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October30, 2006 - Oct 30, 2006 - Special Treat - From Violet Apted >> |
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Storytime Tapestry Newsletter The newsletter devoted to
spreading love and cultural awareness around the world. Halloween Contest Today’s announcements Happy Birthday Paula Booher from you many
friends here at Storytime Tapestry: Please send cards to:
wrappednword@yahoo.com How the contest works is that everyday I
will post a running log of all entries published to date. That means if you did not see your story
published yet, it will not show in the list. The rules for voting will be sent out
separately after the contest ends. For seasoned readers, you know how this
works already because we use the same system every contest. For new readers
don’t worry, you will be given the instructions in full after the contest ends. I still need more submissions as you
know all submissions were lost with the computer crash. So come on writers especially if you sent
your story in once before please send it back to me. I need them to make this contest a
success. The Halloween contest has
always been a Storytime Tapestry favourite. Let’s not make a computer crash the
reason it isn’t this year. Because of the computer crash I am
extending the deadline to submit entries, instead of closing the contest on Oct
30th, I will accept entries until Nov 5, after that I will just run
what is in the queue until there are no more stories or poems to publish. Remember we need writers and voters to
make this contest a success. Donations are still needed to keep Storytime
Tapestry afloat. My computer costs are
astronomical and the internet charges are due.
I am not working and any donation would be much appreciated. Thank you Clara Westerfer, moderator for
Storytime Tapestry who suggested A Storytime Tapestry Angels designation. How this works is that anyone donating $25.00
or more will become a Storytime Tapestry angel and will be permanently
mentioned in the newsletter for their contribution. Anyone donating a little as $5.00 will be
thanked personally on this site at the time of receipt. Only one Halloween Story Today because of
its length. Now onto the good stuff! Today’s Halloween Stories ~**~**~
Paula Booher Those were the thoughts that Caroline would think if a
moment of fear entered her mind.
Scrivener Hill had a long
history. For the past fifty years it had Just behind the pantry in the kitchen there was a door
that seemed 'out of place'. Caroline shined her lantern to see more
clearly and get a better view of her surroundings when she noticed the writing
just above this 'out of place entrance' to who knows where. The words, "I
Wouldn't Go In There If I Were You!" were carved just above the
doorway. As if to dare her to enter, Caroline was instantly
compelled to open this mysterious 'out of place door' and find out for herself
where it went. As her hand touched the doorknob
she felt a warmth cover her. She was not afraid at all. In fact she
was bathed in an almost overwhelming sense of something familiar. As if
she knew this place and had been there before. That was strange, she
thought, I've never been here before in my life. Why would I feel as
if I had. Once inside the light from her lantern exposed a hallway long
and narrow. Caroline was surprised at how clean it was. No dust, no
cobwebs...how could this be in an abandoned house? She continued down the narrow path until she came to a
stairway leading upward. It was pitch black. Still she was
experiencing the warmth and comfort of familiar surroundings as if this was a
friends house and she was just visiting a place she had been many times
before. Yet she had no clue where she was or more importantly, Where she
was going. Step by step she followed
the staircase upward, her heart beating with anticipation. Now she was
feeling a bit anxious as she got near the top of the stairs. Not
afraid, just curious. What could be there atop this mysterious
staircase at the end of a hallway of an 'out of place door'? "It's You!" Caroline jumped with a
start that nearly threw her backwards as she topped the last step.
Grabbing the railing and gasping for air, she managed to steady herself and
scream out, "Who are YOU?" "I'm Jack, you've come back
to me Caroline. I've been waiting a lifetime for you to come back
to me." "Come back to You!
I've never met you in my life. What do you mean come back to you?" "What do you mean you've
never met me? We spent the best years of our lives together right here in
this house. You're my wife. Caroline, stop funning around and tell
me you've missed me as much as I've missed you my love." "You're quite a character,
who ever you are, but I assure you I've never met you and I'm Certainly Not
your wife!" "You're Caroline Brinkly
correct?" Jack inquired. "Correct, named after my
grandmother whom I loved very much. She died when I was 12. I still
miss her with all my heart. People who knew her say I look just like her
but I don't think so, she was Very beautiful." Shaken, Caroline took
hold of her senses and gathered her thoughts. "Hey, don't get me off track here. Who are you
and what are you Doing in this house?" "Don't be alarmed Caroline,
I live here. I've always lived here. I told you this is my
house." "What do you mean you live
here and you've always lived here And This is Your house?" Caroline gave
Jack a puzzled look. How could he have lived here all this time while
many other people have come and Gone. This mystery was mounting more by
the minute and Caroline was determined to get to the bottom of it if it
took her all night and the next day to Do it. Jack and Caroline spent the next
few hours walking and talking. He showed her the many rooms of
the house and told her the story of their lives together. How she
and he had supposedly met the summer of 1937. Caroline immediately
interrupted Jack and told him the year was 1976 and there was no way he could
be telling her the truth because she wasn't even born yet in the year
1937. Proof positive that she Was Not his Caroline. Still she
couldn't shake this familiar feeling that she had been in this house and she
knew this man. She felt drawn to him somehow. He was Very handsome,
someone she would definately be attracted to If she would be so inclined...still
this was very odd and he could not be real and alive all of these years later
looking as if he was only in his twenties. How could this all be
happening. She was here and talking to a man named Jack who claimed she
was his wife. Too weird even for Caroline. The hours flew by as they
continued their conversation. Before she knew it the night was almost
over. Caroline suddenly remembered
that soon the others would be returning to see if she had made it through the
awful experience of staying all night in the haunted Scrivener house. She
was enjoying her time with Jack so much she didn't want it to end. "Jack, I don't know what's
happening here but I'm not the Caroline Binkly you're looking for.
