two

Death of a Mansion
2
Early morning sunlight streamed through the window of my room projecting a (pock chart) showing everything in the air. Dust, pollen, exhaust from the interstate highway and fumes from the chemical plants and factories down-river leave clear fingerprints. Evaporated raindrops, that I call pocks, linger on every window’s smooth surface until the next rain washes them away.
I have not heard Kevin stirring around yet. I’m glad that he soon will be on his way to Marine Corps Boot Camp. I think his world viewpoint is going to change drastically in the next few weeks.
I heard voices coming from our kitchen, Mom was usually long gone before Kevin woke up.
Kevin was sitting at the table clad only in his underwear shorts. A huge mug of steaming hot coffee sat before him.
Mom spotted me long before Kevin did. She raised the pot asking If I want a cup too? I nodded my head, yes. She poured my coffee and brushed past me ton her way to her room. Mom was dressed in soft ivory colored flannel pajamas trimmed in white satin, that she bought online.
I slept, fully dressed, last night except for my bluejeans. It was easy to pull them up and appear in a “second day shirt” ready for action, in just seconds. I sprayed a little deodorant under my arms to avoid having to take the time to change clothes. But I ran a brush through my hair to get rid of chronic BEDHEAD.
When mom came back downstairs, you could hear a pin drop. I had no idea what to expect. This might go anywhere.
Mom motioned toward the empty chair that dad had occupied so long ago. I took that seat. Holding my well creamed coffee up to my mouth I slurped a noisy sip.
Kevin sat with a befuddled look on his face.
Mom broke the ice from her perch on a stool at the breakfast bar, “We only have a few hours left together before Kevin has to get on that Bus. Let’s make the most of it ok?” Looking at Kevin she said,”Do you have everything you need to take?”
“The recruiter said less is more. When I get home from boot camp I’ll figure out where to store the rest of my stuff.”
He looked at me as if emerging from a dream and bumped my shoulder gently with his fist. “I hope we’re ok, little brother. You make me proud, and I will try to do the same.”
Mom left for the cafe, looking as if her prayers had just been answered.


The rest of the day was a dream. No one got mad. Silky Honey Peanut Butter, smooth no lumps, no bumps. It’s teen a long time since we had a day like this. I helped Kevin fill four plastic garbage with things to store for him.
Mom popped in for a quick word.
“Do you all want to eat at the cafe, together one last time?”
How could anyone refuse? Especially knowing that when she was in the “special occasion” mode things came out of her kitchen that could only be described as ‘Miraculous.’
“Who is watching the store Mom?” I said.
“Lara,” she said. “She does fine.” She turned to leave, “I’m leaving to check on dinner. I’ve timed things to beat the arrival of Kevin’s bus.”
“Could we drop you off? I’d like Kevin to take me to where the old mansion fell into the sea. I want you to see it.” I stopped and carefully measured my next response. “I should have asked you along, for protection. Maybe Toby wouldn’t have gotten hurt If I had just asked you along.”
“I wouldn’t have gone with you, especially not at night.”
“Hey, big Marine I thought nothing scared you.”
“It’s respect, not fear that kept me away. Some things I don’t understand but I still respect them.”
“You’re full of it Kevin. It is bright daylight, there isn’t much left to fall, and I damn sure don’t want to do anything dangerous. I just thought it would be neat to do one last thing together. Before you leave and everything changes.”
He looked at me as if suddenly I were a complete stranger to him. “It has been a long time since we did anything, together, Tom. Mom can we use the car for an hour?”
Five minutes later we crossed E street and headed up the rocky trail to the point where the old mansion once stood, a forlorn sentinel from the past.. We circled wide away from the loose earth up rooted during the destruction of the mansion. We looked down at the amorphous shape of the remains at the bottom of the cliff. The incoming tide was smoothing out the last remains of the Van der Houten Mansion. “Not much left of that big old place except red mud at the bottom of the cliff.”I said.
Kevin looked around with wide eyes at the size of the cavity left by the house. “Big hole there, ya?” He stopped his face clouded with emotion. “That is exactly what I felt like inside when Dad was killed. A big hole.”
