Viola
Emerson was a great addition to our household. He got himself a job at the hospital, so he could make sure he was contributing to the bills. In his spare time he liked to upgrade our plumbing - I don’t know why he found that enjoyable, but he did.
Emerson was a great addition to our household. He got himself a job at the hospital, so he could make sure he was contributing to the bills. In his spare time he liked to upgrade our plumbing - I don’t know why he found that enjoyable, but he did.
He also liked to work out and keep fit, and I was glad someone was actually using our pool.
I got home from work one day, not long after Emerson had moved in, to find Velvet had invited dad over. I chatted to him while I was waiting for my friend Dylan to arrive. I realised as we talked that a lot of the anger I’d felt towards him previously had faded. I knew Emma Hatch had died recently, and I think this made me feel a little sympathy towards him. I know this sounds strange, since Emma was one of the reasons he’d ended it with mom. The truth is, I’m not a vindictive person. I wasn’t the type of person to say ‘I told you so’ and rub it in his face.
So, instead, we ended up chatting about the one thing we really had in common - music. He said his career was still going well, and asked me how I was doing with my busking.
‘You’re not thinking about getting a job at the theatre?’ he asked. ‘You know that’s how I got my foot in the door with Tainted Soul.’
I shook my head. ‘I’m happy with my job at the spa. I know it doesn’t pay much, but I love it. We have enough money, we still have our inheritance from you and the real estate you gave us.’
Dad looked pleased to hear this. ‘You still own the diner?’
I nodded. ‘Yep. And we still have the shares in the bookstore and the supermarket too.’
Dad smiled. ‘Good to hear. Sounds like you’ve been making some very smart decisions, Viola.’
I beamed, just as I heard Dylan’s car pull up.
‘I’ll catch up some more with you later dad, my friend Dylan’s here now.’
He grinned. ‘A boyfriend?’
I laughed. ‘No, dad. But I’ll let you know if and when, yeah?’
I’d met Dylan when I was busking one night - he’d stayed and listened to me long after the crowd had died down, and we’d become fast friends. We went inside to catch up, not that there was a lot of that to do, since I’d just seen him at the wedding.
‘You look nice all scrubbed up,’ I said teasingly. ‘Hot date tonight?’
He laughed. ‘I wish! I took my mom out for a late lunch, didn’t have time to change.’
‘Awww, that’s nice. I was just catching up with my dad.’
‘Yeah, I saw. It’s different to see the man in person, rather than up on the big stage!’
Emerson came downstairs and joined us - he’d been upgrading another bathroom fixture, I think - and we all had a good chat.
Velvet and dad were still chatting in the kitchen, and Sean had joined them.
‘Where’s Tony?’ I asked Emerson.
‘He’s gone to bed, he’s exhausted,’ Emerson grinned. ‘He was up all last night working on his book.’
The landline phone started ringing then, which I thought was odd, since we all mostly used our mobiles. And that’s when I heard a scream from the kitchen.
I raced in, and a horrible sight met my eyes.
I was a mess as the Grim Reaper came to take my dad away from me.
I couldn’t bear to watch as I saw his translucent form beg with the Grim Reaper.
It wasn’t his time to go. The Grim had no mercy though, and all of a sudden - my dad was gone.
I walked into the living room - I couldn’t stay in the kitchen - and just stood there, numb.
My dad was gone. He’d never write another song, perform another concert. I’d never be able to tell him when I got a boyfriend, got married, have children even - all those things I imagined myself doing someday. And the saddest thing was, I don’t think he ever really found what he was looking for.
I blinked back tears and glanced toward the kitchen. Emerson and Dylan were still there, talking in low voices.
‘You tell her.’
‘No, you should. She knows you better.’
I took a deep breath and concentrated on making my voice steady. ‘Wh-what are you talking about?’
They both looked at me, startled. Dylan came over to me, Emerson following.
Dylan spoke, all in a rush. ‘Viola - there was a message on the phone, from when it rang before.’
I just stared at him, wondering why he was telling me about a phone message when my dad had just died.
Dylan continued. He had a strange expression on his face. ‘Viola, I’m sorry, but it was about your mom. She - she passed away tonight as well. I’m sorry.’
I didn’t know what to say. There was nothing to say. I pushed past them and walked slowly upstairs to my room. I cried myself to sleep.
