theredveranda_fullrewrite

7/24/2019 TheRedVeranda_FullRewrite

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Willeford 1

Patti Willeford

Jen Murvin Edwards

ENG 215-001

10 October 2009

!e "ed #eranda

!e $randiose blue$rass ar%s etc!ed out of t!e estate stretc!ed far& "ic! $rasses' w!ic!

feed t!e !orses& (iona watc!ed t!e%&Perfection.)andsca*e s*i+ed wit! trees' ta*ered wit!

flowers' and serrated b, fences' t!e lus! land s!ar*ened $reen *at!s' w!ic! waited to be strolled&

!e ed$es bounded b, scattered trees& !e s!ar* dried *ine, needles stabbed into t!e eart!& To

keep the people away, I hate visitors.

!e bod, of t!e estate stood bluntl,' *ea+ed on t!e !illside& !e torso divided in !ei$!t

b, t!ree se$%ents' w!ic! overloo+ed t!e valle, below&How grand the estate is. Glass e,es

ali$ned in rows and rows !oned' and $listened to *erfection& Shiny windows to capture the

morning light. !i**ed out li+e scars a$ainst t!e s+,' t!e barns' t!e outbuildin$s' t!e

s%o+e!ouses' t!e bun+!ouses' t!e corrals' and t!e $ardens en$raved t!e !illside wit! tattooed

*atterns of wealt!& My enormous house, my beast, my love, stands tall against the sky.

!e le$s were c!iseled' and *aved b, t!e blood of under*aid wor+ers&!e, turned' and

wound down t!e !ill' to reac! t!e valle, below&usy little bees, nosy little bees, they all want

what I have.Eac! twisted toe for%ed a $raveled slice to be travelled& !e towns*eo*le lived' and

wor+ed bisected b, class se$%ents' w!ic! divided t!e co%%unities' into s%aller *arts of t!e

w!ole& !e !illside estate once owned t!e towns*eo*le' in a for%er *eriod of ti%e& !ll bought

and paid for long ago, they will take it from me if I"m not careful.


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Willeford 2

!e !ead of t!e estate' (iona' closed t!e $ate be!ind !er' s%iled as s!e left t!e !orses&

.oftl, (iona/s feet touc!ed t!e $rass as s!e re%oved !er s!oes&How velvety smooth the grass

feels. .!e sat down on t!e !illside beside t!e $ardens' w!ic! loo+ed down at t!e valle, below&

The little people rush here and there. (iona s%elled t!e lavender in t!e air& .!e arc!ed !er !ead

bac+' lowered !er blonde !air till it reac!ed t!e dirt' beneat! t!e $rass& .!e stro+ed t!e blades

between !er t!in bon, fin$ers& .!e closed !er e,es a$ainst t!e turf& #ater and sand, a

screwdriver rests between my finger cracks.I want to go there someday, I want to sit on the

beach& (iona sat u*& er *rofessionall, %anicured facial structures si$!ed at t!e distance created'

in t!e na%e of' civilit,&

!e !and,%an' "ud, %es' a**roac!ed !er unannounced& Miss (iona' 3/ve finis!ed--

(iona startled b, "ud,& "ud,4 Net ti%e !ave ,ourself announced46

.orr,' Miss (iona& 3 7ust wanted to let ,ou +now 3 finis!ed wit! t!e roof re*airs&6

3 c!ec+ed on re*lace%ent costs&6

#ho is this man to tell me what I can, and cannot do$ He is a mere commoner& "ud,

s%iled at (iona' and waved' as !e *ac+ed !is i%*le%ents and left& .!e watc!ed !is rust, truc+'

as it ra%bled down t!e s*in, road to town& (iona t!ou$!t about t!e refined and a%enable Miss

(iona alwa,s friendl,' *leasant' and $ood natured& ow civili8ed&

(iona brus!ed off !er cultured clot!in$' *araded u* t!e !ill to t!e %ain !ouse& (iona

cleaned t!e enor%ous !ouse' t!e beast& eneat! t!e sil+ and linen' callused !ard +nees ac!ed' as

s!e *aced t!e oa+ staircase& ours *assed& (inis!ed wit! t!e !eav, burden' s!e *laced so%e


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Willeford 3

c!owder on t!e ran$e& !owder' brot! enric!ed to c!owder& .!e s%elled lavender& .!e loved t!e

s%ell of lavender&

(iona delicatel, was!ed' rinsed' dried' and stac+ed' t!e one set of c!ina s!e used& .!e