“I was there too, Kevin. I might not have been as big as you but I felt that hole too. Look at Mom now. She let all her love leak out onto us. I think it left her too dry to think about anyone else. She tried so hard to be both father and mother to us. She works so hard at the Cafe. I remember when she was full of life. Now she just isn't the same as when.” I left a pregnant pause since we both knew exactly what I was saying.


A string of very large waves smashed into the remains of the Mansion. The thunder-like vibrations crisscrossed the sound mixing, adding, subtracting and finally resonating. I suddenly realized why it was called a sound. It could be felt in your bones, and the center of your soul.
Kevin said, “Those plastic garbage cans of my stuff that are in my room, Uhh…. If you see anything you can use, it’s yours.”
I had no idea what to say. “Thanks Kevin.” I grabbed his hand and shook it with feeling. This was not a contest, but a celebration.
We drove down the hill past an old woman with a blue drawstring bag of considerable size draped over her shoulders. I opened the car door “can we give you a ride somewhere?”
“Sunshine Cafe, guess you know where that is?” Her bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Gotta pass by our house on the way, pick up my suitcase. I board a bus for Marine Corps boot camp at five pm. Can’t be late my first day.”
Nimble for an old person, she boosted her blue drawstring bag into the back, before I had a chance to even offer my help.
The old lady in the back seat sat humming tunelessly, barely audible above the noise of the engine and the squeaking chassis of our old car.
“When we got home, Kevin grabbed his one small bag from the hallway and put it into the trunk of our car. “Let’s go eat now and celebrate with Mom.”
The Sunshine Cafe had a few late afternoon coffee drinkers finishing up. The little old lady we picked up, had no problem seating her self in a booth by a window where she had a clear view of the Bus Stop on the other side of the street. She was picking at a piece of apple pie, as if perhaps her false teeth seriously limited her power to chew. She stayed through our dinner sipping her coffee and taking minuscule bites of pie.
When we finished eating Lara emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of champagne and several glasses. She poured them with the confidence of practice and placed them in front of each of us.. Since the little old lady was the only client left inside besides our family, Lara set a glass in front of her. At first the old lady kind of giggled as if it were a joke.
“Seriously, please join us in a toast to my son who has made peace at home so he could go off to war.” Mom teared up, thinking about a certain wooden cross on a hillside in neat rows among so many others. We raised our glasses, her salty tears mixed with her champagne causing it to boil over.
We stood not knowing what to say. “Come back safely,” I said around the lump which suddenly sprang up in my throat.
“Live up to your potential,” said the old woman.


“The Bus is here, said Lara. We followed Kevin out to the bus. He was struggling not to show how he felt.
I even had a lump in my throat. I wondered how different things might have been if we had reached out to each other long ago, instead of blaming each other because we were so alone.
When I watched him wave to us from the back window I was sure that the Kevin which we knew now, would come back to us a much different person. Home would never be the same for him or us. Perhaps that is part of the meaning of “growing up.”
The little old lady motioned frantically for us to come over as soon as we entered. Out of habit mom picked up the coffee pot. The old lady shook he head no and motioned for us both to sit.
Mom and I looked at each other expectantly. We sat on the same side of the booth facing the old woman.
“Did I hear right that your son is going into the Marines?” she paused politely waiting for an answer.
“Yes,”said mother with a surprised look on her face.
“Guess you will have a spare room then, won’t you. I would like to rent it.” She paused as if checking a mental list. “I get fifteen hundred dollars a month social security. I’ll pay my way.”
The old woman had the clear blue eyes of someone much younger. “See my grand daughter wants to put me in a home down in the city. The place is terrible, people go there to die, me? I have a too much living left to do.”
She stopped and looked us both straight in the eye. “I used to teach. Seems than no one wants to learn what I could teach them.” She turned her bony palms upward as if saying, Go Figure.
“What is your name?”
“Ger’ta Saatz. I am eighty-four years old and will probably spend most of my time at the Library. I like reading and learning about the past. I will be no trouble, I promise. If you will have me.”
Hers was a voice not used to asking and certainly not begging. I looked down, she had her large blue drawstring bag by her feet.
