Tuesday Tales: From the Word PILLOW

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales and the first post of a brand-new year. Let’s hope it’s a good one for all of us. I was going to jump ahead in the story, but since everyone is so interested in Selma’s story, I thought I would give you a couple more posts. Today’s word is PILLOW.

“What happened then?” As much as she wanted to know, she didn’t, and while she could see reliving all this was hard on the elderly woman, she couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“The servants and the police contacted my father, and within an hour, men from the asylum arrived and took her away. I stayed in the house with the servants to look after me, and each night when I buried my face in my pillow and cried my heart out, Hester came to comfort me. Six months later, my mother returned to the house, quieter most of the time, but living here was like walking on eggshells. You never knew what might set her off. My father knew she couldn’t be left alone, so he arranged for a nurse to move in with us. Delphine, a Creole woman from New Orleans, had a calming effect on her. Maybe she reminded her of her old nanny, but it was Sapphire, the parrot she brought with her that made all the difference.”

“That bird must be even older than I imagined.”

“She’s almost ninety, but she’s become a good friend to both Hester and me. By the time I was nineteen, things had calmed down at Cole Cottage, so much so that Russell brought his wife and five-year-old son, David, to visit. Mother spent most of her time in a daze, no doubt drug-induced, but life was pleasant. As long as no one rocked the boat, Mother was fine. Sadly, that changed when Colby and I started courting. The fits and tantrums were back, worse than ever each time he came to the house, or I went out with him. Finally, for her sake and mine, I broke it off with him. I loved him, but in my own way I also loved my mother. Father had died, leaving everything in trust to the estate. We were alone, the three of us, Mother, Delphine, and me. Every now and then, Hester manifested when I was at my lowest moments, but stayed away from Mother unless she thought I was in danger again.”

“She was more of a mother to you than your own was.” At least the ghost had been concerned for her safety.

“In some ways, yes, just as she’s tried to be to you. But don’t be too hard on your grandmother. She was sick. Today, with modern treatment and medication, her life would be far different.”

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.