
We find all kinds of things inside book donations -- bookmarks, postage stamps, grocery lists, school pictures...nothing very valuable most of the time.
The next morning, Danae broke away from her office around ten. As she strolled down the block towards Miz Trent’s house, she noticed the trucks out front. They were from the city inspector’s office and were covered with symbols designed to give one confidence in the officials. She waved to the inspector who was in the yard examining the power and gas hookups.
As Danae went inside she called to Miz Trent, “I’m here, Miz Trent.” It was a pleasure to hear the joy in Miz Trent’s voice as she called back, “in the living room, Danae!” The sweet little old lady was tucked into the recliner listening to music on an iPod. Danae had to smile. “What are you listening to?” she asked. Miz Trent smiled back, “my grand nephew gave me this. He put what he called “old people music” on it. Right now I’m enjoying Mr. Englebert Humperdinck singing ‘Love is a Many Splendored Thing.’” Danae couldn’t decide whether to be smug or horrified that she had actually heard of the singer.
“I can’t stay long today – I’m taking a break from my office. But I’ll be back this evening with some supper for us to share. How about a totally organic salad from the co-op garden? We don’t use any pesticides or anything like that. Would that be alright with you?”
“Of course, sweetie!” answered Miz Trent. “But that means we need to get busy right now so I can tell you about Cecile!” Danae relaxed into the sofa with her laptop to listen and record.
“The winds were rising something fierce. Susanne was frantic. She knew Cecile had been naughty disappearing like she had but at that moment, she didn’t care.
She went up and down the block calling Cecile. She asked all the neighbors. Even the neighbors who had shunned them because of their mixed marriage responded to the plea for help to find a lost child in the face of the storm. But it was no use. She was no where to be found.
Now something you need to know about that money. Susanne and Reynaud had had some serious disagreements about it. She wanted to use it to buy that farm away from the port. She knew that the sea would always have some call on Reynaud and that in town, as a black man, Reynaud would always be treated like hired help. But Reynaud wanted to keep the money hidden away for what he called his ‘liberation’ day. He told Susanne the money was ‘liberation’ for her if something happened to him. After one particularly angry argument over it, Reynaud told her he was going to hide the money where she’d never see it again and so she might as well stop talking about it. That ugly argument had occurred that morning right before Reynaud had been called out to help. Cecile couldn’t have helped but hear it.
You can imagine that Susanne, with her husband gone and her child missing and a hurricane bearing down on her was distraught. She finally decided to go down to the dock to see if Cecile had gone that direction to find her papa. Fighting the wind and the driving rains, Susanne headed toward the port area. As she got near 4th Street and Winston, she could barely see anything. Debris was flying around, and she was in great danger. Crossing the intersection was treacherous because of the water and wind trying to push her off her feet. There was no traffic, and she didn’t see another soul.
And then all of a sudden she saw a figure trudging through the darkness towards her. As the figure grew closer she saw it was a man carrying a bundle. With her heart in her throat, she knew this was Reynaud and Cecile. He didn’t say a word or even stop. He just went by her, carrying his bundle. Susanne turned and followed him back to the house.
When they got inside, he laid Cecile down on the sofa and went back outside to finish hammering the shutters on the house. Susanne knelt down to the little figure and started unwrapping the all-weather cloak wrapped around her. Susanne gasped when she saw what the child had clutched in her arms. It was that cursed money. The young mother took her child in her arms and began to sob. Eventually Reynaud came in and sat down and put his arms around his wife and child. They sat like that, all three together, until the storm was over. Then they buried Cecile, with the money still wrapped in her arms, in a secret place in the house so that she would always be with them, but so they would never be tempted to let the money divide them once more.
They eventually had many other children, and the story of Cecile was passed down. By the time it got to my husband’s generation, no one really knew where the money was anymore. Until your workers found her, Cecile’s resting place was secure.”
Miz Trent paused. “Danae, do you think there’s enough of that money for us to give Cecile a proper burial with her momma and daddy over at Spring Street Cemetery? And maybe enough for me to be buried with them when it’s time?”
Danae blinked back tears and answered gently, “Miz Trent, I’m sure of it.”
Next Week NO WORDZZLE! And everyone, enjoy your Thanksgiving! Remember also that the library will closed THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (26th & 27th).
And for your listening/viewing pleasure, a very young Englebert Humperdinck:
The old lady was candid with Danae. “My husband’s people didn’t always choose the best or easiest way to go about things. Their feeling was that if you were fooled by a sugar-coated version of life, then shame on you. They met their challenges head on using their brains and some luck to survive. Reynaud and Susanne made their home together here. They didn’t have much luggage but there was the one valise with the patent money in it that Reynaud kept well hidden. Putting off buying a farm, he got a job with the local fishermen who gathered turtles when they were available and risked drowning out in the Gulf when prospecting for bigger fish.
When Cecile was born she was a beautiful child. She had all the beauty of her mother’s dark eyes and delicate features, and the richness of her father’s dark skin and lovely smile. One day when she was about three a terrible storm blew in. That was before we had the weather channel to tell us to get ready. The fishermen could tell it would be a big storm, but they had no idea how big. Reynaud came home early to help prepare for the blow. An officer of the law came looking for him telling him he and all the other men had to go back to help get the boats ready. He was candid with the officer telling him he’d rather stay and protect his family, but the man insisted. Reynaud kissed Susanne and Cecile and left with the man. Susanne continued hammering the shutters closed and moving things to the highest point in the house. As long as Susanne could hear Cecilie humming and singing, she knew she was playing nearby. Around lunchtime she realized she hadn’t heard Cecile’s music for a little while. She looked throughout the house, and in the yard, and realized Cecile was gone.”
Miz Trent leaned back into the sofa and paused, “Sweetie, will you get me a glass of water?” Danae cheerfully jumped up from the recliner and headed for the kitchen. When she returned Miz Trent was dozing. Danae put the water down next to her, adjusted her blanket, and tiptoed out of the room.
Words for next week's 10-word challenge are: love is a many splendored thing, trucks, inspector, symbols, rising, organic, liberation, costly, smug, naughty
And for the mini: the nature of the beast, identical, charcoal, braggart, vacation
They say, 'curiosity killed the cat',
but, I'm here - to tell you true..
This week's words - almost 'killed' Kit,
as she wrote them - for your view..
For, like the lady - who sits at the hearth,
in the lovely and - charming Victorian home..
Kit sat and stared - out of her tower-window,
wondering where - the rhyming words had flown.
But, like the trains - on the railroad tracks,
keep chugging along - this poem will soon be done..
And, if her salt & pepper hair - just turned silver,
What the heck, she's had - a bit, of morning fun..
So, when life throws you - 'hard' words or curves,
don't let them get you down - or worry what others think..
Accept results and know - you did the best you could,
Just as Kit did with these words - that truly 'stink'.
Words for next week's 10-word challenge are: officer, candid, drowning, turtles, sugar-coated, prospecting, shame on you, reclinder, luggage, brains
And for the mini: paragon of virtue, cats-in-the-cradle, swamp, sprinkles, garbage