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  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited January 2010

    Gryffin set up her easel, her forehead creased with thought. She painted the white man in the headress, with sharp lines and spears of color to indicate his angry attitude. She wondered if they should have talked with him. Could he be a time traveler? Or an ancester? Or even both? Why was he so angry?

    She tilted her head to look at his face, and then picked up the small canvas and carried it to the staircase to compare it to the one in the mansion. He looked calmer in the staircase painting. But there were stern lines in his face, as if he wasn't much given to smiling.

    Gryffin noticed a movement in the corner of her eye and turned to see the little ghost girl behind her. Gryffin nodded at the painting and said "we saw him today..."

    Before she could say any more the little girl started shaking her head violently. Her mouth opened and closed, and Gryffin realized she was trying to say "no." "No, we should stay away from him?" And the little girl nodded, looking frightened. "Who is he?" But the girl had no answer she could give.

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited January 2010

    Spar was thinking that Gryffin sure was a wonderful artist, she captures all the feeling.  It was even scary just to look at the picture of the man in the headdress.  He just looked evil.  We decided to invite the town people and throw a party and forget the time machine for a day or two.  We might even get some information from the town people.  We put an ad in the paper inviting the whole town for Saturday night at 7pm.  We would open the ballroom and have a banquet set up and a small band to there will be danceing.  We all talked over about maybe wearing some of the ball gowns from the trunks upstairs.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited January 2010

    Gryffin loved the idea of a dress up ball, and quickly went to work on a poster design to get people excited about it. She sketched a few medieval dancers, added tons of exciting color, and edited it into a splashy poster on her laptop. She asked if anyone wanted anything in town, and all the girls decided to join her. They first stopped at a print shop and dropped off the image for printing. They went out to lunch at a little old fashioned diner, and then hit the shops. Gryffin found a couple of batik, loose pants that she loved, and everyone bought chocolates, goofy t-shirts, and a few souvenirs.

    They went back to pick up the posters and hung them in all the shops. Everyone was delighted with the idea, and Spar's idea to add a costume party element to it was a big hit. Although costumes were optional, it was clear from the smiles they left behind that many of their guests would make the effort.

    The drive home was a happy but sleepy one. It had been a good day.

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited January 2010

    After a goodnights sleep we decided to go through the trunks and pick out our gowns.  Spar chose a lovely lavendar one.  They were all beautiful.  We can hardly wait to check the mail to see how many reservations we get of people coming.  The whole town seemed excited.  We were talking this morning over coffee whether to do our own cooking or have it catered.   I guess we will take a vote.  We hired a couple of ladies to do spring cleaning and polishing the banisters though Gryffin keeps them pretty polished sliding down them.  I don't know where that girl gets her energy but sure wish I had some of it. She said she was going to sit in the balcony some and watch the party because she wanted a visual of it to paint.  We decided to wait until after the party to do anymore time travel.  Tonight we have to decided our menu.  Nothing too complicated but everything that taste good.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited January 2010

    Gryffin chose a gown in shades of peach and cream. It flattered her still-short, curly hair which was still mostly white, though starting to grow in a little of her old color. She had a wheat-colored pair of ballet slippers that would go with it, and keep her comfortable for the evening.

    The day was a quiet one of reflection and thought about everything that had been going on. She saw the little girl several times, but they were content to smile at each other in passing. She walked on the beach, she ate a light lunch, and pondered what would be good for the party menu.

    That night over dinner, they decided it should be a meal that was easy to eat. After all, with costumes some might be uncomfortable to sit down in, or to maneuver in. They went with a largely Greek flair, with dips and pita and shish kabobs. Things that folks could pick up and wander around with.

    The next day the responses started coming in, and it was clear that the ballroom would be filled with laughter and fun in a few days. Those days passed quickly. Decorations, cleaning, cooking and preparing. And finally that day came. The women put on their gowns and swept into the ballroom to welcome their guests. The ballroom was stunning. Candles everywhere, food fit for royalty, and a large area for dancing. They'd hired a string quartet to play, and had some medieval dances planned for later. Guests started coming and the room quickly filled.

