14 KiB
Chapter 55
The club was just as amazed by the mansion as Abraham had been. As he lead them up the beaten pathway, he was carrying Annie on his shoulders with Asher right behind him, wearing a hood over his head to hide the sunlight. Fortunately it was cloudy enough that he wouldn’t burn too badly. Michelle was on the other side of him. Katie and Sarah brought up the middle with Tori flying overhead, keeping an eye out for bears or cougars (truthfully, Asher had convinced her to so that he wouldn’t have to put up with her constant talking and chattering). Calypso walked not far from Asher, holding his hand every now and then, as if worried he’d keel over from exhaustion. Tamil held Sarah’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost. He didn’t much like the moist foggy air, but he didn’t complain. Christina walked far behind, but none of the other farm members had wanted to come. It wasn’t vital to them, but Christina did want to investigate this place further. “So Abraham,” Sarah called, “this place is safe you said? It’s got a ghost occupying it?” “Eleanor said she wouldn’t mind us living there! We just gotta keep it clean and safe.” Abraham responded. “That sounds too good to be true, honestly.” Asher grumbled. “I’m not sure how I feel about this. The mansion looks beautiful, but can we really expect this Eleanor woman to show us such kindness without knowing us?” “That’s why she wanted to meet you guys.” Abraham laughed. “Now stop worrying and let’s go! I can’t wait for you to see.” The club didn’t seem as excited. There was a skeptical air that was filtering between many of them. However, when they reached the front doors of the mansion, there stood the ghost of Eleanor, smiling welcomingly at them. Annie squeaked a little in surprise and Abraham set her back down on the ground, as she quickly ducked behind his legs.
“Welcome,” she bowed politely, “I am Eleanor Gates; the owner of this house…or at least I was once. Now this house has no owner, but only a ghost.” Michelle took a hesitant step forward and tried to smile back. “I’m Michelle Peters…and this is our family, the Monster Club.” “Young Abraham told me much about all of you and the struggles you’ve gone through.” Eleanor acknowledged. “He inquired about if I could potentially open up my home to you and allow you to make it yours.” Michelle shot Abraham a slightly disapproving look. “I wish he’d talked to us first…” she grumbled. “We don’t mean to intrude or impose anything on you, ma’am.” “Not at all,” she chuckled, “in fact…I’ve been hoping someone might come along to tend to this old place. As a ghost, there’s only so much I can do. To have new faces and footsteps in these halls again would fill me with joy.” She then turned to the doors and opened them wide so the club could see. “Please, why don’t you come inside?”
The club entered carefully, but once inside…all of them stared in awe (except Tamil who just stood still wondering why everyone was so stunned). Sarah nearly fell to her knees in disbelief as she scurried to the curtains and tapestries. “Miss Eleanor, these are so beautifully made! I love the fabric!” Sarah cried. “Yes, my great grandfather had them brought over from France a long time ago. They’ve seen better days…you can tell there are some moth holes and tattered portions of the stitching.” “I…I could repair them for you if yo-” “Sarah!” Michelle cried. “Don’t be rude.” “No, do go on…could you really repair them?” Eleanor asked. “I could try! I love sewing and my silk is very strong. If it’s not a problem, I might try to.” Eleanor stared a moment and then the shadow of a smile crossed her face. “I think that would be lovely, dear. I’d love to see a sample of your work as a seamstress.” “Look how BIG this dining hall is!” Katie cried. The club hurried after her down a set of hallways to see the massive dining hall and enormous table. The fireplace was unlit, but a warmth could be felt emanating all around the room. “It’s so huge! Sarah and I could actually fit in here!” “Yes, this dining hall was built to house 40 people at the table. I don’t think we’ve ever actually had that many people attend at one time, but it would certainly be big enough for every one of you.” Eleanor explained. Her eyes then fell on Calypso and her ears. “young lady, you wouldn’t by any chance be the mermaid that Abraham mentioned?” “Y-yes! I am…” She winced, scared of being singled out. “Down in the lower levels of this mansion is a pool.” Eleanor explained. “It’s unfilled, but once it’s refilled I believe that it would be most suited for you.” Calypso’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and Asher