A VILLAGE CALLED PENCROSS

"Damn Near Fooled"-

It's rather absurd how time, specifically the past, feels and looks after a person who played a great part in it disappears.

For example, to Dr Plum, his time with Mr Brown seemed like lifetimes ago, as if the past had slipped even deeper into his memory as if it were a dream however in the case of Johnathan Hargreeves, his time with,the controversial, Ellis Brown seemed as if it had been only hours ago. Both supposed this was because of how abrupt their bonds had ended.

In the case of Johnathan, who"s young mind could not have grasped the concept of wanting death due to grief, Ellis" "suicide" had been sudden, an unexpected moment that changed everything, whereas Dr Plum had sensed his time with Mr Brown coming to an end. The way he would take moments to break from conversation and instead cough, hard and heavily before struggling to remember the point they were in the discussion.

This non-abruptness was another reason for the well intentioned Doctor to feel worse about his friend"s death but Wesly had always been stubborn and had quickly refused any treatment, however clear it was that he needed it.

Then again, Dr Plum convinced himself, a perfectly healthy man did not just die of a cough with greenish liquid pooring o" his mouth, it was stupid to even think of it. It must have been something more sinister.

And so, Dr Plum began to do what he thought was connecting the dots and after hours of the uninterrupted thoughts of a madman running through his head Dr Plum found the answer.

Ada Brown.

It had been a handsome day when Mr Brown had first arrived in Pencross and a day that described Mr Brown"s effect on the village rather well.

It of course made the village more beautiful and was a day that everyone enjoyed, something that would brighten everyone's moods but unlike rain, it did nothing for the village from a financial or a long term standpoint.

Still, people needed something to put their hope into and a wealthy handsome chap coming to help their village was just the thing for a time, in fact, for a few months Gerald Hyman was damn near fooled by the well mannered presence of Wesly Brown and it was only till a humid autumn night when he thought otherwise.

Gerald had poured the tea into the finest china he had and had lit the fireplace a half hour before they arrived and minus the fact his guest had been late by almost an hour Mr Brown and his darling wife and daughter seemed wonderful company.

Ada, after all, had, many times, been called the pinnacle of feminine society. She had a quiet but relatively nervous demeanor and a simple way of speaking, not that she spoke that much at all. She tended to wear lighter, lacy dresses and many hats and bonnets as well as dainty shoes she liked to see her daughter, Ellis, wear. Her eyes were as large but not nearly as bright as her daughters, though maybe they once were and she liked to hide the greyer bits of her hair behind her hats so she didn't look older than her husband.

"So Mr Brown."

"Please, call me Wesly."

"Ah, Well, Wesley, where do you come from? I'm sure some place near enough to heaven isn"t that right Mrs Brown?"

"Ye-" She started but was met with interruption.

"Please, call her Ada. Actually I was born just north of Edinburgh."

"To a large, wealthy family, I suppose?"

"Large? Yes, I had four brothers but were they wealthy? Alas no."

"Then tell me, now would a man of no wealth come to have such a grand house and such a marvelous wife?"

"You are too kind. I began work at a young age and chose to leave my family early on to travel to Europe, which was where I found Ada."