$rabbed t!e %ailba$' wal+ed a %ile down t!e !ill to t!e %ailbo& The mailman hates me. !e

c!assis of t!e %ailbo was two feet b, two feet' stuffed full of 7un+&He does it on purpose& ac+

u* t!e !ill s!e %arc!ed& (iona o*ened t!e %out! of t!e beast' and entered t!e office& .eated at

t!e c!err, des+ wit! t!e %ail' an !our *assed' eac! envelo*e' classified b,' now' %a,be' or

never& (iona tras!ed all t!e catalo$s and %a$a8ines& I don"t have time to read&

(iona s!owered' $roo%ed !erself to *erfection. :ressed' li+e !er %ot!er trained !er to

do& .!e ste**ed out of t!e bell, of t!e beast& .eated on t!e veranda' (iona waited& !e ladies of

!i$! societ, arrived& Mother"s friends the watchdogs of society. (iona $reeted eac! wit! a s%ile&

.i ladies sat on t!e veranda' (iona stood& The busy old biddies, they come from town to spy on

me. uesda,/s tea *art,' (iona wis!ed t!e tradition !ad ended w!en !er %ot!er ended&

Mrs& Mor$an' !er %ot!er/s oldest friend' was !ated b, all& Mrs& Mor$an in;uired&

(iona' !ave ,ou eaten dinner


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Willeford 4

Mrs& aster' t!e second ric!est %e%ber of our co%%unit,' !ated %e& W!o s*illed red

*aint on t!e veranda' (iona


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Willeford 5

and stac+ed' !er c!ina& .!e %arc!ed to t!e veranda' and s!e carried t!e ba$s of $roceries to t!e

tras! du%*& .!e *ainted t!e veranda w!ite a$ain& :own t!e !ill' (iona saw "ud, %es' !eaded

!er wa,& (ust wait )udy !mes, you"ll get yours, someday. .!e *ic+ed u* t!e *aint and su**lies'

and !eaded for t!e wor+s!o*&

"ud,' 3 *ainted t!e veranda a$ain&6

"ud, confused& Miss (iona' ,ou stained it a$ain' didn/t ,ou


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Willeford 6

!e cu*boards !ad been bare ever, ti%e !e c!ec+ed& #here are the groceries I brought

her, what did she do with them$ "ud, loo+ed for t!e $roceries? !e found t!e% stuffed in t!e

tras! bins out bac+hat is she eating$

>>>

(iona startled b, t!e rudeness' "ud, s!owed !er' strolled down t!e *at! to t!e $ardens&

!e life of leisure is t!e life s!e lived& .!e sat down wit! !er boo+ of *oetr, and esca*ed to

anot!er world& .!e avoided t!e rude "ud,&

"ud, a**roac!ed !er& Miss (iona' 3/ve finis!ed@

(iona 7u%*ed as !e s*o+e& "ud,46

.orr,' Miss (iona& 3 7ust wanted to let ,ou +now 3 finis!ed t!e !eater& 3 do reco%%end

,ou !ave it re*laced soon&6

I"ll do that, you"re my boss, and I obey your every command.

3ts ti%e e*ired a lon$ ti%e a$o&6

"ud, wandered awa, fro% !er& (iona closed !er boo+ and returned to t!e beast& !e

base%ent stun+ of "ud,& .!e vo%ited on t!e floor' t!e odor sic+ened !er& .!e cli%bed t!e !ard

stairs' $rabbed t!e %o* buc+et and cleaned t!e base%ent wit! bleac!& !e odors overca%e !er

and s!e !ad to ;uit&

.!e cleaned t!e %onster' s!e dusted' s!e swe*t' and s!e we*t& I clean the house, a

princess is not supposed to clean. .!e na**ed a w!ile& .!e war%ed c!owder for lunc!&


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Willeford 7

)avender' s!e s%elled lavender& .!e loved t!e s%ell of lavender& .!e finis!ed? "ud, +noc+ed on

t!e door& (iona answered t!e door&

"ud, s%iled& Miss (iona' 3 finis!ed wit! t!e !orses and stoc+& e offered etra

$roceries to !er& M, wife bou$!t too %uc!' for 7ust t!e two of us&6

(iona flus!ed& "ud,' ,ou s!ould !ave ta+en t!e% into town' to t!e !o%eless s!elter& 3

a% overstoc+ed on $roceries&6 "ud, i$nored !er state%ent&

3 stoc+ed t!e barn wit! feed for t!e stoc+&6

(iona nodded at "ud,& .!e closed t!e door& e stood t!ere' s!oc+ed at !er be!avior& e

*ulled t!e rest of t!e $roceries out of t!e tras! bins& e stac+ed t!e% in t!e bac+ of !is truc+&

(iona *ee+ed at !i% fro% t!e e,es of t!e beast&He must be starving, to go through my trash, like

that.