    Gryffin was dancing with a handsome young man when she realized there were a familiar faces at the edges of the room. She danced over in Patoo's direction and whispered, "I think the ghosts are all here."

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited February 2010

    Gryffin and her young man were dancing so gracefully around the room.  I was set aback when I realized all the ghost were smiling and clapping their hands though silently, they looked like they were having a very good time watching it all.  I was hoping there were no mischeivious ghost among them.  I kept staring at Gryffins partner thinking I had seen him somewhere before.  The town people were all dancing and enjoying themselves so were we.  Finally one of the lawyers I had met in town came ask me to waltz, I felt so graceful in my lavender gown.  I couldn't believe all the town ladies came up with their gowns, some must have been sewing the whole time.   I saw Patoo float by on the arms of a very nice looking man, she was smiling so big.  Harley was on the arms of an elderly gentleman that she was friends with.  There was so much food and wine flowing but no one got sick or drunk.  It was the perfect party.  At midnight people starting heading home very happy.  Gryffin's friend was the very last to leave and as he was getting ready to leave he ask her if she would like to go walking on the beach with him now, me, Patoo, and Harley started giggling and pushing her out the door teasing her.  She decided to.......................

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    Gryffin smiled widely and took the man's hand. They swept out of the house, her little dogs following. They walked in the moonlight and enjoyed the sound of the waves and quiet conversation. They talked for quite some time until she got weary, and bid goodnight. They kissed lightly, and Gryffin went inside smiling. The girls were awake and waiting for a full report. Gryffin insisted on ice cream if she was to stay up any longer, and they all gathered in the kitchen for giggles, memories of the dance, and of course, ice cream.

    Gryffin dreamed of a fancy dress ball in the old castle. Many of the ghosts were there, but at different ages and apparently in the flesh. She was having a wonderful time when all of a sudden there was a crash at the gates, a poof, as of an explosion, and all the candles went out at once. What in the world was happening?

    Some people screamed. Some reached for weapons. And as everyone was wondering what to do an eerie cry arose from outside the door.

    Gryffin sat up in bed abruptly, the howl still ringing in her ears. She looked around her beautiful room in confusion, and then the howling started again. Reassured that she was back in her own time, she ran to the window and looked out on the moonlit shore. There was a pack of huge creatures pacing in front of the waves. They might have been wolves, or large dogs, but something seemed particularly frightening about them. She stared at them until eventually they ran off. She spent the rest of the night sketching and painting them, occasionally shivering from cold and from fear. Neither of her dogs would come out from underneath the covers, and spent the night shaking and whimpering.

    She slept late the next day. When the others finally came to see what had become of her, they found her room filled with sketches of horrible monsters, and Gryffin was laying pale and sleeping. She would not wake.

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited February 2010

    Gryffin had obviously stayed up all night painting and what horrors the pictures showed.  We felt her forehead and she was warm and her pulse was normal so we decided to let her sleep and take her dogs on a walk on the beach and feed them for her this morning.  We kept a pot of coffee going for when she woke up.  we were all curious and kind of scared about the pictures she had painted last night.  Where in the world did she come up with those pictures?  Was it dreams or did she really see these forms?  Were they ghosts?  That is what we talked about all day.  I the afternoon we took her some coffee and an egg salad sandwich up to her room and to see if she was awake.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    Gryffin dreamed of skeletal monsters pacing in the sunshine. Their eyes were pale and frightening. She tossed and turned, but did not wake. She stirred at one point, thinking she smelled coffee, but then she dropped back into a nightmare from which she could not wake. While Spar looked on worriedly, several of the ghosts gathered round Gryffin's bed, shaking their heads. They looked frightened, and occasionally glanced at the window.

