Recluse Island

Chapter 41

February 2014

Gilbert Plunkett has many talents. A great memory, excellent penmanship, outstanding math, and logic skills. But sadly, these are not the things Gilbert is known for. No, if asked, anyone will tell you Gilbert is a man of repetition. He had been this way for as long as he could remember. And over the years it has only gotten worse. It truly is a wonder he managed to secure the position of Stormy Shore advisor (though it certainly helped his mother was friends with Charlotte Rafanoli) however it cannot be denied he is good at his job.

A typical morning for Gilbert began at a quarter after five. He didn't start work until nine, but it took him that long to complete his rituals. First before getting out of bed, he had to sing the chorus of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," six times. Then he brushed his teeth twelve strokes on the bottom, twelve strokes on top.

Next, he took a shower massaging the shampoo into his hair and counting to ten before moving to another section of his scalp. He dried himself off with a white towel starting with his left leg; he rubbed the towel up and down five times, then proceeded to do the same to the right leg moving on to his left and right arm after that. Next, he took the towel and rubbed it back and forth over his shoulder blades and back. He did this four times. When he finished, he changed into dress pants and a shirt. Unbuttoning and buttoning the shirt six times.

Then he tied his shoes first using a bunny knot with a whoop and swoop method until both shoes had been tied six times. Finally, he retrieved his briefcase unsnapping the clasp and snapping it shut ten times before he went downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. However, first he had to make sure the door was locked; he would always get to the end of the hallway before being struck with paranoia the door was unlocked so helplessly; he would stride back to check the handle was secure. This on average he did between six and ten times.

The perk of being one of Rafanoli's advisors was free room and board at Rafanoli Manor which also included all meals. The chef Eustache Le Blanc knew Gilbert liked a hardboiled egg, two pieces of toast, and half a grapefruit for breakfast. Gilbert never changed his order, so this was always waiting for him when he arrived. He started with the egg first using his spoon, he tapped the shell of the egg twelve times before peeling it away. The grapefruit he ate in quarters making sure to eat two pieces at a time.

Finally, he arrived at his office and a new set of rituals began. Gilbert wished he could stop but whenever he tried to ignore the urge he was filled with tremendous anxiety and frustration and always broke down and did whatever the task was.

He knew people made fun of him, talked behind his back, called him names, thought him an odd fellow but he tried not to let it get to him. At least he had Phyllis.

Phyllis Lies Ziesemer was the only person Gilbert felt comfortable performing his rituals with. She was never impatient with him or called him stupid and annoying (as certain other advisors had known to do, mainly Carl Hawkins) or showed any sign of frustration with his seemingly pointless tasks. It was just unfortunate that she was Stanley Sampson Ziesemers wife.

After Ralph, Stanley was next in charge (of course upon Ralph's death his oldest son Lowell would replace him as ruler but depending on when that was, until Lowell was fully trained and prepared in his duties, Ziesemer would assist as acting ruler) and therefore Gilbert reported to him. Stanley was strict, emotionless, and cold. He was also the Pigscula Keys Magistrate and was notorious for distributing ruthless punishments to any offenders that found themselves in his courtroom. Gilbert had always been baffled how he ended up married to such a sweet and understanding woman.

Gilbert first met Phyllis in the Kruse-Sandfox gardens. Gilbert liked to take his lunch outside of the manor and thought he would have privacy at the gazebo flanked with a trellis of blue forget me not's. For a while his hunch proved correct until one day, he arrived to find Phyllis sitting at his bench eating a tuna sandwich and reading Landrosh's latest novel. His immediate thought was to flee but she kindly invited him in and offered him the other half of her sandwich. Gilbert gave her his strawberry tart in return. He didn't know at first who she was married to and by the time he did he no longer cared.