Some more of the story
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Just noticed it's been a week since posting and in an effort to stay on track, here is another excerpt from Darnahsian Pirates: The Third Stone Island Sea Story. This comes from Chapter Ten, "Another Arrival." Enjoy!
Totally unrelated to the post, but here is a painting I did several years ago of a dragon driving a "late model" Corvair along a country lane.
As they watched the bustle on the quay and on deck, and as Hiram and Gertie joined them, a woman stepped out of the crowd and made her way to the foot of the brow. When she noticed a gap in the stream of people going ashore, she quickly came aboard. She looked around for a second or two, spotted Pierce and the others, and headed aft. Junior, on a lead controlled by Hiram, stood alert, his desire to protect on call, and yet his curiosity and basic friendly nature manifesting as well.
“Why Mrs. Packingham! Vera!” said Pierce, recognizing the arrival. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“And you, Edward,” she said with a smile. She looked at the others expectantly.
“Oh yes,” continued Pierce, taken aback. “May I present Mrs. Vera Packingham. She serves as Governor Smythe’s housekeeper and the official hostess of Stone Island.”
Vera nodded, and added, “That is true, but the relationship and the name has changed somewhat. Harold and I were married a year ago.”
“Our best wishes,” said Pierce, taken even more aback. “May I present Mr. Smythe’s daughter, my wife, Evangeline and her son Glenn Lewis. This is Hiram and Gertie, long time retainers and staff for the Smythe household. The four-legged furry gentleman is Junior, who I suspect is actually in charge.”
Pierce detected an awkward moment between Vera and Gertie as both were considered to be Smythe’s housekeeper. That point of conflict eased when it was agreed Vera was now Mrs. Smythe and no longer designated as housekeeper. Gertie and Hiram would join a handful of other individuals serving as staff at Government House.
Glenn Lewis wiggled and squirmed, restless with the static nature of the moment. “Where Gran’pa?” he asked. “See Gran’pa! Now!”
“He brings up a good point, Mrs. Smythe,” said Evangeline formally. “Where is my father?”
“Oh, my dear,” said Vera, not noticing the iciness in Evangeline’s voice or choosing to ignore it. “I wanted to wait until later, until you were somewhat settled to tell you.”
“Tell me what? That he’s not here? That he’s injured? That he’s dead?” Emotions pent up for so long threatened to break free. Her gaze softened and moisture threatened to spill from her dark eyes.
“He is, or was fine, the last I saw of him. But as you surmised, he is not here.”
“And where might he be, Mrs. Packing… excuse me, Mrs. Smythe?” Pierce, unable to ignore the disappointment in Evangeline’s eyes, asked in her stead.
“For the moment, let’s say he is on official business for the Independent Lands of Vespica.
“But now, we should get you ashore and settled before the day is gone. We can have dinner and discuss the situation in greater detail.”
Just noticed it's been a week since posting and in an effort to stay on track, here is another excerpt from Darnahsian Pirates: The Third Stone Island Sea Story. This comes from Chapter Ten, "Another Arrival." Enjoy!
Totally unrelated to the post, but here is a painting I did several years ago of a dragon driving a "late model" Corvair along a country lane.
As they watched the bustle on the quay and on deck, and as Hiram and Gertie joined them, a woman stepped out of the crowd and made her way to the foot of the brow. When she noticed a gap in the stream of people going ashore, she quickly came aboard. She looked around for a second or two, spotted Pierce and the others, and headed aft. Junior, on a lead controlled by Hiram, stood alert, his desire to protect on call, and yet his curiosity and basic friendly nature manifesting as well.
“Why Mrs. Packingham! Vera!” said Pierce, recognizing the arrival. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“And you, Edward,” she said with a smile. She looked at the others expectantly.
“Oh yes,” continued Pierce, taken aback. “May I present Mrs. Vera Packingham. She serves as Governor Smythe’s housekeeper and the official hostess of Stone Island.”
Vera nodded, and added, “That is true, but the relationship and the name has changed somewhat. Harold and I were married a year ago.”
“Our best wishes,” said Pierce, taken even more aback. “May I present Mr. Smythe’s daughter, my wife, Evangeline and her son Glenn Lewis. This is Hiram and Gertie, long time retainers and staff for the Smythe household. The four-legged furry gentleman is Junior, who I suspect is actually in charge.”
Pierce detected an awkward moment between Vera and Gertie as both were considered to be Smythe’s housekeeper. That point of conflict eased when it was agreed Vera was now Mrs. Smythe and no longer designated as housekeeper. Gertie and Hiram would join a handful of other individuals serving as staff at Government House.
Glenn Lewis wiggled and squirmed, restless with the static nature of the moment. “Where Gran’pa?” he asked. “See Gran’pa! Now!”
“He brings up a good point, Mrs. Smythe,” said Evangeline formally. “Where is my father?”
“Oh, my dear,” said Vera, not noticing the iciness in Evangeline’s voice or choosing to ignore it. “I wanted to wait until later, until you were somewhat settled to tell you.”
“Tell me what? That he’s not here? That he’s injured? That he’s dead?” Emotions pent up for so long threatened to break free. Her gaze softened and moisture threatened to spill from her dark eyes.
“He is, or was fine, the last I saw of him. But as you surmised, he is not here.”
“And where might he be, Mrs. Packing… excuse me, Mrs. Smythe?” Pierce, unable to ignore the disappointment in Evangeline’s eyes, asked in her stead.
“For the moment, let’s say he is on official business for the Independent Lands of Vespica.
“But now, we should get you ashore and settled before the day is gone. We can have dinner and discuss the situation in greater detail.”