EXCOLO

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next." Gilda Radner

Mayor's residence, after
Mid afternoon

The house is quiet now, thank god. The last several day have gone by almost in a blur with all the people coming to mayor, of all the things that needed to be attended to, arrangements to be made... and add a God of War showing up and bellowing about why no one invited him to the apocalypse, well, it's been no less than a zoo.

Of course, the quiet that has now settled over the house serves as a reminder that it is bereft of a very vital life that once raced down the halls, laughing and causing mischief. One that we laid to rest at dawn this morning in a far corner of the cemetery at the Abbey. One that, if it is to be believed; will be back with us in some form in nine months. After the small service this morning, Wanda came home to get some much needed rest while I went with Tony... Ares. He said he knew the perfect place for us to relocate to. I told him I did not wish to risk moving my pregnant wife to god knows where without some more information. So, he showed me. It made me dizzy, the way he managed to take us from one place to the next in a manner of moments, but then I was able to see...

I think Wanda and I will be very happy there; in that little house on the edge of dunes.

I let myself in, and find Wanda lying down. One hand is on her abdomen, and in the other is clutched a very well loved purple bunny. She looks very lost in thought. I cross the room and sit beside her on the bed. I can tell by her eyes she had ben crying, but my wife manages to give me a smile in spite of the sorrow.

"Can you hear her... them? Is it like before?" I ask as I lay my hand over hers.

Closed

Sunday, June 17th
Past midnight, on Silk

Continued from here

Shit. It's today. I knew it was today, what? Two weeks ago? But somehow, the fact that today is Wanda's birthday escaped me. But only slightly. I already have a present, and Rose and I planned on waking up early to make her breakfast...

but had I remembered I might not have stayed out quite so late tonight, wandering about and stopping to have a drink or four with some of the guys from my crew.

So with a bottle of strawberry meade in hand, I decide it might be time to get my sorry and bruised ass back home and to my lovely wife, silently thankful she likes to sleep in on Sundays.

Open

Monday, June 4th
The cafe', afternoon

The waitress drops off another soda, and I flash her a smile and take a gulp before going back to my sketching. Spent the morning in my office, talking over the prospective ideas for expanding the school house. Now that the town is growing, there really is a need for more than just the one room. The question is; do we build on to the existing school, or build a whole separate building?

I've already sketched out the general idea for building the addition, and set that to the side. But there's a old barn not more than half a mile past the Dormouse. With the right floor plan and enough work, I think it could be converted into a beautiful school, probably for the older children. I find a clean piece of paper in my bag, and start tracing out the general shape. A large, open room, plenty of light, yes.

Besides the school expansion, I also have a meeting later this week with the Abbey. The Titus family just moved out of town, leaving behind their old mill up the river. No one has bought the property yet for it needs work, but if the abbey is looking to expand their cider production, I am sure a arrangement can be made all around. My mind is whirling as my pencil moves across the paper, the soft scratching of the graphite making a pleasing sound...

"Another soda, Kent?" What...? I look up at the waitress, only to realize a good hour has passed and I finished off that glass. "Yes, and may as well bring me a sandwich, too." I say as I sit back a bit to study what I've come up with so far. Not bad, not bad at all. I almost cannot wait to start actually building it.

Open

Meanwhile... back in Excolo
The Dormouse

I am not sure how much time has passed... granted; I am not sure how time is passing. A year might have passed outside this house in the past hour, but I am not tempted to venture past these doors to see for myself. It is much safer in here, it must be.

Wanda has been gone for so very long, so it seems. Long enough for me to start pacing the bedroom and staring out the windows; long enough for Rose to become agitated and whiny. She's been alternating between demanding to be held or to be set down because she's beyond comforting. She needs to nap; but she won't. I need to eat; but I can't.

"Right little Miss, let's read some poetry, shall we?" I sigh, sitting us down on the bed with a book of poems from Wanda's collection. Started with a few I could recite from memory. The Raven, Sonnet 29, I carry your heart with me... I am not sure if she understands what I am saying, but I think Rose does like the sound of my voice. After some Neruda, I find a lovely little poem more suited to little girls and quite apropos given where we--- she lives.

There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he'd a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say 'Ninety-nine' while I look at your chest-----

My recitation is cut short by the howl from outside. I all but drop the book and race to the window. The screaming is coming from the direction of the Abbey, and sounds so very far away, but its still raises the hairs on the back of my neck. That is Wanda screaming, I know it is. Down to the marrow in my bones, that bellow of utter rage and despair is hers. "Oh my god, what is happening there? Rose...?"

