but still worried. She had seen in her students, girls and one or two boys, that succumbed to eating disorders and did not want that to happen to her daughter. “You and the children come to the cottage for supper on Sunday. I’m doing a pot roast that will be too much for just James and I.”  

“Thank you mom! For your talk with Abby and for the invitation. We’ll be there ~ as a matter of fact why don’t we come early. I’ll bring a salad.” Plans set in motion, hopefully life would settle into a comfortable routine again.

“There is no school equal to decent home and 

no teachers equal to honest virtuous parents.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Chapter Two, Episode 162 - Ben and Abby - Situationally Theirs

“I don’t have any ideas, mom!” Ben Richardson, Martha’s grandson was poring over the brochures he brought home from the Junior Career Day. “This is dumb. Everyone’s always asking me what I’m going to do when I get out of high school and I don’t start high school til next year, anyway. Then it’s four years. Why do I need to figure this out now?” He pushed then all aside, scraped his chair back from the table. “Is supper ready yet? I’m hungry. Where’s Abby?” 

His mom, Joanie Richardson, at the stove, just smiled. “I didn’t set it up, honey. They have that every year at the school and I suppose it’s just to give all of you some things to think about. No one is telling you to make any decisions now. Just put the brochures away in your desk and if you want to contact any of them you’ll have their phone numbers.”

“I guess I could look them up if they’ve got websites. Like police or the ambulance people.” Joanie grimaced. She was hoping he’d do something safer, but wouldn’t start giving him her own doubts. “Or maybe I’ll be a gardener or a butler. Then I wouldn’t have to leave home ~ I could stay here with you!!”

Laughing out loud, she said “Ben, you would have to leave home and you’d also have to apply for a job here. Just because your grandmother is the housekeeper and does all the hiring doesn’t mean you’d be a shoo in for the job. And Digby would have to approve your application as well.”

With a moan he said “I’ll set the table. Where is Abby? It’s her night to set the table. Now she’ll have to wash all the dishes. Why would I have to leave home?”

“Didn’t you know that Samuel has his degree in Agriculture and Digby went away for schooling as well. I don’t know where he went, but right now he’s away at a conference for his profession.”

“Well, I don’t really like school and it’s getting harder. More homework. I never like getting all dirty like Samuel and if I had to go to school that would be really weird.”

Hearing the front door, Ben called out to his sister. “Is that you Abby? You have to wash dishes tonight because I set the table. You weren’t here to do your job.”

“Ben, the older you get the bossier you get. You used to be a really good brother, but you must have bonked your head on something. I don’t care if I do the dishes tonight. You don’t do a good job of it anyway.” She hung her coat up and put her books on the front hall table. “Mom how can you stand him!”

Joanie just smiled at her unruly children. “You two stop bickering. Supper's ready. Abby, wash your hands before you come to the table. How was your piano lesson?  Are you still liking piano? If you and Ben can ever get along you’ll be able to play together. Piano and guitar are beautiful together.”

“I don’t know, mom. If he doesn’t stop being mean to me I don’t know if I want to even talk to him.” She sat down and helped herself to the salad. 

“Is that all you’re going to eat, Abby dear?” Her mother was worried about her daughter. She never seemed to want to eat anything but salads. “Oh all right, mom.” She took a teaspoon of potatoes, a small piece meatloaf. But pushed them aside. Ben, on the other hand, made up for his sister. He loaded his plate with potatoes and meatloaf, and one leaf of lettuce, poured gravy over it all and dug in. “Yes, mom I do like piano. Mr. Reynolds lets me stay after school so Mrs. Olsen can give me my lessons on his gorgeous piano. Do you think we can get a piano here?”

“I don’t know honey. But until we do, you may be able to practice on Miss Emelina’s piano. But only if your grandma is there and Miss Emelina says it’s ok.”

