Green Grows the Grove

“These trees are old, really old, Aunt Celia!” Buddy whispered to the elderly lady holding his sweet hand.  “They’s older than you, even!”  He skipped to a hidden tune.

“Yes, little boy, I know they are old,” she mused, smiled down at the intense face.  “They were old when I was your age.”

His surprised face turned to laughter as he pictured this old woman skipping.  “Then you know all about the ‘sterious dis’pear’nce of Miss Cassandra!”

“Yes, my dear Buddy, but you tell me all about it, will you?”

Buddy flew into the story of the missing Cassandra, a story handed down to each generation.  Celia hid her chuckles as Buddy threw pirates and ghosts into the simple recounting of a young lady who ran away on eve of her wedding with her fencing instructor, and her “’sterious dis’pear’nce”.  “You reckon Miss Cassandra’ll ever be found?”

When Buddy finished the grand story, both were exhausted.  “Come, little man, let’s rest here a while,” Aunt Celia indicated a bough leaning to the ground.  She perched on the lowest bend, just as Buddy’s dog came bounding by.

His question unanswered, Buddy took off after his pet.

Great-Great-Aunt Celia gazed at the ground beneath her feet, knowing that just a few feet below lay Miss Cassandra in her wedding dress. Oh, well, Cassie. These things happen. You should never had trusted me.

Celia smiled. Life has been good. 

This is photo prompt from Delores in 2012. I think this is from Atlanta, GA.

Thursday Trauma: Miz Winifred

Very poisonous

When mysterious plants invaded Miz Winifred’s weed-infested garden, she was overjoyed and relieved. “Finally!  What took you so long?!”  Soon tall stems were loaded with round deep purple berries. Winifred hurried to pick them, a basket over her arm.

As she plucked the berries, the townspeople clustered at her corroded gate, clamped tightly with a rusted lock.

Grape jelly, maybe

They were brimming with unease, baffled by the plants with the inviting berries and Old Miz Winifred.  A premonition of graven events coming soon shivered through them, and all scurried to the safety of home and hearth.

On a cast iron oven, a black cauldron bubbled with toxic herbs, spider pieces, rats’ tails, and black wine, to which Miz Winifred added the dark purple belladonna berries.  

Soon the mixture was cooling in the glass jelly jars, tightly sealed.

“Splendid!” She cackled, packing jars in her basket and climbed onto her broom, launching off into midnight sky.  Almost missed our Annual Witch and Wizard Meeting! They so love my jelly!

Many thanks to Delores at "Under the Porch Light" for providing two lists of 6 each in Thursday Trauma.  Delores is a delightful blogger who has quite an imagination!  Please pop over to her site, and if you wish, leave your own take in her comment section OR at your own site. 

Enjoy your own "Hallowed Eve"!