Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
"Here There Be Vampires" A Promise City, Arizona Story Hour
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="orchid blossom" data-source="post: 2830746" data-attributes="member: 12815"><p><span style="font-size: 15px">Sunday Morning</span></p><p></p><p>It was well past the household’s usual awakening time when a knock comes to Kate’s door to wake her. Mathias’s voice states through the door “Katherine, your mother is waiting. Your Father said to let you sleep, that your body is still on Arizona’s timeline, but you mother insists that you join the family for breakfast. Your friend Mr. Booth is also still sleeping. Should I wake him?”</p><p></p><p>‘Not if you value your life,’ Kate thought. She pushed herself upright and said “No, let him sleep a little longer. There is plenty of time before we must be ready to leave. I’ll be down soon.”</p><p></p><p>Kate sighed deeply and closed her eyes again for a moment. Sleeping late was becoming more difficult since certain needs had a tendency to wake her before that could happen the last few days. </p><p></p><p>It was about twenty minutes later when Katherine entered the dining room. She was dressed in the black gown that had been washed and pressed for her the day before, with her hair pinned up simply. The dark dress made her look even more pale than usual even with the light tan she’d developed living in Arizona.</p><p></p><p>She stopped to kiss her mother’s cheek. “Good morning, Maman,” she said and took her seat.</p><p></p><p>Mrs. Seagram replies in French “Good morning my darling, did you sleep well? I was wondering if you would ever be up to join us.”</p><p></p><p>“It’s at least two hours earlier in Arizona Maman, and a long trip. It will take me a day or two to get adjusted, but I did sleep very well. I asked Mathias to let Mr. Booth sleep awhile longer. He usually works late at night and sleeps late in the morning. The change will be more difficult for him.”</p><p></p><p>She smiled over at Ginnie and Mr. Gonzales. “How long have the two of you been up?”</p><p></p><p>Manuel replies, “About an hour. We’ve been outside in the garden talking to your family’s gardener Mr. Whittlebaum.”</p><p></p><p>“Poor Mr. Whittlebaum,” Kate laughed, looking at Ginnie. “So many questions so early in the morning. I hope he’d at least had his breakfast. </p><p></p><p>How is he?” she asked more seriously. “He always had time for us children, even for a little girl with a decidedly black thumb.”</p><p></p><p>Manuel replies, “Well, we didn’t talk about plants or gardening, although I mentioned that your friend Mr. Booth has an interest in that subject so may want to speak to him later.</p><p></p><p>We spoke of Germany, specifically the city Hamburg where he originally came from. That was also where current El Parador resident Hans Schmidt is from, although it is a large city so unlikely that their families actually know each other.”</p><p></p><p>Friedrich nodded. “He used to enjoy speaking with my parents very much, but since they have passed on he does not have much chance to reminisce about his home. I’m sure he was glad to tell you about Hamburg.”</p><p></p><p>Amelie said, “It would be quite unlikely indeed. But when one is far from home, another soul who remembers it becomes family very rapidly, is it not so?”</p><p></p><p>Friedrich turns to Gonzales and says “And before you go thinking that I’m making the old man work on the holy day I should point out that this isn’t his holy day. The religions of Germany were adapted to the conquerors of each region. The Romans initially conquered and brought their religion to most of the southern and central parts of Germany. But the northern seaports and communities along the great rivers were all conquered by the Vikings, who brought with them the Norse religion. Mr. Karl Whittlebaum is a devout follower of Odin and his kin. Their holy days are Friday and Saturday instead, which is why you will never see him working here on those days.”</p><p></p><p>Kate quickly hid the surprised look that crossed her face. “Papa, I’m sure Mr. Gonzales did not think anything amiss. In Arizona there are so many people from different places that someone is working every day of the week.”</p><p></p><p>Mr. Seagram sighs, “You’re right Katie, it’s just that I’ve had to explain that time and time again to all of the neighbors that I’ve gotten into the habit of doing so whenever an adult comments about seeing him.”</p><p></p><p>Gonzales says, “Well I was glad to get a chance to speak to him. I have traveled to many parts of Europe before but never to Germany. New places fascinate me.”</p><p></p><p>Seagram laughs and says, “Well, I’d hardly call anything about Germany new!” He then spends the next half hour talking about Germany while Manuel listens with undivided attention, interjecting questions on the few occasions where Seagram stops to catch his breath.</p><p></p><p>“I should like to go to Germany and France someday, Papa. We never did take the tour.”</p><p></p><p>“Someday my dear, when Ginnie is a little older perhaps we’ll all go. It won’t do to forget where you come from. I’d like to go again myself, and I’m sure your Mother would like to see her family in France,” Friedrich answered. “I seem to remember I was all set to take you, and then you met someone.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Yes I did.” Kate said with a smile and a faraway look for a moment. She shook her head and came back. “And perhaps we might take Mr. Gonzales on a trip in his old age.”