Trapped in a Very Old Mansion!
I’
When Josh arrived in Portland, the weather was 72 degrees and the day would be 12 hours long. He was happy that there was little chance of it getting cold enough for it to snow... after all, he was from San Diego, but yet again he had never been in the snow before.
He spent his first few days getting settled in his dorm room and exploring the area to find the nearest restaurants, movie theaters, and fun places to take a date.
Then decided it was too soon to start down the “Looking for his soul mate path, so he began concentrating on school.
Every time he met someone, he started comparing her to Amy... he meant Zoe.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that he missed Amy (When he first saw her it was “Wow, she is incredible!” at first sight). He scolded himself for not asking her what she wanted to do.
“Why had he chosen to “surprise” her?” he asked himself over and over again.
Then he began to wonder if Zoe and Amy would ever meet and if they did, what would happen.
Since he had only received seven short emails from Zoe in two months, he was sure she had decided to be just friends.
After all being in the “Maze” was exciting... reality, not so much.
When the weather started to turn cold, Josh didn’t mind very much. It was a new experience for him and he found himself hoping for snow.
The closer it got to winter break, the more he started to plan a trip to where there was snow. All he had to do was decide the “Where?” part.
As the temperatures continued to drop, Josh began to believe that this would be one of the “Snow” years. If not there was always Mt. Hood Ski Resort only an hour and a half’s drive away.
Still, Josh was hoping for snow in Portland.
If he had chosen to go to Kansas, there would be lots of snow.
* * * * *
When Zoe arrived at her new home which her parents had just rented, she unpacked and began her grand tour of ‘yet again’ another town. Her father, Alistair, an architect, had taken a job to design a modern mansion reminiscent of those in an older part of town.
She ended her trip at the university where she registered with an undeclared major.
Though she, like Josh, really enjoyed computers, she was also interested in math, medicine... her mother, Katrina, was a nurse and of course, architecture or maybe even real estate.
She had time to decide... there was no rush.
Though she missed Josh, she became increasing aware that most of her feelings for him were because of the ‘maze’.
Dating was a low priority on her list of new things to pursue. Her college schedule was a little of this and a little of that as she tried to choose what academic path to take.
None of them, however, seemed to feel right... none of them had adventure or challenges. The closest that met her desire was designing video games... especially mystery solving ones.
When she was finally able to admit it, she understood that the ‘maze’ had changed her... a lot. The puzzle solving, the time limits, and even the fear was all so exhilarating.
By Halloween, Zoe had already decided to go into computer programing with emphasis on... you guessed it... video game design the next semester.
* * * * *
“Should we still have everyone come for our Halloween party this year?” Amy’s father, John asked.
“Why! Our daughter won’t be... able...” her mother, Marion snapped back and then raced out of the room.
John walked over to his recliner and sank into it. He had no idea how to console his wife.
As time continued on, hope dwindled into the beginning of acceptance... Amy might never wake up again... at least her father did... her mother, however, would not give up hope, no matter how long it would take.
On the evening of what should have been a joyous occasion, Marion was with her daughter. While there, Katrina, Amy’s long-term care nurse came in to check on her.
“Marion!” she exclaimed, surprised to see her there, then quickly continued, “How’s your girl this evening?”
The expression on Marion’s face prompted Katrina to change the subject, quickly.
“Is there anything I can get for you?”
All Marion could do was to lower her head and try not to start crying. She knew if she did that she might not be able to stop. After some research, she knew that her daughter could remain this way for many, many years’
Katrina went about her routine duties and then left. Having a daughter of her own Amy’s age made it very difficult to comfort Marion... as impossible as it would be if their situations were reversed and Zoe was the one in the coma.
* * * * *
Meanwhile:
Alistair spent the time checking out one of the mansions that was for sale. When he arrived, he was surprised to find the lights on.
Not being aware that no one lived there, he knocked on the door and waited.
When no one came, he knocked a second time.
Inside, Amy had started towards the kitchen when she heard the knock on the door. Because the door had no handle, she began to bang on it. When that did no good, she tried to see who was outside... but the glass was opaque.
Alistair began walking away. With the sound of each footstep, Amy began to panic. She was losing what might be a way to get out of her trap.
Before she could slip into complete panic mode, she could hear someone crying... not a soft cry, but one of complete desperation.
Without thinking, she began running for the back stairs towards the sound. At the top, the hallway was empty just like before.
She stood there frozen for a moment until she heard the cry again. It was coming from the attic. Her heart began to race as she climbed another set of stairs.