There was no way I could tell the old woman no, and neither could my mother.
“When do you want come look things over? We can help you get your things, we have a car.”
“Don’t need any help moving. Got it all right here,” she said patting her bag.
When we went out to the car the old woman insisted on handling her bag herself. I was surprised by the obvious strength she needed to handle her heavy bag. When she saw me looking she said, “I might be old but I assure you that I am not helpless.”
When we got home I let Mom show the old woman inside. I moved the four plastic trashcans from the room Kevin had just occupied to a safe place in the back of the garage. I opened the window and stripped the bed to the bare mattress liberally spraying it with Fabreeze and then flipped it over to the cleanest side. I hoped the cross wind from the bathroom across the hall would help remove the scent of caged male teenager that filled the air.
Mom sat in the kitchen talking with our new boarder. Ger’ta made tea from leaves stored in a glass jar in her bag. “I’d really like to share some tea with you before you do anything more.” She took mugs from the cupboard and set them in front of us. The tea she poured from the pot was bright red with a strong taste of citrus. I would have liked to have taken longer to enjoy the tea, but I knew I had to keep things moving.
“I’m ready for bedding Mom. I am airing out the room.”
Mom went to the linen closet near the utility room. After picking through almost everything inside, she emerged with a padded mattress cover, a stack of sheets, two patchwork quilts, a big soft comforter and two eider down pillows.
I helped her make up the bed and soon the room was nearly presentable. I shut the windows and opened the furnace vent to allow the room to warm to a comfortable temperature.
Downstairs Ger’ta had made herself comfortable in an old wooden rocking chair and was fast asleep.
I reached for her bag, thinking I would take it upstairs for her. The strong firm grip of her bony hand stopped me from touching it. “I always haul my own baggage,” she said. She seemed determined so I did not argue with her.
“Perfect,” she said. When she looked at the computer desk she asked “can I have a table instead? I can get a card table if you don’t have one.” She explained, “I have some things to sort. It will take a little room.”
I pointed out that the bathroom was for her sole use. My room and bathroom are one flight up.
“Please Make yourself at home,” said my mother from downstairs. “If you need anything from the kitchen just help yourself.”
“Could you bring me a water glass to put my teeth in?”
Mom was in the kitchen when I got the glass. We did a high five and both of us shrugged at the same time. Neither of us seemed sure exactly what we had done.
When I brought her the water glass from the kitchen she softly touched my cheek, “Sleep well Tom,” she said.
I went upstairs, took a shower, and climbed into bed. I fell asleep wondering why it seemed as though I should know Ger’ta from somewhere long ago. I finally relaxed and let this long and eventful today change into yesterday as the moon traversed the sky above.


Someone was moving around when I first woke up. It took a long moment to remember that our new Boarder had kitchen privileges. When I entered I was greeted by the smell of hot fresh baked caramel cinnamon rolls.
“Your mother and I had a talk before she left. We both agree that if you ate here you could sleep in a little later and avoid the ritual early morning detour to the Sunshine Cafe.”
My mouth watered profusely as I sat down at the kitchen table. She placed a plate with two of the delicious caramel and a large glob of butter substitute within easy reach. I remember an old saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I mentally conceded that Ger’ta continued to impress me. I bit into the hot roll being careful to avoid burning my lips. I could not suppress a groan of pure pleasure. There was no coffee in my cup. It was filled with tea instead a light green color with a strong aroma of spearmint. When tasted though it had a strong earthy fundamental flavor I could not place.
She placed a brown bag in front of me. “There’s two meatloaf sandwiches, a pickle, an apple and a bottle of juice in there. Your mother told me that you have a history of skipping meals. You really need to eat. Why you’re almost as skinny as I am.” She laughed as she said “We’ll have to see what we can do about that..”
I gathered my stuff and headed for school. It is Monday and Spring break is now only a memory. My feet automatically carried me to Toby’s house before I realized that he is in the hospital. When I passed the gate Evie greeted me with with a dazzling smile.