</p><p></p><p>Manuel laughs and says, “Well, I don’t plan to ever become old, just stay as I am now for another dozen centuries. A trip to Germany would be wonderful. I’ve been to France several times, but never anywhere in Europe to the east or north of there”</p><p></p><p>“Then you have seen what is worth seeing, Monsieur,” Amelie laughed. “Although obviously my husband does not agree.”</p><p></p><p>Kate said, “You will never be old, Professeur aimé. I will be old long before you. But I would like to see more of the world before it’s too late,” she finished, knowing only her teacher understood that any such trip would have to wait until more than only Ginnie had gotten older.</p><p></p><p>“What is our schedule for today, Papa? When will we be leaving?”</p><p></p><p>He replies, “Your mother and I, and your brothers, will be going to Sunday worship shortly after this meal. We will be back at around 11:00 when Mathias will see that an early lunch is prepared. After that we will take the coach up to Concord, where the funeral services will be taking place.”</p><p></p><p>Kate looked down. She hated to see the look on her Father’s face whenever he spoke, or rather didn’t speak of her refusal to attend worship. But it was the one area where she would not bend to please her Papa.</p><p></p><p>“I will be ready when you return,” she said quietly. “I think I’m finished with breakfast. I’d like to go out in the garden.” Katherine got up quietly and left the room, stepping out into the garden overlooked by the balconies from the bedrooms. She wandered through the wet and just greening garden until she came to a stone bench that looked back toward the house where she sat wrapped in her own thoughts.</p><p></p><p>Kate’s thoughts are interrupted by Karl Wittlebaum’s rich baritone voice saying “Es ist gut, Sie Heim wieder zu sehen”. Katherine’s grasp of the German Language is not anywhere near what her father would like, but she recognizes the first three words as “It is good” although she is unsure of the second part.</p><p></p><p>Kate looked up and lifted her hand to squeeze the gardener’s. “You have forgotten how poor my grasp of Papa’s language is. What is good?”</p><p></p><p>“That you have found your way back home. Your parents have been putting up a brave front, but they are deeply saddened by the loss of their friend. Your absence would have added to that sense of loss.”</p><p></p><p>He walks over to where some of the first spring flowers have bloomed and carefully picks a flower which he then fixes into Kate’s hair. “I spoke with your ward and your teacher this morning. It is good that you have found some nice people to fill your new life.”</p><p></p><p>“They are wonderful. And there are many other friends in Arizona to take care of me. Before I met them... I was falling apart. I don’t know how I managed to leave Tombstone, but it saved me. </p><p></p><p>I’ve missed my family so much, but I think having a new kind of life has helped me. Have they missed me very terribly?” she asked with a note of guilt in her voice.</p><p></p><p>He replies, “Your father has, but working with young Mr. Tucker has helped to fill that void. Your mother has been kept distracted by your sister-in-law and the prospect of a continuous stream of grandchildren. Henry has missed you very much.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ve missed him too. Henry was always my best confidant, and there’ve been more than a few times I wished for him. And for Papa and Maman. I never realized just how important they are to me until they were so far away.</p><p></p><p>Everything is so different than I thought it would be when I left Boston. Somehow I always thought that home would be here, unchanged. But life is going on here too, and now Mr. Emerson is gone and I didn’t get to say good-bye, just like I didn’t get to say good-bye to Tom.</p><p></p><p>I could make so many people happy if I just came home, but I’m not the same woman who lived here anymore and I...” Kate hid her face in her hands and sobbed. “I’m sorry.”</p><p></p><p>Sunday, April 30th, 1882, 10:30 A.M.</p><p></p><p>The gardener comforts Kate and says that she should not cry. She continues to talk with Karl Whittlebaum until she is certain that her other family members have departed for Sunday worship services. She returns to the house, finding Colby Tucker sitting in the den with chart of the solar system showing the rotation of the planets spread out on the coffee table in the center of the room. He is using a sextant, a metal ruler and ball of string to compare distances to different objects. </p><p></p><p>As Kate enters the room she sees that Colby is not alone. Manuel Gonzales, Ginnie and Tucker’s mentor Professor Pickering are all seated on the leather couch on the opposite wall silently watching him work. Manuel motions for Kate to not interrupt. Colby continues with his work, making some notations on a pad of paper. He then writes out a mathematical formula and goes through two series of calculations. </p><p></p><p>He up looks to the Professor and says, “May sixteenth and June first?” Pickering smiles and says, “Very close, your June calculation is exactly correct. The May event will actually occur on the seventeenth, but at around 4:00 A.M. here in Boston, so your estimation was actually just a few hours off. Don’t feel bad though for not getting it exactly. I had my graduate students work on that problem during this last week. Many took days to come up with an answer and even the sharpest of them took several hours. And they were using far more tools and other resources than you had just now. Colby, you have a natural aptitude for this line of work. Astronomy is in your blood.”