It's impossible." Jack looked at her with sadness
at her disbelief and simply said, "I can prove it's you Caroline." "What do you mean?" "Come with me." "Where?" Jack asked Caroline
to follow him as he led her into a room he had not taken her to
on their tour of the great house on their tour before. She
stood in amazement for a moment at its' beauty. The furnishings were not
like the rest of this overstated house. This room was simple with
handmade quilts and old photographs. In the center was a fireplace with a
portrait directly over it. Caroline could not make out the face.
She shined her lantern upward to get a better look. "Oh My Heavens it Can't
Be!", Caroline grabbed her chest as she felt the room start to spin. "I told you", Jack said as
Caroline steadied herself and she made it to the nearby chair next to
the place she had been standing. "I told you I could prove you were
my Caroline. Is that not a perfect portrait of you?" Caroline adjusted herself in the
seat and gathered her thoughts, trying not to show this stranger her shock and
keep her composure. The painting hanging a few feet from her was like
looking in a mirror. The same eyes, nose, and long neck. She'd know
that jawline and those lips anywhere. She'd been complaining about them
since she hit puberty. Caroline always desired full round lips like
her mother but was destined to have small thin ones with a
narrow chin and long neck. She always felt like a goose with a
pointy beak. The portrait hanging before her had a radiant beauty
though. The artist had done a wonderful job of painting the woman’s
features so delicately, making her appear dainty and soft. Caroline had
to admit she had never seen herself that way. The woman was amazing in
the portrait but it couldn't be her, not Caroline. This was all too
confusing. "Jack, this isn't me. It
couldn't be, I'm only 18 years old and this portrait is well over 50 years
old of someone who is at least 20 or older." Jack interrupted her, "But
Caroline I felt it the moment you arrived. My heart leapt, my whole body
grew warm. I knew in an instant that my Caroline had finally come home to
me after all these years of being away." "Jack stop, I don't
understand it either. I felt the same warmth and comfort the moment I
entered here. I wasn't afraid. For years this house has been
reported to be haunted and people have been very afraid to come here, saying
that there is a ghost that lives here that frightens anyone who even thinks of
trying to live here. People have come and gone without speaking of the
goings on. It's been a big mystery for at least the past 50 or
60 years of what happened to make them so afraid. No one seems to
know. No one will talk about it." Jack had a somber look and
turned away. He didn't seem to want to talk about it either.
Caroline reached for his hand but was surprised when she couldn't feel
anything. She could see it, it was there, but when she reached for it
there was nothing to touch. Now she was beginning to feel a bit anxious
and almost frightened. These were new feelings to 'Caroline the
Brave'. Nothing in her memory had ever frightened her before. Could
it be that this person sitting in front of her was a real live ghost?
This handsome young man that she had been talking to and walking with for hours
was not real at all but a non-person...a spirit, A Ghost!? Jack started to cry.
Caroline didn't want to upset him further by letting him see her fear in any
way so she decided to just start asking questions. "Jack, just tell me from
the beginning what happened to make you so unhappy. Why are you here
alone in this house waiting for Your Caroline?" As if a light came on, Jack
instantly began just talking about a night long ago. He told Caroline
that he and his sweet 'jewel of a bride' had had a lovely dinner and
they were getting ready to retire for the evening when there was a knock
at the door. He explained to her that they had been married
for five years and had two sons. Their boys were fast asleep
upstairs and it was their nightly ritual to have a late supper alone after the
boys went to sleep. He always referred to her as his 'jewel of a bride'
because he loved her so much and told her so daily. This particular night when there
was a knock at the door he asked His Caroline to go ahead and go upstairs alone
and he would attend to whomever was at the door and he'd be along
shortly. He watched as she ascended the stairs and he went to the
door. No one was there. That was the last time he saw his precious
Caroline. Jack broke into tears and
explained how he had spent years searching and making every effort to find
her. The local police even tried him for murder, convinced that he had
buried her body somewhere on the property to cover up his crime.
Heartbroken and devastated Jack had become a recluse. Since no body was
ever found they couldn't continue the case against Jack and it was finally
dropped. Family members took his young sons from him to raise because
without his sweet Caroline Jack was not fit to have a relationship with anyone
and he could not relate to his sons any longer. He gave them his
blessings and asked they forgive him when the relatives came for them.
Jack explained to Caroline that he doesn't remember anything past that except
he'd been waiting for Caroline’s return since the day she so mysteriously
disappeared. "And Now You've Come Back
to Me!" Jack jumped toward Caroline to embrace her. Startled,
Caroline jumped as well to avoid his embrace. "Jack, I don't know what
this is all about. I'm sure you still think I'm someone I'm
not. I'm very confused and I really need to think here." Daylight was fast
approaching. Caroline’s mind was racing at what could possibly have
happened all those years ago to Jack's wife and who was at the door that
night? So many unanswered questions. There simply wasn't enough
time to answer any of them before Caroline’s friends returned to retrieve
her. She'd have to solve this mystery after she left, doing some research
on her own and return to visit Jack on her own at a later time. "Jack, I know there is a
reason I was drawn here. I really feel it is to help you solve the
mystery of what happened to your precious Caroline. Somehow this all ties
together and somehow it relates to me. I've got to find out what this all
means but I can't do it here. I've got to go to the local library and
newspaper to find out some information. I promise I'll return as soon as
I know something and let you know what I find out." "Caroline you can't leave
me again or I shall die. I simply can't go on without you.