grinned at her excitement. “Can I see it!?” “Certainly.” She nodded. She then pointed towards the grand staircase. “Go past the stairs and you’ll see a set of large white doors in the next room. Go down those stairs into the basement area and all the way down that brick hallway to the changing rooms. The pool is past that.” Asher and Calypso took off for the basement area, already whispering about how grand it must be. Eleanor then looked to Tamil, who was standing quietly. “Are you Tamil?” She asked. “I am.” Tamil answered. “Abraham mentioned to me that you enjoy gardening?” She asked. Tamil nodded his head slowly. “I like a little…” “Well there’s a large greenhouse on the grounds just behind the house. If your bird friend would be willing to accompany you, she could show you the way.” “How big are the grounds?” Tori asked. “Is there plenty of room to fly!?” “I would imagine so.” Eleanor laughed. “Go on. You can either go around the mansion outside, or just cross over to the basement like Calypso and the dark haired young man went. Instead of going towards the pool, go past th-” She didn’t get to finish her directions as Tori was already dragging Tamil off to go find the grounds and the greenhouse. “My goodness, she’s high strung.” “She’s a bird brain.” Katie grumbled. Eleanor laughed and shook her head. “It isn’t a bother. Honestly, it makes me glad to see such spirit around here again.” She then looked at Katie and placed a cold hand on her shoulder. “And you must be Katie? What do you enjoy dear?” Katie didn’t answer right away but just kept her teeth clenched, as if afraid to admit it…or she was reeling from the child ghostly touch. “I…I like music.” Eleanor beamed at this and stepped away. “Follow me, dear.” As the two left, Abraham was left in the dining hall with Michelle, Sarah, and Annie. Christina was waiting by the door, looking everything over and just smiling to herself.
“This place is wonderful.” Sarah swooned. “Oh Michelle we could truly make a comfortable home here.” “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Annie, put that down!” Michelle cried. Annie had gone to the table and was looking at the fine china, lifting it up to admire it. She squeaked and put it down again. “Sorry…” “Guys, you’re all forgetting that we’re guests here. It’s wrong to force ourselves on others, no matter how desperate we may be!” Michelle argued. “Eleanor doesn’t seem against any of you staying here.” Christina pointed out, adjusting her shades absentmindedly. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” “And be careful of gifts too good to be true.” Michelle countered. “Abraham, I really appreciate what you did but you really shouldn’t have made such an offer to Eleanor without consulting us first.” “Michelle, she’s lonely here and just wants someone to look after the house!” “We don’t know the first thing about taking care of a mansion!” Michelle argued. “Solomon’s cabin was one thing because it was just a simple home. We can’t promise Eleanor that we can keep this house clean and functional in her absence!” “Then we’ll buy books. I’m sure there has to be some reference material about this place somewhere.” Abraham argued. “I just…Michelle I think if we walk away from this opportunity, we’re doing more harm than good.” “The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Abraham…” Michelle sighed. “And I hear the road to heaven is paved with the same stones.” Abraham countered. Before Michelle could say anything to that, there was suddenly a strange and beautiful sound that could be heard wafting through the manor. A violin being played low and softly in a strange but exotic sound that Abraham could scarcely explain. It was like…the song of a mountain. Large and grand, but with a soft welcoming rhythm that made one feel at home under its shade. “I showed her the old ball room. We kept many of our old instruments there. I found an old violin and she took to it quickly.” Eleanor had appeared behind them and was grinning from ear to ear. “To hear music like that again in my home…it’s enough to make me feel alive again.” She then looked to Michelle a moment. Though it was a friendly gesture, Michelle looked away like she’d been caught in a nasty deed. “Miss Michelle? Could I ask you and Abraham to accompany me please? I want to show you a special place in the mansion.” Michelle gulped feeling like she was going to be told off and followed her with Abraham right behind her. Sarah meanwhile went with Annie whispering about how they’d go to find the bedrooms. Christina watched on and eventually stepped into the dining hall with them, intent on joining them in their adventure.