</p><p></p><p>Kate slipped quietly into the room and sat down with her teacher and her ward. Brief glances from both showed they noticed her reddened eyes but neither spoke of it. She focused on Mr. Tucker and was smiling by the time Professor Pickering offered his praise.</p><p></p><p>“It makes me wonder how many unknown geniuses are hiding in stables,” she said with a laugh. “I see why my father is so proud of you, Mr. Tucker. Tom would be, too.”</p><p></p><p>Colby looks up and says, “Thank you Mrs. Kale. It was all due to you....I don’t know how to ever repay the kindness that your family has shown to me.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re doing it already. Just make the most of your opportunities and my family will consider themselves well repaid.”</p><p></p><p>She moved over to sit with him. “Life here does seem to suit you much better than life in Arizona. Do you ever miss it? What do you enjoy here, beside your studies?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, there hasn’t been much time other than studies....if I don’t graduate from Boston Latin High School I can’t go to Harvard in September, so I’ve been devoting myself to that. I guess the other thing I enjoy is just sitting along the Charles River, I find that is a great place to study.</p><p></p><p>Today is a sad day for me...Mr. Emerson was a fine tutor. I guess I’m also feeling somewhat guilty too. All that time he spent with me he could have been writing more poems and stories instead.”</p><p></p><p>“Mr. Emerson left us many wonderful things. So many stories and poems that no one can ever forget his genius. But there are other things of worth, Mr. Tucker. I’m certain he would not regret one moment he spent tutoring you. It is just another kind of poetry, one that keeps living and moving long after he is gone. You will carry part of him with you, and everything you do is another word in the poem that makes his legacy. He is in you now as he is in myself and my family, and everyone else who loved him. We may not be among his most celebrated works, but I’m certain he would not trade us for words on a page.”</p><p></p><p>Pickering adds “And I have no doubt Colby that you will make a fine contribution to the world’s knowledge of astronomy which would not have been possible without the tutoring that you received.”</p><p></p><p>Manual Gonzales looks to Pickering and says, “I’ve been quiet until now but what exactly is it that Mr. Tucker has been calculating?”</p><p></p><p>Tucker interjects “Solar eclipses, where the moon blocks the sun. A very rate event that will occur not once but twice on this planet in the next few months.” Pickering says, “The one on May 17th will not be visible here in the United States. It will be best viewed in northeastern Africa, specifically the city of Cairo, Egypt. The best viewing spot for the event on June 1st is actually the American southwest. You should have an excellent sight of it Mr. Gonzales from where you live.”</p><p></p><p>“You gentlemen would be more than welcome to come to Promise City to see it yourselves,” Kate said, smiling.</p><p></p><p>“So, the moon blocks the sun...” She bent over the chart Colby had been working with. “I never studied astronomy, so my knowledge is limited. The viewing from Arizona would be good because the moon will be passing directly between us and the sun? It wouldn’t be completely hidden here then, correct? It would be like putting your hand in front of your face to block your view, and then tilting your head so your hand hides something else.</p><p></p><p>Is there any way to observe it without having to look straight at the sun? I’d love to have the children in my school observe it.”</p><p></p><p>Pickering says, “I may just take you up on that offer, in which case I could bring along some observation equipment along with my best students.”</p><p></p><p>Colby says, “Even with Morgan Earp gone I don’t think it would be safe for me to go. Plus I would lose far too much school time at Boston Latin to make the trip.”</p><p></p><p>A shadow crossed Kate’s face at the mention of Morgan Earp. “I suppose that’s true. Virgil Earp is still Marshall over in Tombstone. Wyatt went on the rampage looking for the Cowboy Gang after Morgan was killed. I don’t know where he is.</p><p></p><p>Professor, there is plenty of room out at my ranch, and a house that Ginnie and I stay in only occasionally. With me getting ready to teach it’s easier to stay in town. Perhaps you can even convince my parents to visit with you. I hope you might lend yourself or your students to give my young students a few lessons in astronomy?”</p><p></p><p>“I would certainly welcome the opportunity to teach young ones about the stars,” he replies.</p><p></p><p>“Good,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure the students will enjoy it.</p><p></p><p>Well, we have some time before my family returns. Are you going to continue to study? I wouldn’t want to disturb you with too much noise. We’ll have to wake Mr. Booth soon as well, or he’ll miss lunch as well as breakfast.”</p><p></p><p>“Did I hear my name mentioned?” Conrad states from the doorway. He is now attired in the newly pressed suit that he had brought with him from the laundry along with starched white shirt and a silk tie.</p><p></p><p>From her seat close to Colby Tucker Kate turned and smiled at Conrad. “We would never dream of wondering just how late you could sleep. My mother had me cruelly roused from my bed early. You’re lucky Mathias thought to ask me before he woke you.