The Passing Bell

'The Passing Bell', ONC2022

The Passing Bell" is based on Prompt 62: The old man you've been taking care of at the hospital has passed on. And in their will, you've been given their Wiltshire mansion. It's your first day in the house but something seems off; and, Prompt 65: You were told if you find a bell in the woods to never ring it, or you will be cursed! While hiking deep in the forest, you-literally-stumble across a bell.

The title comes my checking on the use of bells in England in older times. Bells gave information. i.e., summoning to church, or announcing a death (knell). A passing bell was rung to call a curate to a person about to die. The death bell was rung when the person died. The funeral bell (formerly lych or corpse bell) was rung for the funeral.

Two bells appear in this story: Hydd's bell, and St. Duncan's bell.

April Waverly cared for Drew Ramsey the last few years of his life. He leaves her his Wiltshire farm, Oakton, in his will. However, there are conditions: 1) she must live at Oakton continuously until Ostara; 2) she may not marry or have a relationship until the month after Ostara; 3) Ramsey's religfious group, the Pelham Druids, must be allowed to worship at the King's Oak until Ostara; 3) she must attend the seasonal festivals of the Pelham druids until Ostara in place of Drew; and, 4) she must maintain Oakton as is until Ostara.