Besides amassing a fantastic fortune, Dr. Flower's model train set was renowned throughout the whole state, and later the world thanks to the local media. Folks would travel from all over the world just to witness the intricate detail and love that went into each minuscule figurine, train-car, house, building, train crossing, draw bridge, streetlight, hilltop, mountain pass, train-trestle, car, street-sign, tree, shrub, yard, and every other fantastic ornament that made the display so perfect and realistic. Dr Flower's toy train hobby had captured the imagination of the world and inspired young children and adults to dream again. So it was the day they found Dr. Flower dead in his workshop, slumped over a new model train-engine that was now destined to remain unfinished forever.
After the funeral, the Flower siblings immediately set to squabbling over the fortune left behind by the renowned dental surgeon. So many unnecessary lawsuits ensued, despite a verified last will and testament. Perhaps the family didn't appreciate the entire fortune being left to a trust run by an appointed trustee with specific instructions to secure and maintain his vast estate, and especially his incredible toy train collection. Left without a penny of inheritance, Dr. Flower's three children began a barrage of legal proceedings that continued for decades. The estate was left abandoned and succumbed to dust and disarray. Mrs. Flower, the children's mother, had passed long before her husband, leaving the children free to fight amongst themselves with no guidance, save their father's parting words in his will: "make your own way, as I've done, and you'll be free." This was not what they expected.
Since the fortune was significant enough to secure and maintain the estate and elaborate collection during the unusually long legal attacks, eventually the children all passed away without any final resolutions. Thus, ended the legal wrangling that for so long delayed the proper settlement of Dr. Flower's last will and testament. However, such time had passed that most of the locals forgot the estate even existed, and the trust only came to view the estate as another file in their cabinet that collected dust. They received their monthly fees and never thought more of it. No one was monitoring the company and how it handle the estate finances, so minimal efforts were exerted to uphold Dr. Flower's final wishes, especially his amazing collection of model trains.
About twenty years after the death of Dr. Flower's youngest child, the trust decided to liquify the hard assets of the Flower Estate and placed the giant property up for auction. A light dusting was performed over the entire property in preparation for review by potential buyers. The public no longer remembered the fame and celebrity of Dr. Flower or his expansive creation, so very few serious offers were received. The land and adjoining buildings had become significantly damaged due to so many years of disregard. After another five years on the market, and several price decreases, a software designer purchased the Flower Estate as an investment. Property in Texas was gaining value and he liked the idea of rebuilding a large complex personally.
After so many years of mismanagement and abuse, the estate was in dire need of repair on nearly every major system in each building. Yet, for all the real estate open houses, tours, and showings, no one ever found the main entrance to the underground facility that held the fabled toy train collection. Had it been discovered, the price of the estate would surely have increased significantly.
When the new owner and his family finally moved in, they had to put up tents in the main foyer of the giant main house to stay warm and dry during an evening of uncommonly violent thunder storms. The software designer's name was Steven Tralliaerd. He had two young daughters and a teenage son with his beautiful wife Sabrina. Both parents were in their early forties, but appeared much younger and glowed with health. The whole family had been excited to take on the massive project together as a way to bond amongst each other more closely. As trying as the first few nights were, none of the Tralliaerd clan lost their enthusiasm for the project. They were all bound and determined to be conquering heroes against the impossible odds of resurrecting the decrepit property.
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Littleton
FantasyDr. Flower's toy train collection and model town had become famous until his death. His children refused to let the incredible toy-scape and fortune escape them, so the lawsuits began and the estate became frozen in time as their father had left it...