</p><p></p><p>Are you hungry? Lunch isn’t for a couple hours, but I’m sure they could find you something in the kitchen.”</p><p></p><p>Conrad replies, “Oh, I can wait until lunch. I normally don’t eat my first meal until noon our time, which will be mid-afternoon here. So, what is everybody up to this morning?”</p><p></p><p>“Astronomy,” Kate said, turning back to the chart. “Seems there will be a solar eclipse soon, and the best place to see it from is the Southwest. Mr. Tucker was just working on some calculations regarding it.” She looked down at the mathematical formulas. “I’m out of my depth here, I’m afraid.</p><p></p><p>My family have gone to services, but they should be back a little before eleven. So we will have to entertain ourselves until then. Ginnie, Mr. Gonzales, is there anything you’d like to do?”</p><p></p><p>Ginnie exclaims “Where are the pictures of you when you were a little girl......and can I have a cookie?”</p><p></p><p>“Conrad, would you pull that cord hanging next to the door? Thank you.</p><p></p><p>I can’t believe you want cookies after that enormous breakfast,” Kate laughed and hugged Ginnie on her way over to a chest of drawers. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a thick album. Even before she could return to the sofa Mathias was in the doorway asking what they needed.</p><p></p><p>“Could we have a tray of cookies please? Thank you.”</p><p></p><p>Kate sat down next to Conrad and waved Ginnie over. The album began when her brother Henry was a baby, and Kate guided them through it making sure her teacher could see as well. There were not many photos taken while Friedrich had been gone, so the years when she was five and six had a noticeable lack of pictures.</p><p></p><p>She was kept busy for the next hour or so munching on cookies and telling the stories that went with the pictures.</p><p></p><p>Pickering and Tucker excuse themselves, with Colby scoffing two of the cookies on his way out of the room. Conrad, Gonzales and Ginnie all look at the pictures and hear the stories with no small amount of interest and with very few interruptions. The four are still looking at the albums when Kate’s parents and brothers return.</p><p></p><p>“This one is from my coming out party,” Kate said, turning a page to reveal a picture of herself and her father. Her hair was elaborately piled on her head, and the gown was full-skirted, with off the shoulder sleeves and a neckline just high enough to be proper for a sixteen-year-old girl. She was even smaller then than she was now, and there was a roundness to her face that showed that she was barely past childhood.</p><p></p><p>“Wasn’t Papa handsome there? I don’t remember much of the night to be honest. I drank quite a lot of punch, so it’s more like a big, happy blur. A sixteen year old girl rather enjoys being the center of attention. Although even that night my admirers weren’t many. There were some exceptionally pretty girls from my school there that night who caught most of the eyes. It was probably for the best if it saved me from the kind of foolishness some of them got into.”</p><p></p><p>“Coming out? I know upper classes have some strange ideas but what do they do with girls? Keep them in the closet until it’s time to marry them off? Didn’t you know any of the people at that party? Why would you want to go to a dance where you didn’t know anyone? And is that a Belgium double bowed lace on your dress? That is some really nice stuff.”</p><p></p><p>Kate laughed lightly. “Coming out just means that you’re considered of marriageable age. I knew many people at the party, but there were also many new people, especially young men that it wasn’t considered proper for me to know before then.</p><p></p><p>It does have to do with marriage as well, though. Once a girl has her coming out, her only real job is to see and be seen, and try to attract the most desirable husband she can. Desirable meaning monied, high class, and hopefully able to bring you up higher in social standing. My family is a little different. Papa invited many young men who were intelligent, earnest, good-hearted boys who would do a lot more for my happiness than my social standing. The Seagrams walk a fine line between social propriety and moral propriety.</p><p></p><p>And yes, that is Belgian lace. That was probably the prettiest gown I ever had next to my wedding dress. Now of course, I could trim all my gowns with lace equal to that,” Kate said, smiling at Ginnie.</p><p></p><p>Mr. Seagram pops his head into the parlor to announce that Mathias has the dinner meal all prepared.</p><p></p><p>“Well Ginnie, I hope you still have room for lunch after all those cookies.”</p><p></p><p>Kate carefully closed the album and stood up. Mr. Gonzales offered his arm to Ginnie who skipped ahead to take it. Kate looked up at Conrad and took his. “I hate Sunday lunches,” she whispered. “Everything’s always strange after they get back from services. I’m afraid we’ve just had the most pleasant part of our day.”