Aunt Daisy Knows

By Susan Hankinson

Could this strange looking and crazy talking woman of age be overcome from what happened in the past at Piney Haven, or was it the wine and pipe smoking that lead her to say things that just seemed to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and scream.

Only Aunt Daisy can recall what happened when she was a little girl. Maybe its her age or a slight case of dementia. Other residents of Pinetown who have heard the stories dont want history mentioned and definitely dont want it revived

Daisy knows wishing and hoping will not stop it from reoccurring because all things are in perfect order, the new residents have moved in and the change is under way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 12, 2008
• ISBN: 9781452064574

Susan Hankinson

Author's biograpy - Sue Hankinson   Sue started writing stories for her children’s enjoyment many years ago. As they grew up, got married and had their own children, she renewed her interest in children’s writing. Her eight grandchildren are now her most beloved critics.   Her characters are drawn from different events and people in her life, as well as from her background in nursing and her interaction with mentally and physically challenged children. Growing up in a rural area of New Jersey, especially on her sister’s farm, she was able to observe animals in their natural habitat.   Her deep-seated faith in God encourages her to present moral teachings in a way that is enjoyed and accepted by young children.   Illustrator - Jessica Kasper   Jessica loves illustrating animals in a way that helps tell a story. Her background is diverse, ranging from a line of pocket books to sets for Renaissance Faires

Book preview

© 2010 Susan Hankinson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 2/12/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4389-2647-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-6457-4 (ebk)

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

To Aunt Dee and Uncle Charlie

Chapter One

"O h, I just can’t believe it’s ours. Sixty-five acres of farmland, an old farm house, a small barn with three stanchions, plus a few sheds still standing, or should I say leaning but still useable?

Marty, you are happy, aren’t you? I know it took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it will be worth it. We’ll have our own farm in the country just as we always hoped for. It’s going to be the perfect place to raise our future family. Marty, you really have caught a nasty cold from being in the rain during the auction last week. Thanks again, honey, for my dream home in the woods.

Jan, I want to look through the sheds and barn. Are you coming with me?

No, Marty, I can’t wait to get started cleaning and decorating the house. Go ahead and have a good time investigating and taking account of farming tools.

You mean trying to figure out what I’m going to do with all the junk we took ownership of.

Marty headed toward the barn knowing full well he didn’t know the first thing about animals or farming. The thrill of buying this piece of God’s country and being able to put his name on the deed should give him incentive to learn.

He entered the barn from the back door wondering to himself how many times people had walked across the large flat fieldstone that graced the doorway. He reached up and screwed in the bare bulb that dangled in the light socket, all the while a little worried about what he might find once light was shed on the interior.

Spiders everywhere and cobwebs, or were they called cowwebs? Oh, man, how this makes this city boy’s skin crawl. It was as stated, three stanchions in good condition and able to withstand the most restless critter. Well, it will certainly be awhile before they would get a work out.

His mind was leaning more towards being a cat and dog farmer, with maybe a chicken or a duck or whatever was deemed necessary by his attorney in order to qualify for farmland assessment. As he stood there taking in the sights the barn had to offer as far as shovels, scrapers, and of course the standard four prong pitchfork, he could smell the sweetness of the hay and straw. He wondered what had happened to the animals that were there the day of the auction. Well, he reasoned, someone must have purchased them prior to the sale of the machinery and property. Funny he didn’t remember anything being said about the stock. Thank goodness he didn’t have to worry about the animals, he would have his hands full just working every day trying to restore the house and sheds back to their original condition. As far as the barn went it could wait, and so could the bugs and spiders that inhabited its dingy interior.

Back outside the sun reminded the earth that night would soon be upon it. Marty headed toward the house feeling proud of their purchase, with hope that this was a smart move to make. After all, they were city slickers born and bred in the Big Apple. They were used to the hustle and bustle of the taxis, trains, and subways, not to mention that while he had no fear of cockroaches or even average sized city rats, raccoons, skunks, and ground hogs would take some getting used to, if he ever could. Spiders, let’s not forget the spiders, either.