Winding staircases were what awaited Michelle and Abraham. Climbing a massive winding staircase higher and higher. Michelle and Abraham would’ve been panting from the long climb, but they were too curious about what it was that Eleanor wanted to reveal to them. As they reached the top, they came to a single old wooden door, which Eleanor pushed open to reveal an attic like space with a cone shaped roof. A small opening could be seen at the other end with a balcony. “When I was a little girl,” she explained, “I would come up here without my parents knowing. You see, my great grandfather was a star gazer. But I didn’t come up here for the telescopes or stars…I came to see this.” She pulled back the curtain so Michelle and Abraham could walk out onto the balcony. “Oh..” was all Michelle could breathe. She fell to her knees and gripped the railing of the balcony as she gazed out at the horizon beyond The view was indescribable. Miles upon miles of land and mountains in every direction. The noon day sun cast a glorious light upon the world, and the mists and clouds that drifted along the mountain sides were like texture to the masterpiece. The edges of the hills looked blue in color, and one could slightly make out the winding rivers that cut their way through and along the mountain paths. Below, in the grounds of the mansion, there could be seen deer moving in and out of the grassy area, as well as rabbits and other creatures. Tori was also visible, flapping about and playing in the sky near the greenhouse, a modest sized little glass house where foliage was visible even from this high. Abraham felt tears build in his eyes from the glory of the view. “This is the highest tower in the mansion…and just looking at this view was all I needed.” “It’s gorgeous…” Michelle breathed. “I can’t…I can’t look away.” “I felt the same way.” Eleanor sighed. “When I was a child, I didn’t want to share this view with anybody. It was mine…but as I grew older, I began to take such joy in bringing friends up here to see this.” “I can see why.” Abraham agreed. “Miss Michelle, I heard what you said before.” Eleanor explained. “I do appreciate your consideration of my feelings in this matter…but I want to assure you of something.” She placed her hand on the railing and, though it seemed a trick of the wind and light, her own eyes seemed to be brimming with tears. “This building and its grounds is just a house. It’s nothing but bricks, mortar, wood, and glass with lots of lovely decoration. A house is just a house. When I come up here alone to admire the view, it’s the view from my house. But that’s not a home. A home…is when you can see this view with someone else. A home is where you hear the laughter, share the tears, and embrace the people you love. A home is where you are secure and safe. A home isn’t…it isn’t what this mansion is anymore.” “Miss Eleanor I…I’m sorry if I-” “Please, let me finish.” Eleanor interrupted. “I don’t want this mansion to become an old roost for cobwebs and mice. But I also don’t want it to turn into an attraction for the public who will change it to what they want it to be. I want it to be a home…I want it to be the way I remember it…a place of security, shelter, and warmth. When Abraham mentioned you to me, I wasn’t sure how to feel about the proposition. But now that I’ve met you and see you for who you are…I feel more confident in this decision.” She then looked to Abraham and held out her hand. Very carefully she placed a large rusted but golden key into his hand and gently closed his fingers over it with hers. “I give my home to you, Abraham. This mansion will belong to your wonderful family.” Abraham held the key in his hands and looked at it with awe and reverence. Michelle covered her mouth as tears built up. She threw herself onto Abraham, hugging him around the neck excitedly and planting a kiss on his cheek. “Abraham! A home…we have a home!” She cried. “Thank you Miss Eleanor! Thank you so much!” “But what about you? Will you move on to Heaven?” Abraham asked. “I’ll linger a while longer and help your club get used to this place. Besides…I’d like to experience a home for a little while before I move on.” She winked. Abraham smiled at her and then stared once more at his new key. It was so strange now, as he thought about it. He’d run away so many times from foster homes and from places he never felt welcome in…but now he was the owner of a home…and his family that made him feel most welcome were a bunch of misfit monsters. A monster club. “Welcome home, everyone.” Abraham whispered.