</p><p></p><p>Friedrich watched as young Mr. Booth took Katherine’s arm and escorted her from the room. He had been in the doorway for a moment before speaking, listening as Kate talked about her debut. Living in the west was changing her and the realization was slowly setting in that she may never come home. And even if she did, she would no longer be satisfied with a society life. </p><p></p><p>He had prayed for her that morning. She looked tired, and he could see the conflict in her face whenever she looked at that young man walking her down the hallway. She may have turned away from the gods but he was certain they had not turned away from her. He still remembered the wide-eyed little girl who used to sit between him and Amelie at services, full of wonder and questions afterward. Her place still felt empty, even after so many years. </p><p></p><p>The lunch began as many Sunday lunches, with a strained feeling at the table. But Friedrich was determined that Katherine should be comfortable, so he put a smile on his face and spoke casually to his guests, letting Kate begin talking when she was comfortable. He kept his serious questions for later, instead getting Mr. Gonazles and Mr. Booth to tell them about Promise City. The meal passed quietly enough until it was time to leave.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="orchid blossom, post: 2830746, member: 12815"] [SIZE=4]Sunday Morning[/SIZE] It was well past the household’s usual awakening time when a knock comes to Kate’s door to wake her. Mathias’s voice states through the door “Katherine, your mother is waiting. Your Father said to let you sleep, that your body is still on Arizona’s timeline, but you mother insists that you join the family for breakfast. Your friend Mr. Booth is also still sleeping. Should I wake him?” ‘Not if you value your life,’ Kate thought. She pushed herself upright and said “No, let him sleep a little longer. There is plenty of time before we must be ready to leave. I’ll be down soon.” Kate sighed deeply and closed her eyes again for a moment. Sleeping late was becoming more difficult since certain needs had a tendency to wake her before that could happen the last few days. It was about twenty minutes later when Katherine entered the dining room. She was dressed in the black gown that had been washed and pressed for her the day before, with her hair pinned up simply. The dark dress made her look even more pale than usual even with the light tan she’d developed living in Arizona. She stopped to kiss her mother’s cheek. “Good morning, Maman,” she said and took her seat. Mrs. Seagram replies in French “Good morning my darling, did you sleep well? I was wondering if you would ever be up to join us.” “It’s at least two hours earlier in Arizona Maman, and a long trip. It will take me a day or two to get adjusted, but I did sleep very well. I asked Mathias to let Mr. Booth sleep awhile longer. He usually works late at night and sleeps late in the morning. The change will be more difficult for him.” She smiled over at Ginnie and Mr. Gonzales. “How long have the two of you been up?” Manuel replies, “About an hour. We’ve been outside in the garden talking to your family’s gardener Mr. Whittlebaum.” “Poor Mr. Whittlebaum,” Kate laughed, looking at Ginnie. “So many questions so early in the morning. I hope he’d at least had his breakfast. How is he?” she asked more seriously. “He always had time for us children, even for a little girl with a decidedly black thumb.” Manuel replies, “Well, we didn’t talk about plants or gardening, although I mentioned that your friend Mr. Booth has an interest in that subject so may want to speak to him later. We spoke of Germany, specifically the city Hamburg where he originally came from. That was also where current El Parador resident Hans Schmidt is from, although it is a large city so unlikely that their families actually know each other.” Friedrich nodded. “He used to enjoy speaking with my parents very much, but since they have passed on he does not have much chance to reminisce about his home. I’m sure he was glad to tell you about Hamburg.” Amelie said, “It would be quite unlikely indeed. But when one is far from home, another soul who remembers it becomes family very rapidly, is it not so?” Friedrich turns to Gonzales and says “And before you go thinking that I’m making the old man work on the holy day I should point out that this isn’t his holy day. The religions of Germany were adapted to the conquerors of each region. The Romans initially conquered and brought their religion to most of the southern and central parts of Germany. But the northern seaports and communities along the great rivers were all conquered by the Vikings, who brought with them the Norse religion. Mr. Karl Whittlebaum is a devout follower of Odin and his kin. Their holy days are Friday and Saturday instead, which is why you will never see him working here on those days.” Kate quickly hid the surprised look that crossed her face. “Papa, I’m sure Mr. Gonzales did not think anything amiss. In Arizona there are so many people from different places that someone is working every day of the week.” Mr. Seagram sighs, “You’re right Katie, it’s just that I’ve had to explain that time and time again to all of the neighbors that I’ve gotten into the habit of doing so whenever an adult comments about seeing him.” Gonzales says, “Well I was glad to get a chance to speak to him. I have traveled to many parts of Europe before but never to Germany. New places fascinate me.” Seagram laughs and says, “Well, I’d hardly call anything about Germany new!” He then spends the next half hour talking about Germany while Manuel listens with undivided attention, interjecting questions on the few occasions where Seagram stops to catch his breath. “I should like to go to Germany and France someday, Papa. We never did take the tour.” “Someday my dear, when Ginnie is a little older perhaps we’ll all go. It won’t do to forget where you come from. I’d like to go again myself, and I’m sure your Mother would like to see her family in France,” Friedrich answered. “I seem to remember I was all set to take you, and then you met someone.” “Yes. Yes I did.” Kate said with a smile