IN MEMORY OF OUR PATRIARCH
Born: 1733
Died: 1834
Some people are born liars. Others are only thought to be so. Mary Gilbert’s maternal Grandfather was both. He was a visionary man, or what was known at the time as a “crackpot” and was always warning about this disaster or that, people dying, failed business etc. He even claimed to have seen a spindly-legged monster singing dirges through a graveyard. No one believed him, harmless old fool that he was, because his warnings were done in the oddest ways.
It all began when Mary brought him to the mansion in the spring of 1830. He shuddered upon catching his first sight of the edifice and pronounced, “There is a doom about this place. Few shall find joy within its walls and none can expect a long life.”
Very few days passed before Marc’s first pronouncement. George Sr. had been away on a trip and upon his return was met by Grandpa at the door. The old man was holding a newly sharpened double-bit battle axe and presented it as a gift to the astounded Master. In response to his surprised look Marc answered, “You may not like it now, but it will cleave to you.”
Later that autumn a grand celebration was held for the birth of Mary’s first child, George Jr. Marc arose from his chair, dumped a fishbowl over his own head and danced round in circles until passing out. The next year saw Elma’s fine wedding to the strapping Richard Bell. All were in a gay mood until Marc served the groom a plate of birdseed. When asked why he simply chirped twice and “flew” away.
By 1832 the residents of the mansion were used to Grandpa Marc’s odd ways, but new visitors were often taken aback. When George’s brother Edward came to call he was given a stroller and stack of cloth diapers. “Just in case”, said Marc with a wink.
By far the strangest event was when Cousin Gus was brought to the manor in 1833. The entire household felt great pity for this lonely outcast and vowed one and all to make him feel loved. Except Marc who flung himself to the floor, met the dwarf at eye level and hissed like an enraged cat. They never saw eye-to-eye again.
Just before his death, Grandpa Marc wrote a letter to “The Master of Gracey Mansion” spelling out why so much evil had befallen the family. It dealt with witches, spirits, evil curses and ill-gotten fortunes. The very mansion itself was built for a satanic purpose. This was to be kept secret and known only to the Master who could fight and prevent the entire destruction of his posterity. All the heads of the family read it and none believed until it was too late.
And Marc? His craziness was just an act to prevent the wrong people, powerfully evil people, from recognizing his gifts. He went down to his grave in the dead of night; caught in the quicksand while howling at a full moon.
No comments:
Post a Comment