(iona reac!ed in !er *oc+et' and s!e *ulled out a +nife& #here did I get this knife$ (iona

went to t!e +itc!en and *ut it u*& .!e was!ed' rinsed' dried' and stac+ed' !er c!ina fro% lunc!&

.!e suffered' as s!e cli%bed t!e s*ine of t!e beast? s!e dressed in !er $arden clot!es& .!e

weeded t!e $ardens' for two !ours& .!e !ad *luc+ed t!e $re, !airs fro% t!e beast' a**earance

%ust be %aintained&

(iona went u* t!e !ill to t!e %ain !ouse? s!e bat!ed and dressed for dinner& .eated at

t!e lar$e dinner table' s!e noticed t!e cleaver' in t!e %iddle of t!e table& !owder for dinner'

(iona loved c!owder& .!e *laced t!e cleaver bac+ in t!e +nife rac+& amn old ladies0 They put

that on the table& (iona *re*ared for bed&.!e sle*t& !e beast screec!ed loudl, in t!e ni$!t&


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Willeford 8

etween slee* and awa+e' (iona felt t!e *ain' w!ic! arose fro% t!e dee*' wit!in !er& !e beast

sto**ed %a+in$ noise? s!e laid !er !ead bac+ down' and returned to slee*&

(iona s!oo+& .!e noticed t!e e,es of t!e beast' frosted over' on t!e inside& !e ice

$listened in t!e %ornin$ li$!t& .!e dressed ;uic+& (iona wore !er lu%ber7ac+ clot!in$& .!e

coo+ed c!owder for brea+fast& (iona was!ed' rinsed' dried and stac+ed !er c!ina fro% brea+fast&

.!e *ic+ed u* t!e c!ainsaw' and wal+ed into t!e woods& (iona/s fat!er !ad tau$!t !er

!ow to cut down a tree& !e, %ostl, !ad onl, done t!is at !rist%as& (iona searc!ed t!e trees

for t!e *erfect one&It has to be perfect. .!e started t!e c!ainsaw& .!e sawed t!e fallen tree into

*ieces& (iona carried t!e *ieces down t!e !ill to t!e %ain !ouse& "ud, wal+ed around t!e corner

of t!e !ouse&

Miss (iona' do ,ou need t!at !eater re*laced sooner


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Willeford 9

!and& #hat the hell0.!e dro**ed it in t!e sin+& #hy are there so many knives in this house$.!e

was!ed' rinsed' dried' and stac+ed !er c!ina& (iona wal+ed outside to t!e $ardens& .!e sto**ed

w!en s!e s%elled t!e lavender&

ours *assed' w!ic! see%ed li+e %inutes to (iona& er fin$ers ac!ed fro% t!e $arden&

(iona tried !ard to for$et t!e *ain' as s!e closed !er e,es& (iona concentrated on t!e lavender&

.!e loved t!e s%ell of lavender& .!e w!ac+ed so%e lavender down' retreated to t!e beast& .!e

c!o**ed t!e lavender into s%all *ieces& (iona coo+ed t!e lavender on to* of t!e stove& !e beast

s%elled li+e flowers& (iona loved t!e s%ell of flowers&

(iona dressed for dancin$' in !er finest clot!es& .!e danced for !ours in t!e ballroo%' to

t!e %usic t!at *la,ed in !er !ead& er sto%ac! $rowled loudl,&I wonder what lavender tastes

like. (iona starved' *oured a bowl of c!owder fro% t!e *ot on t!e stove& .!e loved c!owder&

fter dinner s!e was!ed' rinsed' dried and stac+ed !er c!ina&

(iona reali8ed t!e !ouse !ad $otten cold& .!e retrieved so%e firewood fro% t!e bac+ of

t!e !ouse& .!e started a fire in t!e fire*lace downstairs& (iona %ade a %a+es!ift bed near t!e

fire*lace& (iona laid !er !ead down' on t!e *illow' and listened to t!e crac+ed sound t!e fire

%ade& !e beast w!istled in t!e ni$!t& (iona awa+ened to t!e stran$e sound' w!ic! ec!oed in

!er ears& .!e c!ec+ed downstairs' not!in$& .!e c!ec+ed u*stairs' all t!e e,es of t!e beast' *o+ed

out& Glass covered t!e floors& (iona !urried bac+ downstairs? s!e curled u* under !er blan+ets'

near t!e fire& .!e bla%ed "ud, for t!e windows' !e was %ad at !er&He hates me.