The door at the top was closed. It creaked as she slowly opened it. The room was dimly lit from the window at the far end. There was a shadowy figure standing closed to it.
The floor beneath Amy’s feet creaked again as she walked forward a few steps.
The startled figure turned when it heard the sound.
“Who are you?” she demanded. “What are you doing in my house?”
By now, Amy was aware that she had to fix whatever this women’s problem was.
“My name is Amy... and I’m here to help you,” she explained.
“You can’t help me... No one can!” she shouted and turned back towards the window again and began to reach for the latch to open it.
“Wait! Amy yelled.”
The woman kept her back turned and her hand on the latch.
“Please!” Amy pleaded. “I can help you.”
“How?” the woman quietly asked in a completely defeated tone.
“What happened, I mean what’s wrong?”
“I’ve lost everything,” she sobbed turning towards Amy again... “My job, my husband and now I’m going to lose my house!”
Amy was afraid to ask what the date was, though she suspected from the look of her clothing, it was about the time of the market crash of 1929.
All Amy could think to say was, “Why your house?”
“I can’t pay the mortgage,” she cried, then turned back towards the window again.
“Do you have any family that can help you?”
“No!” she snapped before continuing, “My sister is going up to the tallest building in town tomorrow after she makes arrangements for her daughter.”
“That’s great... I mean that you have a sister that can help you.”
“How, what can she do?”
“Help you turn this place into a boarding house. You have lots of bedrooms and a huge kitchen and dining room. You can help other people and get enough money and resources to get through this, it won’t last forever and then you will get to keep your home.”
“How can you know that?” she asked looking puzzled.
“When has any economic crisis ever lasted very long?”
“Oh you’re right!” It doesn’t, does it.
“No, it doesn’t. I need to get over to my sister’s house!” she exclaimed as she rushed past Amy and headed down the stairs.
“Two lives saved. Not bad,” Amy thought and then raced down the two flights of stairs, across the kitchen and to the entry just in time to see the door was still closed.
Amy was so upset with herself for taking to much time feeling so proud.
She walked slowly into the living room and sat down on a sofa... and waited... for a long time.
* * * * *
Greg sat in his English class waiting for it to start. He sat up front next to an empty seat on his left and a girl sitting on his right.
He decided to introduce himself.
After taking a deep breath, the girl dropped her book on the floor. Another student on her other side leaned down to pick it up. Their eyes met and their smiles caused Greg to turn back in his seat.
Thoughts of Amy flashed in his mind, but they were mostly of guilt for not staying with her. His sadness made him rethink his decision to move on. Consoling himself, he knew she was still in a coma and might never wake up.
“Excuse me,” someone said, bringing him back to reality.
Greg turned and sat there speechless.
“Is anyone sitting here?” she asked.
“No,” was all Greg, who was in awl of a rush of emotions he had never felt before, could manage to say.
After getting settled in her seat, she turned and extended her hand.
“Hi, I’m Zoe.”
Chills ran down his back when Greg took her hand. He looked to see if she felt the same, but couldn’t tell though she didn’t let go of his hand until the teacher interrupt them and started the class. Then he felt embarrassed because he was so captivated by her that he didn’t introduce himself... something he would absolutely do when class ended which would not be for another fifty minutes of having his heart beating wildly.
He spent the entire class with thoughts running through his mind, like how totally beautiful she was... how smart she was... how much he hoped she didn’t have a boyfriend.
Finally class ended and he didn’t hesitate to say, “Hi, I’m Greg.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Zoe said smiling.
“Well, I’m headed for Mr. Clarkson’s math class,” Greg smiled back.
“So am I,” Zoe continued to smile.
After math they went in opposite directions, but not before agreeing to have lunch together.
At last it was noon and they met in the cafeteria. They learned they had all of their minor classes together, but were in different majors... Zoe was in Computers and Greg was in music.
For the next several months, they became inseparable. They had class’s together, lunch together... even on weekends... and went to dinner, played video games at an arcade, movies, roller skating, and of course studied together.
Time went by quickly. Halloween was just a few days away and they were looking forward to the party at Zoe’s parents. It was a big event for them every year no matter where the lived. They always managed to find people from their work and from Zoe’s school to come. They always made it a pot luck dinner and an open house so people could come and go when ever they wanted.
It was the most fun Greg had had at Halloween and he decided if they got married, he would continue the tradition.
They had a difficult time saying goodnight when the party ended, everyone else had left and Greg had to go home to his dorm room.
They stayed on the porch for sometime talking and kissing goodnight until Greg finally had to leave.
This story will continue!