The Turning Tree

Ch. 3 Mr. Turning

Sophia knew this was serious. He didn't ask her where she had been. He skipped all the pleasantries and jumped right to the tree. How did he know she was there? Why does he know about the tree? Is this dad's secret lab?

Moe could see her eyes widening and before she could panic, he said 'Let me tell you a story. This will explain to you what you saw in the woods today and what you will likely see in the future.'

About 150-200 years ago, this area was called Lenox Hill. There was a much older man named Montgomery Turning. Mr. Turning was very old and had spent his life acquiring vast wealth. In fact, he owned the great woods, the land of our home, the land under the subdivision, and most of the town. He was a quiet man who liked to work hard and keep to himself. Deep in the woods, he had built a very large home--- For the sake of our story, let's call it a castle. 

As he grew older, Mr. Turning had all he desired in life but was very lonely. He knew he gave away his life to earn money, but had no family to give it to or share it with.

Knowing his days were numbered and wanting family; he met a recently widowed woman in the town. He thought that if he could woo her as a common person and witout telling her of his vast riches, that she would fall in love, and then live happily ever after. He wanted someone who loved him, who he could care for, and then he would take care of the rest. 

Unfortunately, she this widower did not love him despite his kindness and affection. She thought of him as only a kind old man, which broke his heart. As he grew older, he grew more desperate. Thinking he was too old for love, he set to make himself younger by dabbling in potions. He then realized the woman's love would not be real to his true self, but only his younger self. This was disappointing... but in doing this, he wanted to make a potion that brought love to anyone who absorbed it. And as a side note, he also tried to travel back in time to tell himself that money wasn't worth loss of love... but that failed like most of his other experiements.

His love potion failed, too.

Instead it mixed with his panic and it brought him great nightmares. He tried for many years to make a love potion, but it never seemed to work. He dreamt of shadows.

He drank these potions or brews only to get sick

He wanted to help others, but night after night he got sick. Even though he was sick, he lived a very long time. He dabbled in many potions for many years; frequently buying odd ingredients from the town.

Word had gotten out in town that an old castle hidden deep in the woods had secrets to long life, and riches... and witchcraft. (Why wouldn't a castle have riches?) 

The story of Mr. Turning comes crashing down when someone in the town went into the woods to find the castle and never came out. Everyone in the town assumed the worst, and they decided to storm the castle.  Luckily, Mr. Turning was in town and overheard this was going to happen that night. He rushed back to his home and buried his potions under trees and in places on his property where they couldn't be found.

That night, Montgomery Turning died. The castle burned and what was left eventually fell into disrepair. 

It was Mr. Turning's good friend and confidant, who, though he never found 'the tree' turned the entire forest into a nature preserve. He is the one who built this house; so it can protect the wood until the potions were found and destroyed. He found scraps of Mr. Turning's diary and notes. He knew there were extraordinary things within the castle walls, and whatever was left in the woods needed to be protected... or removed before it got into the wrong hands.

It was in this trust, funding by the will of Montgomery Turning, where I was hired to watch over and care for the woods. I do this in addition to my normal job... just like my father, your grandfather. 

It's a small trust these days. Over time, to support the funds in the trust, some parts of the town have been sold and as more people moved to this town, the trust sold land closer to our house for houses. This explains why we have the oldest house in the neighborhood and are on the back edge of the subdivision. 

Over time, the woods have become open to very few. If you look you can probably see the foundation of the caste... (his pace quickened) but I urge you to never look for it. These are mysterious woods ... and the tree you found today is one of several enchanted trees I have found over the years. It's not safe. I'm not sure how it happened or how many there are. Either Mr. Turning enchanted the trees or it's a by-product from the portions dumped long ago. 

Oh, and no one ever saw Mr. Turning's body. There was no funeral. He was just gone. The city said he died and he left this house for the caretakers of his land.

Your mom and I are lucky enough to work from home and be caretakers. Just like your grandfather and great-grandparents." 

Sophia, still not having a clear answer she wanted and Dad knowing he was vague in his long-winded story, parted ways.

Sophia, knowing the old castle still had a foundation and that there could be other enchanted trees in the woods, left her dad, and went to bed... waiting for the next adventure to begin.