This big old house is dreadfully lonely and cold. The days are
endless and I fear I will go mad. Most people must think I already
have." "Jack if what I believe has
happened has happened, then going mad is the least of your worries. Just
trust me. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise." "Hello", Jenny's
sparkling voice shouted from just outside the screened in porch, "Is
anybody there?" "I'm right here
Jenny." Caroline answered. "So how'd it go in the
haunted mansion?" Danny couldn't wait to hear about Caroline's big scary
adventure. "No biggie". Caroline
responded in her cool demeanor as if nothing out of the ordinary had
happened, stretching to greet the dawn like it was just another day.
Inside she was eager to get to the newspaper office then the local library to
see if she could scrape up anything on Jack and Caroline Brinkly. She was
on the mission mystery of her young life and she had a
deadline...literally. This was a matter of life and Death!
Apparently there were skeletons in her family’s closet that Someone had conveniently forgotten
to let her in on too and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Later that day Caroline was asking her
mother questions about her Grandmother Brinkly. Where she had come from
and why she hadn't ever met her Grandfather. Caroline had always thought
it strange that she had a grandmother but no one ever mentioned a husband of
any sort or her mother’s father. He just never seemed to exist.
Joyce Brinkly got very nervous and wanted to avoid Caroline’s questions.
Grandma Caroline had been so much a part of Caroline’s life that it didn't seem
to matter that a grandpa didn't exist until now. Suddenly it Did
matter. There was Something not right and out of place about this whole
matter. Now there Was a good cause to question why the first Caroline did
not have a husband and why Joyce Brinkly never mentioned a father while young
Caroline was growing up. And this old house on Scrivener
Hill. Ever since Caroline was small it had intrigued her. Grandma
Caroline would drive past there and tell Caroline about the house as if she
knew it somehow. She would describe it and tell Caroline wonderful
stories about the old mansion in its' younger years as she would refer to
it...but Caroline just thought her grandmother was referring to some childhood
memory, like describing any other historical site in their town. She had
no clue it could be something more. Something personal. Could her
grandmother, the woman she adored, be Jack’s Caroline? Could that be why
he had mistaken her for her namesake? Everyone had told her that she was
the spitting image of her grandmother since she was a child. That they
could have been twins! Getting nowhere with her mother
Caroline headed out for the library. Once online on the computer she
began looking up the old newspaper headings for the years between 1937 and
1957 scanning for Anything pertaining to the Brinklys’. Jack or Caroline
in particular. Suddenly Caroline felt
faint. The room began spinning and everything went black. "Miss are you ok?" Coming to yet still
groggy Caroline said, "Yes, yes I'm fine, thank you." There it was in big bold
letters, MAN KILLS WIFE AND GETS AWAY WITH
IT!"
Underneath
the heading the sentence read Jack Brinkly claims he didn't know anything and
pleads his innocence standing on the continued premise that his wife, of five
years, Caroline Brinkly, "Simply disappeared one night into thin
air." The story went on to say a lot
about the investigation and the details of the case, the finality of how they had
to close it because no body was ever found just as Jack had told her. The
case was eventually dropped and Jack was released. Several articles were
written concerning public outcries of concerned citizens that wanted Jack to be
forever imprisoned but the law simply could not support such action at that
time without something to lock him up for. One person stood up in
Jacks' defense and wrote that they knew Jack and Caroline very well.
Someone named Henry Clay. He was claiming to be a close personal friend
of the couple and knew them to be Very much in love and could never imagine
that Jack could be capable of such things as were being accused of his friend. Caroline looked up Henry Clays name in the
phone book and found one listing. She called and got an answer. The
person on the other end of the line answered: "Who is this?" "My name is Caroline
Brinkly." The man nearly dropped the phone
as he clutched his heart. Poor Henry Clay was nearly 80 years old and
hearing that name was more than he could bear. "I don't know who this is
but I don't find it a bit funny or kind to play such a cruel joke. Is
this one of those Halloween pranks young lady?" "I assure you Mr. Clay this
is no joke. I'm a friend of Jack Brinklys’ and I've only called you to
find out some information about him. Please don't be alarmed or
frightened. Can I come to see you and just talk? I promise I won't
stay long." After Henry composed himself he
found he was curious who this young lady was and what she was up to. "Ok, you have the address I
presume." "Yes, I'll be right over,
thank you." Henry grabbed his heart once
again when he saw Caroline. What was happening? Where and How? "I know Mr. Clay I look
just like The Caroline Brinkly that disappeared all those years ago but I
assure I am not her. May I come in?" "Sure, sure...please do
come in." As soon as Henry regained his
composure he offered Caroline a cup of tea and they made themselves comfortable
at the kitchen table. Caroline explained about meeting Jack at the house
on Scrivener Hill and the events of the evening she spent with him. She
also told Henry that she was the grand daughter of a Caroline Brinkly and her
mother's name was Joyce, that she had never met her grandfather and no mention
had ever been made about him. In fact when she questioned her mother
about her father the subject was immediately changed and that was all she
knew. She then told Henry that her investigation has turned up his name
and that is what led her to him. "So Mr. Clay can you help me? I
promised Jack I would return with some explanation of what is happening here
and why I look like his beloved bride and yet "I" am not her." "Please call me Henry." "Of course, Henry, can you?" "I'll try. Lots of years
have passed since 1937 and my memory ain't what it used to be. We was all
so young back then ya know. Just kids really. So much was going
on. The whole town was shocked when Caroline just up and disappeared
leaving her young sons that way. Jack was devastated. He nearly
went mad. In fact I'm sure he did. Things were never the same after
that whole mess. Not for Jack or the whole town. No one ever
trusted what was real any longer and the mystery lives on still today.