The rest of their meal was silent. Joanie was always amazed when the bickering slowed down when their stomachs were full. Dessert, a staple in the Richardson’s household, was one of Cook’s apple pies. Abby’s diet of raw foods didn’t extend to her Auntie Cook’s pies. “Just a sliver, please mom. I’ll do more exercise tomorrow.” Joanie couldn’t help herself. “Abby you’re only 9 years old! Please be careful with what you’re doing.” 

“I will, mom. I am. I just don’t want to get fat. The girls at school, at least some to them, are always worried about getting ugly.”

Ben had heard enough. He scraped up the last of his pie, put his dishes in the sink and disappeared to his room. “Homework.” 

“Abby, listen to everyone. Not just the popular girls. That’s it, isn’t it? The popular girls aren’t really all that popular to everyone. What I do want you to do is find out what your own body needs to be healthy.” Joanie remembered when Abby had been working with Miss Dez in the summer in the orchard and with the bees. “Remember this summer? The apple trees need certain nutrition, the bees need a different kind of nutrition. We’re no different. You like to study. Study the human body, especially for children. Then make your own decision about what your body needs.”

Abby didn’t look convinced of anything other than the worried look on her mother’s face. “Ok, mom, but until I find out differently, I’ll keep being careful what I eat.” She hugged her mother. “I’m all right, mom.” She cleared the table, washed and put away the supper things. The conversation was over. For that night.

“The good news is that your child has a natural desire to do well. 

Our job as parent is to bring out this quality and cherish it 

until the day your kids leave home, and then some.”

~ Marlene Targ Brill, author

Chapter Two, Episode 161 - Making Up - Situationally Theirs

“Em, I’m so sorry.” Jeremy and Emelina had gone out to supper in Hartley. It was their favourite restaurant. “Their” corner was dark and quiet. Whenever they had needed time together and away from their worlds, they went there. It was a habit developed some time before they were married. They hadn’t planned it, but it was neutral ground for hashing out sensitive questions. Like the most recent. Jeremy’s unsavoury behaviour over Emelina’s plans. Emelina’s walking out on him and letting him stew. They both knew how things could have been done differently, but had only talked to others, never to each other. A good thing. Emelina talking to Dez and Jeremy to Matt, had been a start for each of them. They greeted each other like they were on a first tentative date. Jeremy took her coat and gave it to the coat check attendant. They followed the maitré de in silence. Seated in their private corner, they looked intently at their menus. Jeremy closed his and reached for Em’s hand. “Em, I’m so sorry. This has all been my fault. I didn’t want to hear you out. I wanted you to give me all your attention. If you were to get more involved with the workings of the farming part of the Estate, you wouldn’t have time for me. My time away from work is so limited and I am so tired.” He stopped for a breath. Emelina had put her menu down, letting him talk. “Thank you, Jeremy.” She didn’t know what else to say. The waiter arrived to take their orders. She sensed the same tension that she saw at many tables, especially these private corners. “Do you need a few more minutes?” Looking up at her, Emelina smiled. “Yes, thank you.” Alone again, eyes twinkling, face serious she said “You should be sorry.” Then she laughed. “I just can’t stay mad at you. There’s no point Jeremy. I love you, just don’t be that mean ever again ~ you know how fragile I am.” They both laughed, the tension dissolved. They held hands and locked eyes. “You hungry, Em?” 

“Yes, I haven’t eaten for hours.”