“There you are, I have a lot to tell you.” I shrugged my shoulders, wondering if I should let her walk with me. She fell into step, words overflowing her lips in a flood. “We can visit Toby after school, if you have time, Tom.” She was obviously trying to get me to go with her to the hospital. I shrugged my shoulders again wondering, what kind of razzing will evolve from anyone seeing us together and making the wrong assumption? She looked like a small child to me.
“Ok, meet me at mom’s cafe after school. I get out forty five minutes before you do. I want her to know where I am going. I’ll use the wait time to do my algebra.”
“Thanks, Tom.” She touched my hand tentatively with just her fingertips, turned, and vanished into the cluster of students rushing to beat first bell.
I looked after her seeing the shawl of loneliness that she has wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She definitely needs the protection of a big brother, I thought.
I waited in the cafe over hot chocolate and a piece of chocolate meringue pie. I finished my home work at he same instant Evie entered and sat down across from me in the booth.
“You, need anything before we go?”
Mom must have read my mind. She thrust two large cookies and a to-go cup of steaming hot chocolate into Evie’s surprised hands.
“Thanks.”
I carried her books and followed after her as she lead the way to her brother’s hospital room. She has always been cute. In the past Toby and I spent a lot of time playfully teasing her. She was a little sister to me but somehow our roles were changing into something I really didn’t want to contemplate.

Toby was bruised everywhere. A lot more than I anticipated. He lay in a cast, one legged pants with a boot attached just like Evie had joked about.
“Do you need anything, Toby?” I knew she really looked up to her big brother and would want to help any way she could.
“Could you get me a fresh can of Sprite from the Nurse’s station? I need to talk with Tom to see if he remembers the same things that I do.”
He held his finger to his lips until Evie was out of earshot.
“We fell all the way to the bottom, Toby.” He whispered. “The house landed right on my leg. Do you remember?”
“I’m not sure what I remember, it’s all mixed up in the dark, Toby.”
“Wait, I don’t think we should tell anyone anything. Let everyone think what they want to think and talk about how lucky we are.” He continued as his sister returned. “It is much more than luck you know.”
He took the soda placing the bent straw to his lips. “Thanks little sis.” Their mother soon entered still in her post office uniform. “How ya doin, Bud?” She ruffled Toby’s hair. “You got homework honey?” Looking at her daughter.
“Yes, Mom,”said Evie.
“Tom you got a package of books today all the way from the University Library.”
“That was really fast. Did Ger’ta sign for them?” I asked.
“Yes,” she rotated her wrists upward as she asked “Who is she?”
“Our new boarder I guess.”
“That was fast! Kevin just left yesterday.”
“Sometimes things just happen.”I shrugged my shoulders and turned away.“I have things to do.” I said, thinking about the book, wondering who might help me learn to read the old language and understand exactly what to do with the items in the box. “Be good to my best friend.”
“Tomorrow?” He ask my back as I left his room.
Walking down the hall, the smell of disinfectant was cloying. I longed for a breath of fresh outside air.
I went by the cafe to see Mom. “Toby looks like he spent the night in a cement mixer, Mom.”
“I can’t believe you weren’t right in there with him.” She handed me a stainless steel steam pan covered tightly with foil. “Ger’ta came by for coffee after spending most of the day at the Library. I told her I’d send dinner home with you.” she said as she carefully placed the quite warm steam pan into my hands. “Enjoy, I’ll see you after closing time.”
I walked home breathing the smell of baked chicken and fixings. By the time I reached home I was ravenous. The old woman, dressed in an apron, was making a pot of tea. I put the food onto the table. “Wash your hands, this will be ready in a jiffy.”
I returned to a set table complete with silver and napkins. Ger’ta set two steaming hot dishes onto the table.
She reached across the table and took my hands in hers, before beginning, what I thought was a before meal blessing in a language I took to be German. I was surprised but could not fail to be moved by her words, even though, I did not understand them. A look of strength radiated from her, much like the glow around a candle in the dark.
We didn’t talk, I for one needed to eat.
“Tom, a book came for you today.” She carried the dishes away and returned with a large padded envelope marked books.
I opened the envelope with my Swiss army knife, exposing the title. “Early Dutch language in New Amsterdam.”
“I can’t believe that you have a copy of my book!”
“It was then I noticed the name of the Author, G Saatz.”
