My, What Big Teeth You Have

Point Hope Farm - 2

I was right to think I would be too busy to write another entry. What a riot yesterday was! I arrived at Point Hope Farm, finding the place to be a massive spread of pastures and fences and two buildings. The bigger one was the barn, and then there was the house, no less impressive with its fancy white stucco and wall-hugging flowering vines and a fountain out front.

The ride had been quiet. I had tried to engage the driver but he said not a word and did not even look in my direction, which I found rude bordering on strange. So it was startling to be suddenly swept up into the fuss that was Mrs. Whiteside.

"Oh dear!" She exclaimed with a drawl as she came down the stairs of the house, her arms outstretched. "To think you came all this way alone. Personally, I wouldn't have it."

"The journey was alright. I felt quite safe," I assured her.

She took my gloved hands in hers, smiling with a squint. "Lovely to have you with us, dear," she said, squeezing my hands. "Let's go inside, shall we?"

She stepped around me and put a hand on the driver's shoulder, speaking slowly and making gestures to accompany her words.

"Tom, bring Miss Hayle's bags in."

He bowed slightly and I realized he was deaf. No wonder he wouldn't look at me. I had been talking to the wall, in essence!

"Come, come!" Mrs. Whiteside said, pulling up the hem of her skirt and bustling inside. "Jon is somewhere around here," she said. "I suppose you will meet him soon enough."

Up the stairs we went, and she showed me to a very nice room that had a wonderful view.

"I can see the pastures from here," I said.

"Pastures? Oh, we call them wolf runs, dear."

Wolf runs. The name was apt.

"I will have a maid come up and unpack your things for you," Mrs. Whiteside said. "It is too late for a tour outside, but I can show you around the house."

"Yes please," I replied, excited to see what entertainment the rooms would offer.

There was no need to tour the bedrooms, although I did comment on the tasteful decoration. The first floor held the visitor's rooms, servant's rooms, and a massive dining room where all the meals were had. There was a wolfman head mounted up on the wall, his sneering teeth and glaring eyes presiding over the table.

Mrs. Whiteside saw me staring and said, "Oh, that was Samson. One of the first of the pack."

"What happened to him?" I asked.

Her expression clouded over and I instinctively knew I had trod on a sore subject.

"Sometimes they simply go mad," she said, staring up at the head. "And there is nothing you can do but put them down."

She patted her hands together. "Well, that is that I suppose. Let me show you our library!"

We went to the end of the house, and my, what a library it was! One wall was entirely glass, to bring in sunlight for the many pots that bloomed profusely with greenery beside the couches and tables, with small succulents tucked on a shelf here and there.

"I love plants and I simply couldn't resist, since this room gets such quality sunlight," Mrs. Whiteside said, caressing a heavy green leaf.

"It is like a forest library. I've never seen such, but I think it's amazing!" I enthused, already picturing myself curling up here with a book and a cup of hot chocolate, surrounded by green energy.

Just then there was a crash from an adjoining room, followed by such cursing that my ears seemed to ring. I wanted to ask where that door led, but Mrs. Whiteside was already stepping over, so I followed- curious cat that I am.