The house on Scrivener Hill is said to be haunted with Caroline and Jacks'
ghosts. Jack has never been heard from either. He just sort of
disappeared too after the trial. No one ever saw him in town and no one
really cared. They thought he had gotten away with murder. They
didn't feel safe. Time passed and a new generation was born. The
stories died down and then it all became legend. The house was sold by
the bank and a new breed of people moved into town." Caroline listened as Henry went on and on
about the details of the next twenty years or so. Nothing in particular
sparked her interest until he mentioned her father George Simpson II. Caroline’s'
mother Joyce and George Simpson II were married only briefly before they
divorced and her mother Joyce had taken her maiden name back. Joyce
moved back in with her mother Caroline Brinkly and for legal reasons
mostly, as was explained to Caroline, her mother opted to change Caroline’s'
name to Brinkly also. George didn't fight Joyce about it because he
simply didn't have much to say about anything when it came to deciding issues
with Joyce. George was a pretty laid back guy. Whatever Joyce
wanted was fine with him. The marriage had failed mostly because of
that fact. Joyce was too much of a "Go getter" and George not
Enough. Anyway, Henry made mention of
George Simpson II because his family had been the last family to purchase
the house on Scrivener Hill. They owned the bank and it just turned out
that way. The bank had foreclosed on the previous owners and it went back
into the banks ownership by default. Now things were connecting
somewhat but still not completely. There was still a big gap between
things. Caroline still didn't know who her grandfather was or why her
mother and grandmother chose not to tell her anything about him. She
didn't know where her grandmother came from or anything about her family
either. It was as if Caroline Brinkly the first had simply dropped out of
the sky and started a life from nowhere. More questions and very few
answers... Henry was beginning to become
more curious himself. This Caroline Brinkly that young Caroline described
was age appropriate to be the same Caroline that he knew and she would fit into
the same time frame as Jacks' Caroline. Could it be that she was the
mysterious disappearing Caroline Brinkly and she was not murdered at all but
simply vanished that night so long ago? If so then why and how? Furthermore
why would she continue a life in the same town? It was not so large that
someone could simply start up a new life and not be recognized? The case
was a much publicized one and everyone knew her face. The whole area
wanted to know what had happened on Scrivener Hill and what Jack Brinkly had
done with the body of his bride! Henry wanted to see Jack for himself. "Take me there, I must see
Jack and talk to him...we've got to figure this whole mess out Caroline." "I think you're right
Henry. It's the only way to get to the bottom of what happened all those
years ago." The drive brought back a lot of
memories for Henry. He hadn't been up this way in at least 50
years. No need in his mind. All of his friends had long moved away
or passed on. This was so overwhelming. Caroline had prepared Henry
for what he would see. Jack was not an old man. He was in his 20's
and probably a ghost. She had no idea of how he might have died but
suspected he had simply died of a broken heart. Jack had lost the love of
his life and his beloved sons. He didn't have anything to live for and
might have not eaten and simply starved to death. She didn't know. Jack heard the car pull up in
the driveway and immediately ran to the door. He was so excited to see
that it was Caroline, but who was this old man with her? Henry got out of the car and walked
to the door. "Jack?" "Who are You?" "You mean you Don't
recognize your oldest friend in the world? We used to climb that old
sycamore in this very backyard you numbskull." "Henry Clay, is That
you?" "Right oh, you old bugger." "Jack, I can't believe it's
you. You look pretty good for an 80 year old man. Sorry, I've aged
a bit and haven't kept in as good of repair as you old chap." "I see you've met my
Caroline Henry. Doesn't she look fantastic? I told everyone I didn't kill
my precious beautiful bride but no one would believe me." "Jack, this isn't your
Caroline. That's what I've come to talk to you about. There is more
to this story than meets the eye and I've come to help you get to the bottom of
what happened and maybe why if we can figure That out." The trio spent the next few
hours catching each other up with what Caroline and Henry had pieced together
so far. All about the connections between the families, the name changes
back and forth and the newspaper articles. Caroline added what she had
been told all of her life about the house and the people who had tried to
inhabit it but were scarred off one by one but she didn't know why. Jack interrupted and told them
why. I ran them OFF, that's why. This is my house... Mine and
Caroline’s and I won't have anyone living in Our House! How Dare these strangers just come traipsing around uninvited,
moving in on us like that, thinking they own the place. I simply told
them to leave. They left. No mystery involved. When Caroline thought about all
those poor souls who thought they were simply buying an empty house on a
beautiful hill overlooking the fields and meadows of spacious greenery only to
find they'd be scarred to death and run off by an unfriendly ghost she Had to
laugh. Those poor people had no idea what they were getting into and what
the mystery was. Most times it was buyers from out of state who didn't
have a clue of the local history. The bank just wanted to unload the
property and make a profit. They were tired of carrying the taxes year
after year. A hundred and twenty acres of prime farmland was going to
waste when it could be a cash crop making lots of money. No locals would
touch it. Jack made sure of it! He was positive his bride would
return to him one day and in his mind she had. The mystery continued and still
no concrete answers. Caroline, Jack, and Henry were no closer to the
truth of what had happened all those years ago than they were hours ago.
The secret had to be hidden very deep but where and with whom? Caroline had an idea. Her
grandmother had an old trunk she had been Very strict about no one touching
while she was still alive. That trunk was in the attic at her mothers'
house. Problem was Joyce had the key and Caroline knew full well that
Joyce wouldn't let Caroline near that key. Joyce wore it around her neck
like an albatross. Caroline was convinced that the secret was in that
trunk and her mind raced to find a way into it. She could bust the lock
and break into it but that thought broke her heart. Caroline had a deep
respect for her Grandmothers privacy. If she had a secret in there then there
was a reason it was secret. There was also a reason and a
time for that secret to be revealed. There had to be a better
way. Caroline knew the secret lied with her mother Joyce and that's where
she was going to go next. Henry, Jack, and Caroline all
agreed they would let the mystery rest until Caroline could convince her mother
to let Caroline look into the contents of the mysterious trunk. It had to
hold the secrets of what had happened and why. Until they knew that they
were at a deadlock, literally, and there was nothing else they could do. Joyce was not an easy one to agree
with giving up any information. She was tightlipped and very confidential
when it came to keeping things to herself. Her mother Caroline had
told her to do something Very important by keeping that lock closed until a
specific time and Joyce was going to Do it to the letter. No coheresing
by her daughter was convincing Joyce to do otherwise. "But Mother you don’t
understand...a man's life is literally hanging in the balance between this
world and the next because of the secrets hidden in that trunk and I have to
help him!" "Caroline, you're not
making any sense. What do you mean a Mans' life is hanging in the balance
between this life and the next? You act as if he's a ghost or something
and he's caught here or something." "Exactly. That's just
what I'm saying Mom, you Have to listen to me and just let me see what's inside
so I can help him figure out what happened to his wife Caroline Brinkly." "What?" "Caroline Brinkly.