“Why do you have this book?”
“I found a very old book that I want to learn to read.”
“How old is this book?”
“It predates the British confiscation of New Amsterdam.”
“Do you have it with you? A book like that is very fragile, It would be an unfathomable loss if something happened to it.“
I told her the story, leaving out the part about not really knowing what happened that night. She sat there peering at me over her glasses. “Tomorrow I will visit your friend Steve Hansen and try to take possession of the book. It will take many hours to understand just what it says.”
I went to my room and settled in front of my computer. I searched and searched but found nothing really useful about New Amsterdam. Washington Irving accidentally managed to obfuscate most of the story of the Dutch West India company.
Realizing what an asset the old woman could prove to be, I relaxed in my bed and dreamed of peering through a telescope eye piece, catching glimpses of distant shores through the large lens on the front of the instrument. I was confident that when the time came to put it together we would know exactly what needed to be done.


I greatly valued the extra half hour to sleep in.
After a good hot breakfast and a short conversation with Ger’ta, I walked by Toby’s house, well aware that Evie had already gone on ahead.
When I reached school there was a sticky note on my locker.
“After School, OK?”
There was no signature but I knew it was from Evie. I had all day to think about it.
When I got out of school I walked directly to the fire station. There was no white over blue hard top in the parking lot. I decided to walk by his house to tell him the news. The doors of his garage were shut. I decided to knock. There was no answer. I was a bit miffed when I couldn’t find him, so I went to the cafe to wait for Evie. When I turned the corner I saw Steve’s car sitting out front.
“Where you been, Tom? Your mom expected you half an hour ago.” Steve was sitting at the counter, so I sat next to him. He had a small paper bag in front of him. “Did you have any luck finding anything out about how we can read this?” He motioned to the sack.
“Yes!” I said almost too excited to sit still. “We have a boarder now, Ger’ta Saatz. She wrote a book about Old Dutch language. She said that she would help.”
I had momentarily forgotten about Evie, who burst through the door nearly in tears. “I thought we were going to walk to school together! Are we going to visit my brother Toby?”
I started to say something really important has come up, but change my mind. “Shh, Steve can you come by my house with the book, I have to go now.”
Mom came out pressing a bag of cookies into my hand. “There are enough for everyone.”
“She handed all three of us take out cartons of milk.”
“I’ll take them to the hospital now,” said Steve. Mom smiled at us as we got into Steve’s car. I opened the front passenger door for Evie saying, “I’ll ride in back.”
I was glad to see that my minor act of chivalry put a band-aid on the wound from this morning. Evie was absolutely radiant. When I climbed into the back seat Steve caught my eye in the rear view mirror. His lopsided grin registered approval of my small act of kindness. We arrived together in a group.
A nurse told us that only two visitors were allowed at a time. Steve politely explained in a very soothing tone, that he had been the first on the scene when Toby was injured, and all he wanted to do was check on him. Steve handed me the package with the book inside. “You know what to do, Tom, do it.” Steve and the nurse left at the same time both were smiling widely at each other.
I explained to Toby, about Dr. Ger’ta Saatz “the expert on the Old Language” that fate had placed here at the most convenient time.
When Evie went to get a Sprite for Toby, I seized the moment “Toby,” I said. “We both know something really strange happened that night. I’m in no rush to share this with anyone else until we share as much as we can about that night. Little bits are beginning to come together and form a faint picture of an idea.”
When Toby’s mother arrived in Toby’s room, Evie stepped up close to me. “I have homework, Mom. I need to go home. I’m sure that we can convince Tom to walk me home safely.”
“If you would rather, she could come home with me. I heard Mom and Ger’ta talking about a kettle of stew and some home made bread, I’m sure there is enough. I always think better with a full stomach.” I couldn’t bear to think what she might choose to eat, left to her own devices.
“Who is Ger’ta?”
“Long story, she lives with us now. She is eighty something, but still is really alive. I’ll introduce you when you come after little sister, here.”
“I’m going to have to make some arrangements for Toby. He gets out of the Hospital on Friday if his lab tests are ok.’
“Mom will be home in two hours she might have some ideas. It might be good if we all talk.”