I turn to look at the little girl whom I left sitting on the bed. Wanda said they could hear each other, I pray she was not lying. "Is your Mama alright?" Rose looks off at a point past my head, outside the window...
and suddenly she wails, tears springing to her little green eyes.

'Ooooooooooh-en!!! 'Ooooooooooo-en! No! 'Tay! Ooooooooo-en!!!! Rose's little body falls backwards, and she begins kicking and wailing. I have no idea what's going on, but right now I am terrified. "Rose, Rose... where's your mama? Is Mama okay?" I all but beg, picking up her shaking body and trying to comfort her from some tragedy I cannot see or feel. She still cries and sniffles, but goes quiet again. Mama... Mama... yes. Mama mad... Mama...tafe...

Tafe? Tafe.... "Mama's safe?" I ask, and she nods, but continues to whimper. "Rose... Rose... call your Mama home. Please, I do not know what is going on, but she needs to be here with you. Please darling. I do not know how much long I shall... shall be here... so she needs to come home now. Tell her that." I ask her, hoping she can understand me. "Rose, please my little sweetling, she needs to be here when I leave----"

NO! Rose screeches, all but drowning out the keening in the distance. No! No! No! 'Ent 'tay! I pass a hand over my eyes, feeling powerless to help Wanda, powerless to comfort a child, utterly powerless. "Rose, I want to, you know this but---"

'Ent 'tay! 'Ent 'tay! 'Ent----- Rose smacks her tiny hands against my chest, and it feels like all the air gets sucked from the room. I gasp for air as my lungs burn and---

'TAY!!!

The room goes blinding white and it feel like I was thrown against the wall. The world goes black

then comes slowly back into focus. There's a ringing in my ears, and there are stars in my eyes. The taste of ozone is thick in the air. I blink several times to realize I am prone on the bed with Rose sprawled out on top of me. "Rose..." I croak, and struggle to sit up. "Rose... what did you do?" She lifts her head and looks at me with exhausted eyes.

'Ent... 'tay... She smiles at me, then lays her head back on my chest and falls promptly asleep.

"Rose... what did you do?"

Closed

Thursday, May 20th.  Mid afternoon
The Park

Rose lays comfortably on her back along the line of my legs, looking up at the trees above our heads and gurgling in contentment.  Wanda waved us out about a hour ago, bidding us to spend time together in the fresh air.  We walked around for a bit, then found a shady tree to sit under and watch life go by.  A few people have stopped to say hello and admire Rose, who seems to have a smile for everyone.  Today has been perfect...

so why do I feel so unsettled?

There is no reason for it, none that I can pinpoint at any rate.  True to her word, Wanda laughed at her silly notions Wednesday morning, and the day proceeded as it should.  Every once in a while, though, I would spy a worried look on her sweet face as she chewed her bottom lip, but she would just shake her head and smile it away.  And Rose would occasionally look at me so strangely that I would swear she did not know me.  But I have been working so much in her short life, of course she might not recognize me as she would her mother.  I will have to rectify that. 

Wednesday night, Wanda was able to get Mrs. Esterly to watch Rose.  She claimed that we were going to go to dinner, then maybe for a bit of dancing at The Tavern.  Which, of course, was a lie.  I am sure the woman knew we wanted some 'alone time', but I am quite sure she had no idea what exactly that entailed.  And oh, how I missed my Mistress!  In those hazy moments, where the pain and pleasure blurred, my Mistress reminded me why I wear her marks, why I have come to love her.  Hours later, after Wanda washed away the flecks of blood on her skin and went to fetch our daughter, I lie sprawled on the upstairs bed, content and sated.  My girls came home, Rose was fed, and we all fell asleep together.  All was well with the world.

Except for the nagging feeling that it is not.  And the headache that will not abate.  Wanda has suggested that if I am no better by Friday, I should go see Lucien.  I have no love for the man, but he is a doctor, and took a oath to help all in need.  Still I hope there will be no need for it.

Rose makes a coo'ing sound, drawing me out of my thoughts.  "Shall we go see what your mother is doing, dear one?"  I ask her, and her chubby legs kick in answer.  It is a strange notion, but I would swear she understands more than a child of her age should.  That throb starts again, and I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose until it passes.  "Come, I think it is naptime for both of us."

I just need more rest, I am sure.  All will be better after a few more days at home.

(Closed)