and a faraway look for a moment. She shook her head and came back. “And perhaps we might take Mr. Gonzales on a trip in his old age.” Manuel laughs and says, “Well, I don’t plan to ever become old, just stay as I am now for another dozen centuries. A trip to Germany would be wonderful. I’ve been to France several times, but never anywhere in Europe to the east or north of there” “Then you have seen what is worth seeing, Monsieur,” Amelie laughed. “Although obviously my husband does not agree.” Kate said, “You will never be old, Professeur aimé. I will be old long before you. But I would like to see more of the world before it’s too late,” she finished, knowing only her teacher understood that any such trip would have to wait until more than only Ginnie had gotten older. “What is our schedule for today, Papa? When will we be leaving?” He replies, “Your mother and I, and your brothers, will be going to Sunday worship shortly after this meal. We will be back at around 11:00 when Mathias will see that an early lunch is prepared. After that we will take the coach up to Concord, where the funeral services will be taking place.” Kate looked down. She hated to see the look on her Father’s face whenever he spoke, or rather didn’t speak of her refusal to attend worship. But it was the one area where she would not bend to please her Papa. “I will be ready when you return,” she said quietly. “I think I’m finished with breakfast. I’d like to go out in the garden.” Katherine got up quietly and left the room, stepping out into the garden overlooked by the balconies from the bedrooms. She wandered through the wet and just greening garden until she came to a stone bench that looked back toward the house where she sat wrapped in her own thoughts. Kate’s thoughts are interrupted by Karl Wittlebaum’s rich baritone voice saying “Es ist gut, Sie Heim wieder zu sehen”. Katherine’s grasp of the German Language is not anywhere near what her father would like, but she recognizes the first three words as “It is good” although she is unsure of the second part. Kate looked up and lifted her hand to squeeze the gardener’s. “You have forgotten how poor my grasp of Papa’s language is. What is good?” “That you have found your way back home. Your parents have been putting up a brave front, but they are deeply saddened by the loss of their friend. Your absence would have added to that sense of loss.” He walks over to where some of the first spring flowers have bloomed and carefully picks a flower which he then fixes into Kate’s hair. “I spoke with your ward and your teacher this morning. It is good that you have found some nice people to fill your new life.” “They are wonderful. And there are many other friends in Arizona to take care of me. Before I met them... I was falling apart. I don’t know how I managed to leave Tombstone, but it saved me. I’ve missed my family so much, but I think having a new kind of life has helped me. Have they missed me very terribly?” she asked with a note of guilt in her voice. He replies, “Your father has, but working with young Mr. Tucker has helped to fill that void. Your mother has been kept distracted by your sister-in-law and the prospect of a continuous stream of grandchildren. Henry has missed you very much.” “I’ve missed him too. Henry was always my best confidant, and there’ve been more than a few times I wished for him. And for Papa and Maman. I never realized just how important they are to me until they were so far away. Everything is so different than I thought it would be when I left Boston. Somehow I always thought that home would be here, unchanged. But life is going on here too, and now Mr. Emerson is gone and I didn’t get to say good-bye, just like I didn’t get to say good-bye to Tom. I could make so many people happy if I just came home, but I’m not the same woman who lived here anymore and I...” Kate hid her face in her hands and sobbed. “I’m sorry.” Sunday, April 30th, 1882, 10:30 A.M. The gardener comforts Kate and says that she should not cry. She continues to talk with Karl Whittlebaum until she is certain that her other family members have departed for Sunday worship services. She returns to the house, finding Colby Tucker sitting in the den with chart of the solar system showing the rotation of the planets spread out on the coffee table in the center of the room. He is using a sextant, a metal ruler and ball of string to compare distances to different objects. As Kate enters the room she sees that Colby is not alone. Manuel Gonzales, Ginnie and Tucker’s mentor Professor Pickering are all seated on the leather couch on the opposite wall silently watching him work. Manuel motions for Kate to not interrupt. Colby continues with his work, making some notations on a pad of paper. He then writes out a mathematical formula and goes through two series of calculations. He up looks to the Professor and says, “May sixteenth and June first?” Pickering smiles and says, “Very close, your June calculation is exactly correct. The May event will actually occur on the seventeenth, but at around 4:00 A.M. here in Boston, so your estimation was actually just a few hours off. Don’t feel bad though for not getting it exactly. I had my graduate students work on that problem during this last week. Many took days to come up with an answer and even the sharpest of them took several hours. And they were using far more tools and other resources than you had just now. Colby, you have a natural aptitude for this line of work. Astronomy is in your blood.” Kate slipped quietly into the room and sat down with her teacher and her ward. Brief