She mysteriously disappeared in 1937 from her home on Scrivener Hill one night
when her husband went to answer the door and the whole town thought he had
murdered her and hidden the body so well no one could find it. He was let
go because they couldn't find the body and He later died of a broken heart.
I've met him and he is a real live ghost Mom. He's Real!" "Oh Caroline you've come up
with some pretty bizarre things before but this one really takes the
cake. Are you on drugs?" "NO!" Caroline looked
disgusted then took a deep breath and started again. "Mom, I've met
him, he's real. He thought "I" was his Caroline. He
showed me a portrait of his Caroline and I look just like her. Remember
you've always told me I could be grandmother's twin? Well, this painting
is the spitting image of me. Only it's lovely and delicate, and much more
serial and dainty...but she still could be me if I were dressed up and painted
the same way." "Ok, let's just say you Are
telling me the truth and I buy your story of this ghost...what does the trunk
have to do with all of this?" "Mom, who is my
Grandmother and where did she come from? Who is my Grandfather and why
did you never speak about your father?" "Caroline there are
too many things that you simply don’t understand." With that Joyce Brinkly stomped
out of the room and refused to listen to any more of Caroline's questions. Caroline immediately went to the
attic. She knew that if she pressed the issue and attempted to break into
the trunk on her own it would force Joyce to at least listen to her. Caroline was right. Joyce saw Caroline head for the
attic and she was fast behind her. "Caroline, you stay away
from your Grandmothers' trunk!" That's when Caroline saw it for
the first time. "I Wouldn't Go In There If
I Were You!" carved into her Grandmothers' beloved trunk in the same
handwriting as above the 'out of place door' in the house. Her heart
stopped for a moment and she knew. She knew her Grandmother Was Jacks'
Caroline. Proof positive now, but there was still secrets hidden in
that trunk. She had to convince her mother to open it. The only way was to take Joyce
to the house and show her the markings above the door. Joyce knew Caroline was not
going to let this rest until she heard her out so she went with her daughter to
the house on Scrivener Hill. Jack met them at the door. Joyce did
not look like Caroline but she was the image of her father. Caroline did
not know why she had not seen it before. Her own mother looked like
Jack. The same square jaw line, the even shoulders and narrow
waist. Jack had to be her mother’s father. Jack had to be her own
Grandfather and Joyce’s' Dad. Caroline stood in amazement as the two
gazed at each other. Joyce was taken aback when she saw Jack for the
first time. She had no idea. She had never realized that her father
was not just some drifter or a stranger that had maybe raped her mother and
left her. Perhaps a married man that her mother could not speak of.
Joyce Brinkly had never been told the secret herself about her father and where
she had come from so her shock and amazement was genuine. "Mother, this is Jack, the
man I've been trying to tell you about. Jack, this is my mother Joyce
Brinkly." "Very happy to make your
acquaintance Ms. Brinkly. You can call me Jack." "Sure Jack, just call me
Joyce." "Jack you have to show
Mother the writing over the door off the pantry, you know the one. The
'door that doesn't really have a purpose, the one that's 'out of place.” "Sure, follow me." With that, everyone took off
after Jack through the kitchen, across the pantry to the 'door out of place'
and there it was...the same carved out writing..."I Wouldn't Go In
There If I were you!" Joyce clasped her hands over her mouth
so as not to scream out. She found it hard to catch her breath. She
couldn't believe what she was seeing. It couldn't be. The same
writing as on her mothers' trunk...Exactly the same. Caroline was telling the truth. Jack was her father
and this was not just some hairbrain scheme or imaginary thing of Caroline’s'
to get Joyce's attention from her over busy life. Caroline had stumbled
on the answers that Joyce herself had wondered about for years. She had
questioned her own mother and couldn't get answers to them. Joyce wasn't
like her daughter. She didn't press and insist until the point of driving
someone crazy. Joyce would simply shy away in despair and wait.
Caroline the first would tell Joyce, "One day I will reveal all my
secrets. You'll know when that day comes." Apparently "That Day"
Had come and Joyce was convinced to finally give Caroline the key that had been
around her neck on a chain for almost 7 years since her mother had passed
away. The key to the illusive trunk. Now Caroline, Jack, Joyce, and
even Henry would unlock the many secrets that had plagued not only this family
but an entire town for the past 50 plus years. Caroline couldn't wait to
get back and find out what was in the trunk. Finally she would uncover
the mystery of what had happened that night so long ago. She along with
her mother would find out why her Grandmother had disappeared and broken this
wonderful mans heart and why her own life had to be kept so secret all these
many years. The ten miles back to town was the longest ten miles Caroline
could ever remember traveling in her life. Great anticipation was
building the closer they got to her mothers house on Joyce led the way up the stairs
to the attic. Caroline was close behind as Joyce opened the attic
door. Joyce ran her hands over the carved writing, "I Wouldn't Go In
There If I Were you!" What could that mean? Twice she had seen
this. Over that 'door out of place' and carved here on this trunk of her
mother's. What could this mean? It had to stand for something.