(iona bat!ed' and dressed& .!e war%ed u* so%e c!owder for brea+fast& (iona was!ed'

rinsed' dried' and stac+ed' !er c!ina fro% brea+fast& .!e ste**ed out of t!e %out! of t!e beast'

onto t!e veranda& (iona loo+ed down at a red stain on t!e floor& .!e turned around' went bac+


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Willeford 10

into t!e !ouse& (iona sla%%ed t!e door s!ut& .!e $rabbed t!e buc+et' and t!e brus!es& .!e

scrubbed t!e red stain for !ours& Pin+' t!e stain turned *in+& 'od damn it0(iona decided to

*aint t!e veranda a$ain& .!e !eard t!e ru%bled sound of "ud,/s truc+' as it ca%e u* t!e drive&

.!e waited' wit! !er ar%s crossed& "ud, *ar+ed !is truc+' and wal+ed u* t!e *at!& Miss (iona'

,ou stained t!e veranda a$ain46

(iona sna**ed& "ud, stained t!e veranda a$ain46

Miss (iona' ,ou stained it' re%e%ber


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Willeford 11

(iona s%iled& "ud, *ainted t!e veranda46

(iona lau$!ed and $i$$led& "ud, s!oo+ !is !ead and wal+ed to !is truc+& .!e watc!ed

!i% as !e *ac+ed it u* and drove awa,& 'ood riddance&

.!e %arc!ed u* t!e !ill to t!e %ain !ouse& :innerti%e' so%e!ow' s!e %issed lunc!

toda,& .!e decided to !ave c!owder for dinner& (iona *laced it on t!e stove& .!e cli%bed t!e

stairs' and dressed for dinner& (iona finis!ed' and returned to t!e +itc!en& .!e was!ed' rinsed'

dried' and stac+ed' !er c!ina fro% dinner& .!e bat!ed' and dressed for bed& (iona reali8ed t!e

!ouse was cold&

.!e %arc!ed to t!e base%ent' and c!ec+ed t!e !eater& )udy broke the heater, on purpose&

I think he hates me& (iona stac+ed so%e firewood b, t!e fire*lace and wor+ed on a fire&He

wants me to free*e to death& .!e loo+ed around t!e roo%& %a+es!ift bed' so%ebod, !ad been

in !er !ouse& )udy naps on the ob, if only my father was still alive& (iona c!an$ed t!e s!eets

and blan+ets' and went to slee*& .!e was awa+ened b, t!e rain& 3t sounded so loud& (iona !ad

$otten u*' and c!ec+ed t!e windows' and doors& .!e ste**ed in *uddle' after *uddle' t!rou$!out

t!e !ouse& .!e $at!ered u* *ots' and *ans& .!e *laced t!e% all over t!e !ouse' and went bac+ to

bed& (iona tried to slee*& !e rain sounded li+e struc+ nails&

(iona ste**ed out !er %a+es!ift bed into a *ot of water& .!e $lanced around t!e

downstairs area and found *ots and *ans ever,w!ere& #ho is in my house$! ghost< 3t too+

(iona two !ours to $et t!e% du%*ed& .!e cleaned u* t!e %ess t!e, %ade& (iona bat!ed' and

dressed in !er $arden clot!es toda,& .!e %ade c!owder for brea+fast& (iona !ad two !el*in$s

toda,& .!e was!ed' rinsed' dried' and stac+ed' !er c!ina w!en s!e finis!ed&


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Willeford 12

(iona o*ened t!e front door& .!e wal+ed out on t!e veranda& .!e breat!ed dee*l,' and

envelo*ed t!e lavender in t!e air& (iona $li%*sed "ud, !eaded !er wa,& .!e loo+ed down' and

saw a red stain under !er feet& 'od damn it& "ud, stood in front of !er now& .!e $ras*ed t!e

blade in !er *oc+et& 3n one swift %otion' s!e *ierced "ud, in t!e !eart& .!e watc!ed t!e red

stain run down t!e veranda& .!e ste**ed into t!e %out! of t!e beast& (iona $rabbed t!e %o*&

(iona %o**ed t!e stain fro% one end of t!e veranda to t!e ot!er& .!e stared at t!e veranda' and

felt satisfied wit! !er wor+& !e veranda was red&

theredveranda_fullrewrite

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