glances from both showed they noticed her reddened eyes but neither spoke of it. She focused on Mr. Tucker and was smiling by the time Professor Pickering offered his praise. “It makes me wonder how many unknown geniuses are hiding in stables,” she said with a laugh. “I see why my father is so proud of you, Mr. Tucker. Tom would be, too.” Colby looks up and says, “Thank you Mrs. Kale. It was all due to you....I don’t know how to ever repay the kindness that your family has shown to me.” “You’re doing it already. Just make the most of your opportunities and my family will consider themselves well repaid.” She moved over to sit with him. “Life here does seem to suit you much better than life in Arizona. Do you ever miss it? What do you enjoy here, beside your studies?” “Well, there hasn’t been much time other than studies....if I don’t graduate from Boston Latin High School I can’t go to Harvard in September, so I’ve been devoting myself to that. I guess the other thing I enjoy is just sitting along the Charles River, I find that is a great place to study. Today is a sad day for me...Mr. Emerson was a fine tutor. I guess I’m also feeling somewhat guilty too. All that time he spent with me he could have been writing more poems and stories instead.” “Mr. Emerson left us many wonderful things. So many stories and poems that no one can ever forget his genius. But there are other things of worth, Mr. Tucker. I’m certain he would not regret one moment he spent tutoring you. It is just another kind of poetry, one that keeps living and moving long after he is gone. You will carry part of him with you, and everything you do is another word in the poem that makes his legacy. He is in you now as he is in myself and my family, and everyone else who loved him. We may not be among his most celebrated works, but I’m certain he would not trade us for words on a page.” Pickering adds “And I have no doubt Colby that you will make a fine contribution to the world’s knowledge of astronomy which would not have been possible without the tutoring that you received.” Manual Gonzales looks to Pickering and says, “I’ve been quiet until now but what exactly is it that Mr. Tucker has been calculating?” Tucker interjects “Solar eclipses, where the moon blocks the sun. A very rate event that will occur not once but twice on this planet in the next few months.” Pickering says, “The one on May 17th will not be visible here in the United States. It will be best viewed in northeastern Africa, specifically the city of Cairo, Egypt. The best viewing spot for the event on June 1st is actually the American southwest. You should have an excellent sight of it Mr. Gonzales from where you live.” “You gentlemen would be more than welcome to come to Promise City to see it yourselves,” Kate said, smiling. “So, the moon blocks the sun...” She bent over the chart Colby had been working with. “I never studied astronomy, so my knowledge is limited. The viewing from Arizona would be good because the moon will be passing directly between us and the sun? It wouldn’t be completely hidden here then, correct? It would be like putting your hand in front of your face to block your view, and then tilting your head so your hand hides something else. Is there any way to observe it without having to look straight at the sun? I’d love to have the children in my school observe it.” Pickering says, “I may just take you up on that offer, in which case I could bring along some observation equipment along with my best students.” Colby says, “Even with Morgan Earp gone I don’t think it would be safe for me to go. Plus I would lose far too much school time at Boston Latin to make the trip.” A shadow crossed Kate’s face at the mention of Morgan Earp. “I suppose that’s true. Virgil Earp is still Marshall over in Tombstone. Wyatt went on the rampage looking for the Cowboy Gang after Morgan was killed. I don’t know where he is. Professor, there is plenty of room out at my ranch, and a house that Ginnie and I stay in only occasionally. With me getting ready to teach it’s easier to stay in town. Perhaps you can even convince my parents to visit with you. I hope you might lend yourself or your students to give my young students a few lessons in astronomy?” “I would certainly welcome the opportunity to teach young ones about the stars,” he replies. “Good,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure the students will enjoy it. Well, we have some time before my family returns. Are you going to continue to study? I wouldn’t want to disturb you with too much noise. We’ll have to wake Mr. Booth soon as well, or he’ll miss lunch as well as breakfast.” “Did I hear my name mentioned?” Conrad states from the doorway. He is now attired in the newly pressed suit that he had brought with him from the laundry along with starched white shirt and a silk tie. From her seat close to Colby Tucker Kate turned and smiled at Conrad. “We would never dream of wondering just how late you could sleep. My mother had me cruelly roused from my bed early. You’re lucky Mathias thought to ask me before he woke you. Are you hungry? Lunch isn’t for a couple hours, but I’m sure they could find you something in the kitchen.” Conrad replies, “Oh, I can wait until lunch. I normally don’t eat my first meal until noon our time, which will be mid-afternoon here. So, what is everybody up to this morning?” “Astronomy,” Kate said, turning back to the chart. “Seems there will be a solar eclipse soon, and the best place to see it from is the Southwest. Mr. Tucker was just working on some calculations regarding it.” She looked down at the mathematical formulas. “I’m out of my depth here, I’m afraid. My family have gone to services, but they should be back a little before eleven. So we will have to entertain ourselves until then. Ginnie, Mr. Gonzales, is there anything you’d like to do?” Ginnie exclaims “Where are the pictures of you when you were a little girl......and can I have a cookie?” “Conrad, would you pull that cord hanging next to the door? Thank you. I can’t believe you want cookies after that enormous breakfast,” Kate laughed and hugged Ginnie on her way over to a chest of drawers. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a thick album. Even before she could return to the sofa Mathias was in the doorway asking what they needed. “Could we have a tray of cookies please? Thank you.” Kate sat down next to Conrad and waved Ginnie over. The album began when her brother Henry was a baby, and Kate guided them through it making sure her teacher could see as well. There were not many photos taken while Friedrich had been gone, so the years when she was five and six had a noticeable lack of pictures. She was kept busy for the next hour or so munching on cookies and telling the stories that went with the pictures. Pickering and Tucker excuse themselves, with Colby scoffing two of the cookies on his way out of the room. Conrad, Gonzales and Ginnie all look at the pictures and hear the stories with no small amount of interest and with very few interruptions. The four are still looking at the albums when Kate’s parents and brothers return. “This one is from my coming out party,” Kate said, turning a page to reveal a picture of herself and her father. Her hair was elaborately piled on her head, and the gown was full-skirted, with off the shoulder sleeves and a neckline just high enough to be proper for a sixteen-year-old girl. She was even smaller then than she was now, and there was a roundness to her face that showed that she was barely past childhood. “Wasn’t Papa handsome there? I don’t remember much of the night to be honest. I drank quite a lot of punch, so it’s more like a big, happy blur. A sixteen year old girl rather enjoys being the center of attention. Although even that night my admirers weren’t many. There were some exceptionally pretty girls from my school there that night who caught most of the eyes. It was probably for the best if it saved me from the kind of foolishness some of them got into.” “Coming out? I know upper classes have some strange ideas but what do they do with girls? Keep them in the closet until it’s time to marry them off? Didn’t you know any of the people at that party? Why would you want to go to a dance where you didn’t know anyone? And is that a Belgium double bowed lace on your dress? That is some really nice stuff.” Kate laughed lightly. “Coming out just means that you’re considered of marriageable age. I knew many people at the party, but there were also many new people, especially young men that it wasn’t considered proper for me to know before then. It does have to do with marriage as well, though. Once a girl has her coming out, her only real job is to see and be seen, and try to attract the most desirable husband she can. Desirable meaning monied, high class, and hopefully able to bring you up higher in social standing. My family is a little different. Papa invited many young men who were intelligent, earnest, good-hearted boys who would do a lot more for my happiness than my social standing. The Seagrams walk a fine line between social propriety and moral propriety. And yes, that is Belgian lace. That was probably the prettiest gown I ever had next to my wedding dress. Now of course, I could trim all my gowns with lace equal to that,” Kate said, smiling at Ginnie. Mr. Seagram pops his head into the parlor to announce that Mathias has the dinner meal all prepared. “Well Ginnie, I hope you still have room for lunch after all those cookies.” Kate carefully closed the album and stood up. Mr. Gonzales offered his arm to Ginnie who skipped ahead to take it. Kate looked up at Conrad and took his. “I hate Sunday lunches,” she whispered. “Everything’s always strange after they get back from services. I’m afraid we’ve just had the most pleasant part of our day.” Friedrich watched as young Mr. Booth took Katherine’s arm and escorted her from the room. He had been in the doorway for a moment before speaking, listening as Kate talked about her debut. Living in the west was changing her and the realization was slowly setting in that she may never come home. And even if she did, she would no longer be satisfied with a society life. He had prayed for her that morning. She looked tired, and he could see the conflict in her face whenever she looked at that young man walking her down the hallway. She may have turned away from the gods but he was certain they had not turned away from her. He still remembered the wide-eyed little girl who used to sit between him and Amelie at services, full of wonder and questions afterward. Her place still felt empty, even after so many years. The lunch began as many Sunday lunches, with a strained feeling at the table. But Friedrich was determined that Katherine should be comfortable, so he put a smile on his face and spoke casually to his guests, letting Kate begin talking when she was comfortable. He kept his serious questions for later, instead getting Mr. Gonazles and Mr. Booth to tell them about Promise City. The meal passed quietly enough until it was time to leave. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
"Here There Be Vampires" A Promise City, Arizona Story Hour
Top