As he was walking toward the house he spotted the deer in the field. How regal they were, like brown statues against the red sunset. He stood in awe watching their every move, or were they watching his? No, of course not. Marty, get a grip of your imagination, this new adventure you and Jan have undertaken is going to get the best of you. Reality got hold of Marty’s imagination by telling him, Now think, you’re 34 years old, you’ve been in city gang fights, bar room brawls, and even the army on stand-by orders awaiting possible troop movement to a foreign war front, not to mention you were sent to the country every summer for camp and then you were a child in a tent in the middle of the woods and the deer never bothered you. Marty thought to himself, you’re losing it farmer Cords. When his thoughts returned to the deer he clapped his hands and watched them run, feeling more secure with the thought he could control their visits to the farm somewhat or at least the length of time they stayed.

Jan had just turned on the lights in the house. It made the house come alive, giving the illusion of warmth, peace, and security to a grand old dwelling. His eyes returned to the doorway just as Jan was coming out on the porch to call him for supper.

Hurry, Marty, the soup is hot, the bread and cheese are fresh, and the wine is chilled. Jan was riding high on a cloud of happiness because of their new home in the country, the thoughts of starting their family, and most of all because of the love they shared with each other.

Marty hurried his pace. That’s just what he needed, a meal, or was it the chilled wine to help him ease some of his doubts. It would all work out to be wonderful and perfect, he was just tired and hungry and not really partial to the country way of life. Most of all he found no love in his heart for the critters, any of them. He swore they could read your mind, and noisy, so damn noisy and brazen, plus hungry, always hungry, even stealing. As he reached the porch steps, he could smell the soup. His stomach growled from the need of nourishment.

Jan had worked hard to clean the kitchen. The room showed proof of several hours of elbow grease and a plentiful helping of Mr. Clean. The appliances, although not very modern, still continued to be at the user’s beck and call. At least they had the appearance of being loved and cared for. Everything in the kitchen seemed to sparkle from Jan’s loving attention. In the center of the room was a small, possibly oak, table with a fresh green and white checked table cloth on it with unfamiliar dishes and flatware set, marking the places where each of them would sit while dining on their first gourmet meal in their new abode.

While they were eating they talked over their first day’s discoveries and their long term dreams. Most of all they both agreed how unbelievable their luck had been for them to be able to purchase a beautiful, sixty four acre farm. Each thought the other was responsible for obtaining the information about the auction. After all, while they were living in the city they had talked many times about country life and owning a small parcel of land to raise a family and a garden on. When the notice arrived in the mail notifying them of the farm auction they just smiled at each other and agreed to go that following Saturday.

Marty and Jan had worked and saved since they were married ten years ago, but thought they still had a couple more years of saving before getting into the real estate market. But again as luck would have it Marty came into a sizeable inheritance from some woodpile relative on his father’s side once or twice removed, whatever that meant. Since all the other members of his family had already passed on, there was no way of knowing how this Mr. K.C. Anthony fit into his family tree. But the attorney who addressed this inheritance matter with him assured him it was all legal and proper and meant for him with no doubts that he, Martin Cords, was the rightful beneficiary. We’re talking about a sum of $300,000 with no real strings attached, except it must be used to help purchase their most expensive dreams. Funny he thought at the time that someone would make a stipulation like that. Oh, well! That’s just what it would be used for anyway. Then a week later this auction notice was sent to them. They had decided on going to the country on that same Saturday so why not drop by and see what an old time country farm auction is like.

When the alarm clock insisted they remove their bodies from bed that Saturday morning it was raining, with no appearance of letting up in the near future. Jan was terribly disappointed when Marty woke her with a cup of hot tea and a good morning kiss. She drank her tea slowly and stared out the window at the rain falling down.

I’m so very disappointed we will not be at that auction today. If it’s raining they’ll probably have it next Saturday.

That’s probably so, agreed Marty as he pulled on his jeans. He too was feeling the letdown of the adventure. As Jan showered, Marty searched the apartment for the notice. Not being able to find it he called out to Jan for its whereabouts.

"I stuck it in my purse for safe keeping. I was afraid that in our