Perhaps Jack could clear that one up when they saw him again. For now the
contents of this old trunk were all that Joyce and Caroline were interested in. The key came off Joyce’s' neck
and into the lock. Joyce turned it slowly as if years were being released
into the atmosphere in that one movement. She could feel the tension in
the air with every beat of her heart. She opened the heavy lid and looked
inside. Caroline’s' eyes focused on the contents as well as her mother as
she lifted the old trunks wealth of history inside. This was a
shining moment for both of them. What had Grandmother Caroline held onto
so tightly that she was willing to go to her grave for? Why had she lived
her life in such secrecy guarding herself so protectively? Why had she
left a man who adored her so? Again so many
unanswered questions. Would they all be answered in
this old smelly trunk or would this just be another wild goose chase? Had
her Grandmother taken all those answers to her grave with her? Upon first glance at the opened
trunk it appeared to be full of old papers and linens and nothing in
particular. Stacks of very neatly wrapped in ribbons things that her
Grandmother Caroline had put away and preserved for safe keeping. Joyce
started unpacking the tidy stacked trunk of belongings and setting them to
the side one by one; being very careful not to damage or disturb the
parcels as she did so. She was handling each item as if they were
treasures wrapped in delicate gold paper. Tears were welling up in
her eyes as she noticed the things that her mother had kept. All of Joyce’s
school papers were there. Each school report, award letters, and prizes
she had received during her college days. Joyce’s' mother was Very proud
of her daughter and never let anything go unpraised or unnoticed when it came
to Joyce. Caroline was an adoring mother and held her daughter in Very
high regard in public but their personal relationship was rather
strained. Caroline never confided in Joyce as much as she would have
liked. Caroline was distant when Joyce would feel the need for real
affection. That confused Joyce. The items in this old trunk
showed Joyce a much different side of her mother. Joyce had no idea that
her mother had held these treasures in such high esteem. She almost saw
her mother as cold and uncaring. Untouchable. Very nonverbal,
keeping many secrets to herself. Yet when Caroline described Jacks'
Caroline there was such a love and tenderness to his Caroline...a softness and
almost gentile quality. One woman with a very different turn of
personalities. If this was the same woman? If this old trunk held
the secret of Who Caroline Brinkly really was then it would solve a lot of
confusion that was going through Joyce’s' mind at that moment. "Mom", Caroline interrupted
Joyce’s' thoughts. "Yes, Caroline." "So what do you
think?" "About what?" "Do you think grandmother
is Jacks' Caroline?" "I don't know sweetheart
but you have to admit that the carvings indicate it's a great
possibility. I mean how else do you explain such a thing?" "And what about the
portrait Mom. You've got to admit that's grandmother right!" "Sure looked like her to
me." Joyce agreed. When Jack and Caroline showed
Joyce the portrait of his Caroline at the Scrivener house Joyce had to admit
the uncanny resemblance. Her initial reaction was the same as Caroline’s'.
It looked so much like her daughter that Joyce too was stunned at how very
much it could have been her daughters painting hanging above that fireplace and
not some 60 year old rendering of someone else. The items continued to come out
of Grandmother Caroline’s trunk one by one until everything was lain
neatly beside it and the trunk was completely empty. Still no
clues appeared that would indicate what had happened all those years ago and if
Caroline Brinkly was covering up any old secrets from her past. Nothing. Caroline looked at Joyce with
total dismay and discouragement. "There's got to be
something. I know Grandmother is Jacks' Caroline and she left some clue
behind of what happened and why. No one just up and disappears without a
trace that way without leaving something Mother. It's impossible.
And what about you? You are Jacks' daughter, no doubt about it; you're
the dead on look alike of him. She had to be pregnant with you when she
disappeared that night! But why did she leave and where did she go?
Why would a woman leave her adoring husband and two young sons in the dead of
night without a single word...and pregnant no doubt with his child...? Both Joyce and Caroline were
sitting there with still more unanswered questions. Granted they had
uncovered some truths and Joyce had found her father in all of this.
A question that had plagued her for all of her 54 years. Her mother had
only told her that her father had been lost. When Joyce would ask what
that meant Caroline would change the subject and tell Joyce it was too painful
for her to talk about, that she would appreciate it if Joyce would not speak of
her father, it was just too upsetting for her. Out of respect for her
mother Joyce didn't press. When little Caroline would ask Joyce did
basically the same thing and just tried to avoid the subject. She didn't
have any answers to give anyway. Monday morning rolled around and
the kids at school were anxious to know what really happened at Scrivener
Hill. Caroline had avoided everyone like the plague all weekend.
She wouldn't take their calls and when Jenny showed up unannounced at Caroline’s'
house she was rudely asked to leave and told she would talk to her on
Monday. Well Monday had arrived and Jenny was chomping at the bit for
information. "So Caroline, What
happened?" Jenny insisted and wouldn't take "Nothing" for
an answer. "Jenny I told you, it was
No Big Deal." Caroline continued walking to class and tried to avoid Jenny’s
annoying insistence. "Oh no Caroline, you're not
getting off that easy. You've got a secret, I just Know it, Now give it
up or I'm gonna tell everyone you kissed Bobby Sheldrake under the bleachers
last summer." "You wouldn't." "Try me." "Ok...Jenny you have to
swear you will keep this to yourself and won't tell a soul." "I promise." Caroline made Jenny swear on her
grandmothers grave that she wouldn't tell a single living soul what she was
about to reveal to her and she told her the whole story of what had taken place
the past few days. Jenny only believed Caroline
because she had known Caroline her whole life and knew Caroline couldn't lie if
her life depended on it. "So whatcha gonna Do?" "I'm gonna keep searching
til I find the truth, that's what I'm gonna Do Jenny. What choice do I
have? My family is in the middle of this and this has to be solved.