“Let’s order so we can get home.”

~~~~~

“Elizabeth, come to the cottage for supper tonight. You’re always feeding everyone else, I’d like to feed you for once. James has been out of town at a business conference for the Association he belongs to. It’s pretty quiet over there and I’d like your company for supper.” Cook wasn’t surprised. Martha had been distracted all day, missing James. She couldn’t have her daughter and grandchildren over; some school function had them occupied. “Sounds good, Martha, dear. I won’t have to cook, or wash dishes. We can gossip to our hearts content. Miss Em and Dr. Jeremy seeing each other again; Miss Dez and Mr. Matt off on some road trip; who knows what else we’ll get up to.” 

“Well, we could play cards. We haven’t done that for a long time. There was a time when the two of us would get all dressed up and go out on the town.”  

“You go ahead and get supper started. Let me tidy up here and I’ll be right over. I’m bringing dessert. I made peach pies today and one of them seems to be just for us.” Elizabeth texted Samuel. “Going to Elizabeth’s for supper tonight so won’t be home for the evening. Come for breakfast in the morning.” She finished tidying the kitchen and, as was her habit, set out what she would need for the morning. She glanced up the stairs. Miss Em seldom informed her about comings or goings, but she didn’t expect her home tonight, so she made sure all the doors were locked and the lights out. 

“They spoke of small things at first, since it was best, 

when reattaching threads, to begin with the easiest knots.”

~ Chris Cleave, Everyone Brave is Forgiven

Chapter Two, Episode 160 - Matt and Dez - IDEAS November Theme - Situationally Theirs

“I didn’t have any idea what your doctor friend wanted me to say.” 

Determined to distance himself from her sister and doctor husband, Matt hoped that he hadn’t made Dez angry.

Eager for them to have a nice day, Dez didn’t mention that Matt really did know Jeremy’s name - he was more than her 'doctor friend'.

Amazed that he was so uncomfortable, she changed the subject.

Sorting through holiday brochures, she handed him one. “What do you think about this cruise, Matt?” She had no opinion about the River Cruise, but wanted to distract him. He took it from her, opening out on the table. “Looks alright, but don’t you want to go to the Caribbean?” 

“Right now, I just want to get off the Island. I miss the wandering I did in my younger years. It feels like I’ve been boxed in too long. I know the pandemic's been over since May, but I still feel trapped.”

“I know what you mean, Dez. Just feels tight. Why don’t we skip the cruises and drive south. We could get down to Mexico, hit a small town, just relax for a couple of weeks. We don’t even have to get that far, we could just drive. What do you think?”

Dez grinned. “That’s more like it! When I picked up these brochures, I wasn’t sure it was something you’d like to do. But I didn’t think of asking you first. A cruise would just keep me boxed in. But, just driving. I like that, Matt.” She twisted the engagement ring on her left hand. Decided to keep quiet about what she was thinking. 

~~~~~

Matt Hamilton had never been one for vacations, or holiday. The life of an orchardist could lend itself to time off, but he and his previous wife never agreed on when or where. His boys always wanted to go to someplace expensive or too far away. He sometimes took them fishing; as they reached their teens, they took up skiing at Whistler. He’d take them and their friends up, and then enjoy the lodge. “Come on, dad. Just try skiing - take a lesson.” They begged and pleaded with him but finally shouldered their skis and trudged off to the slopes. He couldn’t tell them he’d had a serious skiing accident as a young man that had sworn him off of that sport. He worried about this sons.

Meeting Dez had been a surprise. He had sworn off of women after his marriage went so wrong. His wife and sons lived on the mainland now. He’d get then over to the island once a year, but hadn’t seen them in almost 4 years because of the pandemic. He didn’t talk about it with Dez, but she had seen their pictures on the walls of his living room. Their jackets hanging in the closet, ball caps on on the shelf above. Other paraphernalia of teenage boys in odd places around the house; old gym shoes, hoodies, an old baseball mitt. He wondered how they’d all get along. They’d be coming to the island for Christmas. Their mom was going off on a cruise with her partner. She’d called him and said they’d be there for Christmas. Didn’t ask if he would be busy or on the moon, just said “I’m sending the boys to you at Christmas. I’ll send you their itinerary when I get it set up.” Dez was so different from her. But he wouldn’t walk on eggshells with her like he had with his ex. He also knew that Dez wouldn’t put up with it and that he wouldn't have to. She had agreed to marry him, but wasn’t pushing for a date. This vacation might be the right time for it. He’d think on it and maybe talk with her about it. 

“We spend so much time bantering about the words when 

the real open conversations might very well be our actions.”

~ Anna Deavere Smith, 

American actress, playwright and professor