I found myself hoping that Toby could stay with us during the hours that his mother works.
The wind was picking up strongly, high tide to boot. As we walked toward my house I asked her. “Do you hear the sound? The water and the cliffs are talking.”
“What do you mean?” She looked at me as if I were crazy.
I put my hands over my ears and motioned for her to do the same. She did until I motioned for her to stop cupping her ears. She got this shocked look of understanding.
“The sound doesn’t go away when you cover your ears.”
“It is really loud tonight, it travels through the ground to our feet and through our bones to our ears. That’s what I think.”
I opened the side door into the kitchen, leading Evie into the room. “Have a seat, Evie. Smell that stew.”
Ger’ta spoke to us. “We have a guest tonight, I’m glad we have plenty. Welcome,” she spread her bird like arms and hugged Evie. She staring squarely at me she asked, “You have something for me to look at, give it here quickly, we’ll look at it together later.”
How did she know I had the book tucked under my sweater? I took it out and handed it to her.
“We have been very careful with it. It is leather bound and very old.”
The old woman’s face lit from within. “I’ve seen it in a dream. This book, this place. I know that you think I am a crazy old woman, I assure you, I am not.” She left the room heading upstairs to her room. “Eat!” she commanded over her shoulder.
I got soup plates down. A loaf of fresh homemade bread sat on the cutting board with a serrated knife on the side. “How thick of a slice do you want?” She held her thumb and forefinger a good two inches apart. I cut two equally thick slabs of warm bread placed them into the soup plates and ladled generous amounts of stew on top.
I opened the refrigerator searching for something to drink.
“I made a pot of tea,” said the old woman from the doorway. “Get cups Tom. You will enjoy this, it is special.”
She poured us each a large mug of the muddy looking tea.
Then she opened a little jar of what appeared to be honey. She put a generous dollop in each of our cups. The muddy look cleared leaving a golden brown colored liquid behind. Ger’ta held her cup warming her bony arthritic fingers on surface the cup.
We both ate as if we were starved. When I laid my spoon down she said “try the tea you’ll like it.” It was slightly sweet with flashes of exotic flavor introducing themselves one by one to my inexperienced tongue. It was an unforgettable experience, having the world in my cup.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Evie. “It is better than wonderful.”
With no further coaxing both of our cups were emptied.
The old woman smiled as if she were very pleased with herself. “You have homework that you need help with, don’t you?”
Probing the depths of her book sack allowed Evie to bring her worrisome folder to light. “Sit here, child. I need my glasses.” The old woman perched a pair of reading glasses, from a pocket in her blouse, onto her nose. This strange golden glow enveloped them both. I knew I needed to work at my computer so I slipped away.
Mom, and Evie’s mother arrived within seconds of each other. They called to me so I came downstairs.
“We’ve talked on the phone, and want to present you all with an idea.”
“Have some tea first. It makes decisions easier.” She poured the hot liquid into all our cups I watched the muddy brown torn to gold as a dollop of honey was stirred into each cup.
“It is really good, warms you right up on a cold night.”
I took a long sip from my cup noisily registering my approval. Mom looked hard at me then slurped her own, as exotic flavors from around the world activated her taste buds. In a few minutes we all sat smiling in the warm glowing bubble which surrounded us.
“Toby needs a place to stay while his mother works, Ger’ta has insisted that teaching is her job and she will tutor all three of you when needed. She will be here with Toby, so Tom, you need to carry books for her from the Library.”
Within a few minutes the details were worked out to everyone’s satisfaction.
“I asked the fireman, Steve Hansen if he could help us get things settled.” Toby’s mother looked at my mom, and with an almost imperceptible change in body language staked her claim to the absent Steve Hansen. I knew that Evie and Toby’s father had been very sick for a long time finally succumbing three years ago to lung cancer, at a veterans hospital south of here, close to the city. Our mothers were both lonely woman who got by the best way they could.
“Let me know what you need me to do I’ll start on it tomorrow right after school.” I knew the job of storing the accumulation of stuff left in what used to be her office would be left for me.
I climbed the stairs to my bed and was lulled into a deep sleep by the soothing “sound” from the sea.