***
‘Mmmmm.’
‘Don’t freak out, but I thought I should let you know I’m here. To help you through this, with your life.’
‘Do you know, with everything that happened last night, I am very unsurprised to hear a voice in my head.’
‘Oh good. You’re taking this a lot better than your dad did.’
‘Who are you? Did you help him too?’
‘Yes. I am sort of like, a wish granting fairy, if you will. I will help you get whatever you wish for.’
‘Well, this seems like a bright spot in the darkness. Are you going to be in my head all the time?’
‘Depends if you want me here. Your dad didn’t like me in his head much, so mostly I just helped him fulfil his wishes without him knowing.’
‘I like you here. For now, anyway. Do you have a name, wish fairy?’
‘It’s Courtney.’
‘Well, Courtney, all I want to do today is paint.’
‘It’s done, Viola.
***
‘I see you just finished crying in the bathroom.’
‘I didn’t want anyone to see me. Why is Dylan here?’
‘You invited him to stay the night, remember?’
‘Oh yeah.’
***
‘What are you doing, Viola?’
‘Buying out the bookstore.’
‘I think your dad would approve. Are you going to re-name it?’
‘Yep. Viola’s Bookstore.’
‘Very cute. Are you going to bed now?’
‘No, me and Tony are going to the graveyard.’
***
‘Sean is here.’
‘Yes, he took his boss out to dinner. I guess the graveyard is the place to schmooze crime bosses.’
‘Well, I laid flowers on my parents graves. It’s creepy here, there are lots of ghosts.
‘I think you should go home, you look upset.’
‘No, I want to stay here for a bit. I think I’ll just sit and read my book.
‘Oh my God there is a ghost standing right next to us.’
‘Yes, there is a ghost over near Sean too. I think he is a bit freaked out because his boss went home and he is sitting over there all by himself.
‘Sean and Tony are going home.’
‘I don’t want to stay here by myself!’
‘Well, hurry up then!
‘Sean is sleeping in my bed.’
‘Yes, I don’t quite know why he did that. You could sleep in his bed, if you like.’
‘No, I’ll just sleep here.’
‘Goodnight Viola.’
***
RIP, Hadley.
__________________________________________________________
Author's Notes:
I could not believe it - Hadley and Kate died at the same time. I was just sitting there with the game paused staring openmouthed at the screen.
I could not believe it - Hadley and Kate died at the same time. I was just sitting there with the game paused staring openmouthed at the screen.
I used that screenshot of Emerson and Dylan in the kitchen talking for story purposes, but do you know what they were actually talking about? Emerson was asking his star sign. And this is not the only time he does it.
I have switched writing style because it is very hard to let you know what the other housemates are doing when I’m writing in narrative style from Viola’s point of view. To continue the narrative style I’d have to use Emerson’s point of view, and I really did not want to do that. I’m hoping it will be easy to follow for you, and hopefully it will be funnier. I may go back to the more formal narrative style, I may not. I will have to see where the story goes and what writing style suits the story the best.
Want to know what could have happened to Viola if she didn’t take so kindly to me being in her head? Read this if you haven’t already. It’s hilarious.
Until next time,
xx Courtney
Oh no! This is so sad. Firstly seeing Hadley go, and then Kate is dying at the same time. The game really can't be that cruel, can it? Unbelievable. Poor Viola (and Velvet,too). This must be so hard for them...
ReplyDeleteNevertheless I loved the way you talked to Viola. And now I will go and read the alternative talk to Viola. :)
So sad that she lost both parents at the same time. And I'm okay with the switch since I do like knowing what's going on with the others. And Emerson has a wondering eye, that could end in heart break for Tony,
ReplyDeleteOh, that's so sad! I can't believe they both died on the same night! Poor Viola.
ReplyDeleteThe switch in narrative was quite interesting. I like how it lets you tell everyone's story.
Oh how sad!!! I was surprised when Hadley went at the same time as Kate as she was a lot older than he was. I absolutely loved seeing your graveyard pictures - you obviously don't have ambitions installed - ambitions was a pain - when we got the ghosthunter profession they also removed the ghosts from the graveyard - i am still annoyed about that!!! lol - loved the asylum plug again :) I clicked on it not thinking where I might end up :/
ReplyDelete