There is a brokenhearted ghost of a man living out at Scrivener Hill, my
Grandfather, my Mothers' father and my Grandmother covered up a lie. I have
to know why. I have to know why she would leave him and how she could
leave her sons that way too, my uncles...which reminds me, where are they and
what do they think of having a sister they Don't even Know about! See,
this is deeper than just me finding out about one or two things, it's a matter
of a whole lot of things." "I'm going to help you any
way I can Caroline. I know people. I've lived here all of my life
too and I know that together we Can do anything. Remember what Pastor
Hembrick always says: "Where two or more are gathered in His name
there He is also in the midst of them?...well if we ask God to help us then we
will get to the bottom of this much quicker!" "You could be right
Jenny. I suppose that is where my answers lie. I haven't thought of
that. I haven't even asked for Gods help and He would know what happened
wouldn't He! The two girls began to
pray..."God you know what is happening here and we are need of your
answers. Please help us find out what happened and why...In Jesus Name
Amen." It was as if a light came on in Caroline’s
head. "Jenny, I don't know why I
didn't think of this before." "What?" "That carving." "What carving?" "What about it?"
Jenny implied. "Well, I bet Jack knows
what it means and who carved it. Since it is in both places it must mean
something significant and he would be the one to ask." "You just might have
something there Caroline." Jenny and Caroline drove out to
Scrivener Hill to ask Jack about the carvings that afternoon after school got
out. The introductions were made and Jenny noticed how much Joyce really did
look like Jack. She whispered to Caroline that her mother really did look
like him and Jack tried not to notice. "So ladies, what brings you
out here, did you find out anything to prosper my weary mind?" "Jack, I have a question
that I hope you can answer.", Caroline glanced his way inquisitively. "Anything for you
mi-lady." Jack said in most mockingly way. "What, if anything, do you
know about that carving above that 'door out of place' off the pantry that
says: "I Wouldn't Go In There If I Were You!" "Oh that...funny you
should ask about that. I did that carving back in 1933. It was a
saying between Caroline and myself. We made it up when we were
courting. You see it all started when her father Lord Beesley refused to
allow Caroline to see me. He insisted I wasn't good enough for his
daughter since I was a lowly stable hand and she was the daughter of a rich
Landlord. A self-proclaimed Landlord I might add. He came to this
country as poor as a church mouse himself but just put on airs of being
something he most certainly wasn't if you know what I mean...but anyhow he
refused to let me court his lovely daughter proclaiming I was not of good stock
and would only be bad for her. Lord stuffy bottom had it in his
mind that Caroline was going to merge and marry some haughty tauty boy from
another county whose Daddy was rich and the two would own a lot of
land together making Lord Beesely a Very wealthy man. He had Caroline’s'
life all planned out to the last day of her breathing. Caroline was furious and didn't love the poor fool her
father had matched her up with, she loved me. What no one knew about the
boy was that he had a deathly fear about him of everything. His own
shadow scared him to death. I found out this tantalizing fact and plotted
up a scheme with Caroline so that we could meet in secret every day against her
fathers wishes. You see, I was not only a lowly stable hand but I was
also an expert carpenter. I worked for old fuddy duddy, her
father, for years fixing and repairing his mansion and while he was
taking his afternoon naps every day I had built a room off the pantry of the
kitchen that no one knew about. Not even the cooks. They were so
busy gossiping about their neighbors and making noise cooking that
they didn't notice my hammering and sawing for months on end. "How did you explain the
opening and keep them out?" "Oh my dear child, all you
had to do in those days was tell an old woman there were rats in the walls and
she wouldn't go ten miles near it. I carved that saying over the entrance
and it scared them so bad they didn't dare enter. Caroline and I
were free to have our privacy all the days we wanted without interference in peace." "How
clever." Caroline interjected. "How romantic." Jenny
sighed. "So what about the boy and Great
Grandfather and my Grandmother. What happened next?" Jack explained to the girls that
he and Caroline continued to see one another for several months over the summer
of 1933 until late fall when things took a change for the worse. Caroline’s'
father took ill and he had to have a nurse. Caroline’s' mother Edith
passed away about that time too then Caroline was expected to tend to her
father. She and Jack could not meet like they would have liked, as often
anyway, and it broke both the young lovers hearts. "So what happened that you
finally married her and had children with her." Jenny was growing
impatient. "I'm getting to that."
Jack stammered. "One night when the servants
were away and Caroline was allowed to take a rest while her father
was sleeping peacefully I snuck up to Caroline’s' room and tapped on her
door. She knew it was me by the number of taps and let me in. I
told her that this was the perfect opportunity and that we should elope.
If we married in secret and I made her my bride that her father would Have to
accept me because once a woman is taken by a man she was considered that mans
wife and not to be another mans bride or at least that was the
thinking back in those days. Marriage was considered sacred. Her
dowry was then to be passed to the husband by the father. That was the
way things worked. So that's what we did, we eloped, the marriage bed was
consecrated and her father had to relinquish Caroline’s' dowry to us as a
couple. Of course he was furious and cursed me, claiming he would find a
way to get back at me and make the score even one day." Caroline took all of this in
stride. She was beginning to get a clearer picture of what probably happened
that fateful night all those years ago on Scrivener Hill, but she still wasn't
fully convinced and still knew there was information still out there
somewhere. She just had to uncover it and she was more determined than
Ever to find it now. Caroline prayed inside her mind
with all of her heart, "Father God, please help me find the answers I
seek." The answer is in the trunk is what kept coming back to
her. Then in the trunk is where I will search she thought. She went
back to the attic at her mothers' house and began her search again. Caroline found the things still
in neat little piles just as her mother had left them. The trunk still
empty she began searching for any secret compartment or loose places.
