T-P's Creative Writing Class 2009

THE DREAM

Alone on a craggy cliff stood the forbidden walls of Green Bank Manor. This place used to be filled with an abundance of gardens and lively souls. It was a popular resort for newlyweds. One afternoon it changed forever; a wife had walked in on her husband fooling around with the wife of the master of Green Bank. The wife was furious, she slaughtered them both. Knowing she now had nothing left she hung herself. No one has visited the Manor in over twenty years.
Lovely eighteen-year-old Vanessa Fairchild, alone in the world, arrived at Green Bank Manor. The rain hadn’t stopped all day. She got off of the boat and made her way up the cement stairs that lead to the manor. The walk took forever; she arrived at the manor and dropped all her things at the door. She banged the door knocker over and over until someone finally came to the door. Finally the master opened the door. He asked why she had come to the Manor; she told him how she had lost her family in a tragic car accident and had no where else to go, and how someone explained she could find a sanctuary here. He ushered in the sopping wet child. They sat and talked about where she was from and he told her about the house and what it used to be and why no one came around. He told her she was free to stay as long as she pleased. Months and months went by, the Master and Vanessa became very close.
Sir Wedgewood Ledbetter, master of Green Bank Manor, often departed in the middle of the night. At first the girl didn’t bother asking why. She became curious after a while so she decided to follow them one night. The night was November 13th; it was cold, dark, and storming. She followed the men into the village; they were headed for the graveyard. They arrived at their destination and stood there not speaking to one another at all. After about an hour they left to return home. Vanessa hid while they walked past, then once they were out of sight; she went to see what tombstone they had been visiting. It was the Master’s wife’s tombstone. The next morning Vanessa decided to ask the Master why he went out. He was honest and told her everything.
“I know my wife wasn’t the honest woman in the world but I miss her…that’s not the reason I have been visiting her though. See Vanessa my wife didn’t just sleep with that one boy, I always knew there were more but didn’t believe it was so serious. The other week I got a call, apparently one of the men she had been having an affair with came to her funeral. He had placed a priceless necklace in her casket. The man needs it back because he is in massive debt so I told him I would get it for him. It has just been so very hard for me to go. I’m so very sorry for worrying you Vanessa.” The Master said.
“I understand well since it is so hard for you I will do it; ill talk to the grave digger tonight and arrange everything.” Vanessa said.
The Master pleaded, “No you can’t what if something goes wrong, I’m sure that graveyard is filled with curses and all sorts of horrible things, I don’t want to put you at risk darling.”
Vanessa hesitantly agreed. “Ok fine I won’t.”
Vanessa went down to the grave yard to speak with the gravedigger, she knew The Master needed the jewels and she wasn’t scared of any curses so they made the plans anyways.
The next night the grave digger in the church yard in the village near Green Bank Manor brought back the priceless necklace to Vanessa. She was so excited. she went straight up to the Masters room to tell him the good news. She rushed in, but found no one. Then thunder broke the silence, rain began to poor in an open window. She rushed over to shut it. She looked out and saw the master running to the grave yard. Vanessa rushed out of the house to see what was wrong.
Vanessa finally arrived at the tombstone, but no one was there, the master had simply vanished. She headed back to the Manor to see if maybe he had already returned. She arrived at the Manor to find the doors were locked. She banged and yelled but no answer. She sat down on the porch and waited, she dozes off. A bright light wakes Vanessa, it’s her mother who had opened some curtains she woke up and looked around. It was all a dream, the Manor, the grave digger, and everything!
Finally, November 13th arrived it was Vanessa’s 18th birthday. By now the dream was long forgotten. All of her relatives came to see her, she was so happy. She sat around and caught up with everyone then went to open presents, it didn’t take long since they were mostly cards filled with money, which was perfectly fine with Vanessa.
Suddenly just as she finished reciting the last card, her Uncle Tom came in with a small box. He said this gift was very special; it had been passed down from generation to generation. She opened the box and saw a beautiful necklace; it didn’t take her long at all to realize it was the necklace from her dream.