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited February 2010

    We finally decided we better wake Gryffin because she was looking really distressed.  We got a cool wash rag and put it on her forehead and gently shook her awake.  she awoke very disoriented.  We helped her to the kitchen and fixed her a vege omelet and coffee.  She said she didn't remember a lot about her dreams but they were scary.   We decided after a day of R&R that tomorrow we would travel in the time machine again.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    Gryffin was pretty quiet during breakfast, and was all for taking a break today. She snuggled in a quilt in front of the fire reading a book and talking with the others, trying to forget about the howling in her dreams. Every now and then a chill would overcome her, until they finally brought another quilt for her to wrap in. Her dogs snuggled close, and by evening she was feeling more herself. After dinner, she finally voiced her thoughts. She wondered aloud if whatever she had seen, whether wolves or dogs or monsters, might be what killed the ghosts. Several of them popped into view at that point, and looked intently at her. The little girl climbed up on the couch next to her and put a hand on her quilt-wrapped knee.

    "Is that what happened? Those things attacked and killed you?" The little girl patted her knee and sat back, looking satisfied.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    [Just so you know, I'll be offline from friday afternoon until monday night or tuesday. I'm going to a quilting retreat!]

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited February 2010

    (Gryffinsong, that sounds wonderful.  I had a friend one time that taught me to quilt and loved it.  I need to get back to it.  Have fun.)

    Gryffin was sleeping on the couch, Patoo and Harley were walking the beaches.  I got the urge to sneak down and try on some of the old clothes and get in the time machine.  I put on a white shirt with a black vest and these gray big baloony pants, having no idea where they would take me.  I stepped into the time machine and vrooooommm came to on the deck of a pirate ship, A man was hollaring at me YO, matey to the top of the mast and unfurl that sail.  I looked straight up and thought oh no I am scared of heights.  I said couldn't I scrub the decks matey.  He put both hand on his hips and pointed to the top of the long pole so up I started trying not to look down.  Don't know how but I made it to the top and undid the knots holding the said and let it go.  I heard someone hollar watch out the boom.   made it back to the deck safely but still shaking from nerves when the man in the birds nest at the very top yelled out a ship was approaching.  An unfriendly ship.  Captain came out and told us all to bear arms and get to the ready.  Someone pitched me a gun but it was a  black power gun and I had no idea how to load it. 

    The unfriendly boat started firing at us, the action was total, guns going off, canon balls shooting and cannon balls making holes in our ship.  We decided to make a run for it.  We took off with them right behind us still shooting.  i decided this was enough for me and stripped my clothes and was back in the time machine.  I was pretty shaken and went upstairs to tell the girls about my misadventure and have a piece of cake and ice cream.

  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    The girls sat wide-eyed while listening to Spar's tale of adventure. They snacked and talked over the story several times, wondering who the sailors were and how they might be connected to the mansion. Exhausted, they all went to bed for the night, dreaming of pirate ships and battles and wild wolves howling.

    The morning dawned bright and warm, so the girls decided to go kayaking in the surf. Most of them had never surf-kayaked before, so it was pretty funny. They stayed in the shallows and spent more time falling out of the boats then paddling them. Wet and giggling, they had a picnic on the beach for lunch. Gryffin's dogs ran on the beach, careful not to get their toes in the water. They finally settled on a blanket next to the girls and enjoyed the occasional leftover that the girls snuck to them.

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited February 2010

    View Image

    We had so much fun on the beach, spar felt like she had swallowed half the ocean learning to surf kayak.  It was very exciting.  When we got back to the house the answering machine was blinking.  the town counsel was calling to let us know they wanted to have a "tea" for us and and the key to the city for offering help to all breast cancer women and men. There was a second message on there and all it said was I want peace in a ghostly voice.  We couldn't figure out if it were a joke or if one of the ghost had spoke over the machine.  it was rather spooky. 

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