Nothing. She began to cry in total despair. This is useless she
thought. My family is full of secrets and I'm lost at helping them.
My mother’s father is a ghost and my grandmother is dead and can't help
me. I'm just a girl and God won't talk to me. Everybody thinks I'm
crazy and maybe I am. Maybe this is just one secret that is meant to be
left alone and it was to die with grandmother...maybe we are not supposed to
know what happened or why... At that moment a crash! Caroline jumped and stumbled over the
trunk and fell backwards, tumbling forward over it. She landed
and was lying across the open trunk when she noticed the biggest rat
peering her right in the face. "RATS!" Caroline screamed
out. With that and without thinking what
she was doing Caroline hit the lid of the trunk with a force unknown to
herself. A drawer opened and a piece of paper fell to the floor as if by
magic. Caroline picked up this folded yellowed parchment and began to read
what was inside. It was a letter. My Dearest Love Jack,
These are the hardest words I've ever written in my entire life. This is
the hardest decision I have ever had to make but it was the only one I
could make under the circumstances. Please my love find it in your
heart to forgive me. One day when I am gone from this body I pray the
Lord will reunite us and we will have the love once again that this earth has
denied us but for now this is the only way.
Father has threatened your life if I do not obey him and leave you at
once. He has ordered me to obey or he will ruin your life and drive
you mad. He has shown me things that have proven he can do this if I do
not comply immediately. My heart is broken and I fear I will die but
death is welcomed at this point rather than to be without you and our precious
boys. One day you will find this letter. I don't know when or how,
I just trust that God will find a way and it will make its' way to your heart
and you will find your way to me once more. I beg
you to forgive me for the pain I know this will cause you. I
pray your life will be spared and our sons will forgive me also. I pray
Gods protection over you all. Father has promised if I leave peacefully
he will make sure you are taken care of as well as Silas and
Jeremiah. He has given me his word. If I do not he will bring his
wrath upon us all. I leave
this in Gods Hands my love of loves. Yours forever, Caroline P.S. One day when whomever finds this letter will
you please find Jack and take it to him. He'll know where to find
me for I have passed away. Just tell him... "I Wouldn't Go In There If I Were You!" Caroline’s' eyes were filled
with tears as she dropped the letter to the floor. She had never felt
such love and sacrifice in her life. Her Grandmother had given up the
only love of her life in an attempt to spare his. She had done what she
Thought was the right thing to do and broke her own heart in the process.
No wonder Grandmother could not speak of this horrible thing done to her all
those years ago...but there was more to this story. There were still
unanswered questions. The first thing to do was show
Jack this letter and go from there. She owed him this much. Jack
had to know the truth. Great Grandfather was behind this horrible deed
and he had taken her Grandmother away. Grandmother had not left her love
willingly or for any other man as Jack might have suspected. She was
forced and left out of love for him. He had to know. Caroline was on her way out the
door when Joyce intercepted her. "Caroline you've been
crying, what's the matter?" "Oh mother, it's worse than
we thought. Great Grandfather threatened horrible things to make
Grandmother leave Jack. Caroline handed her mother the letter to let her
read for herself. They both drove to Scrivener
Hill to give Jack the letter. Jack knew exactly where to go next.
The 'door out of place' was there waiting for him to enter and just inside
'His' Caroline stood as a radiant light beaming. Joyce and Caroline saw her
too. Jack embraced Caroline for the first time in almost 60 years.
The love that filled the room was overpowering as if God, His angels, and all
of heaven had come down to share this moment. It didn't matter what had
happened or who did what all those years ago. All was forgiven in a
single heartbeat. Jack and Caroline were reunited once again and that was
all that mattered now Paula Deann (Roe) Honeycutt Booher Today Just happens to be my birthday too! I actually came home from the hospital on Halloween when
I was born. HAPPY HALLOWEEN (ALL HALLOWS EVE), THE DAY BEFORE
"ALL SAINTS DAY!" November 1st, Everyone... love, Paula If you would like to
reread any entry before voting please go to the archives where they are
permanently listed according to date of publication and contributing writer’s
name:
http://archives.zinester.com/98907/ Published Halloween
entries to date: Name: Contest
Title Date Apted, Violet Halloween Green Oct 28, Apted, Violet Whatever Happened to Grandma? Oct
28 Apted, Violet A Thunderstorm To Remember Oct
28 Booher, Paula I Wouldn’t Go There if I Were You Oct 29 Readers Feedback
I don't know how he has time to search all these things. But I am always looking forward to read his column..... The info is always refreshing, new, and very interesting... Kudos to Hartson! – Tannia Ortiz-Lopes Oh Carol, I am so glad your back. I was so worried when I checked my e-mail last week and there was no Storytime. It really makes a person realize how much junk mail they really do receive. Without Storytime and Morning Devotions, I ultimately have no real reason for checking my mail. I really have missed the comfort of my online pals. I hope Storytime finds its way back to the ones who miss it the most, and I pray that you get all you need to get it all back up and running. For your sake, I know it means as much to you as it does to all of us. God speed! xoxoxo hugs Mary M. Dees Senior Writers Chief writer: Sharon Bryant Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd
Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy; Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;
Storytime Tapestry Staff Carol Roach - Founder/publisher Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator Clara Westerfer – moderator Bob Johnston - moderator
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| << October29, 2006 - Oct 29, 2006 - Fascinating Facts and Tantalizing Trivia - A Hartson Dowd Column |
October30, 2006 - Oct 30, 2006 - Special Treat - From Violet Apted >> |
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