We traveled more than 4,000 kilometers by road until we found the land of castles. There would be work for my husband and me. I am Mrs. Whitaker.
We found a place in that town to rent and stay until we could settle down in a permanent place.
The house was ideal, built many years ago, it had a medieval type of architecture. Wooden ceilings, concrete block patterned walls, carpeted floors, and wooden doors and windows... gave a very comforting look to our house. Not very spacious but just right and ideal for us.
house
All around us, we had a city surrounded by many new and rebuilt formations of old castles of yesteryear. That gave the beautiful aspect of an old city but with a new, clean, even jovial look.
Our neighbors were very kind people; They began to visit us little by little to show us their affection. We liked their presence and friendliness.
My husband started to teach at a language institute and found it interesting how others were integrating with the new people in their work environment.
I for my part, visiting castles and ancient structures became familiar with the past of these families... -It was all very interesting- I thought very animated.
One day when I got home I met this beautiful boy who was taking some peaches from our tree, he said they were the most delicious in the whole place.
-He says, "Would you be interested in having me pick the peaches and take them to the market? -I'll gladly share the profits. I assure you I've done it before and everyone likes it" - the sweet boy commented.
I sat down on the steps leading to the entrance of the house. It is a winding path of stones, surrounded by lush ornamental plants that provide a very pleasant atmosphere when entering the property.
Right next to the front door is this peach tree, which from what I can see is very juicy and provocative.
The boy is just sitting under the tree, eating one of them and with an empty bag in his hands waiting for my response.
He is a boy with a mischievous look and full, rosy cheeks. His reddened lips from licking the delicious nectar that escaped from his mouth as he bit into the peach, made me smile.
Sitting there and watching what he was doing I had nothing more to say. I just asked him to leave some for my husband and me on the tree.
-The rest you can take and share with your family. By the way, where are you from, and what is your name?
"I live a few houses away. My parents work in the fishery and then go out to sell the fish at the market. I spend my days between school, my friends and visiting my neighbors. They call me Robert" -That's what he told me about himself.-
The days went by so fast. My husband at the institute worked with his students and me making history among so many old houses, restructured castles, and picturesque trails full of stories of yesteryear, it was the desired life.
One afternoon when I found myself without activity and rest, I decided to visit what Robert told me was his house. It didn't take me long to find it, it was picturesque, more in ruins than reconstruction, but it was still standing, and a family that kept it alive.
I knocked on the door, it was made of old wood that badly cracked over time. The wrought iron rings hanging from its ends made it easier for me to knock.
Door
An older woman came out, I immediately imagined it was Robert' grandmother. She was wrinkled but her gaze was gentle and her cheekbones reminded me that they were the same as her grandson.
-Hello," she said. -I said hello back and immediately introduced myself.
-I am the neighbor a few houses down the road. I met Robert who told me that his parents were at this address.
-He likes the peaches in front of the house I live in. So today I have come to surprise him with a delicious peach cobbler.
"Thank you, thank you very much. We all like the peaches from that house very much. My Robert has told me a lot about you. He has told me that you are very kind and have allowed him to take some peaches to sell at the market. I thank you for your kindness."
“Of course, I welcome your pie with great encouragement, my son and his wife will be pleased with the surprise you have had in coming and bringing this delicious treat.”
-They are still at the market, working and my grandson, I will know where he was when he comes and tells me about it. Like every day.-
Tell me, how do you like the town," she asked.
I like it very much. So many generous families live here, so much history that still lives in each family. It's great, it's like living in the clouds. Every day I learn more and more incredible stories of the families that used to live in these places. -I answered her, very cheerfully.
She invited me to sit down, with her slow walk, because of her age. Her old-fashioned costume made me think of the old people who refuse to leave their past behind.
I spent a few pleasant hours with her. Telling me about the origins of her family, about the Phillips family, about the activities that her son and his wife still maintain. And of her grandson, whom she loved dearly.
The afternoon passed. I said goodbye, it was time to go home. But not before mentioning that I would visit her again some other time.
She opened the door, which with a creaking sound denoting neglect of maintenance, reminded me of the doors of ancient castles, with history.
It was another day of unlikely adventures that every family in this community told me about. Everyone had something to remember from their family's storied past. And I took advantage of that.
My husband was happy with his work and also every day he asked me to tell him more of the stories I told him about my neighbors and my work.
At the institute, they had a party to celebrate the approaching end-of-semester vacation. My husband asked me to go with him, so I did. His classmates looked different from all the neighbors in the old town where we lived. But they were also very friendly and sociable people.
It was a very modern reception house, with a large sofa that invited you to relax on it. The family groups that attended this reception were crowded together and talked animatedly. Above all, they were very interested in how my husband and I were doing in our lodging house.
“Tell us how is it going at your home?”
“We know that you chose that place because it has a historic past.”
“But how does it feel to live surrounded by so much history and have no neighbors?”
-My husband and I smiled and looked at each other and answered.
My husband and I smiled, looked at each other, and I answered. No neighbors? No, no. I have many neighbors. They are all so kind.
From the very beginning they have filled me with their family stories, the stories of their homes, their past, their old names.
They are all wonderful!
The family group that was asking us questions looked at each other's faces. They approached our comforting couch and then after removing the smiles from their faces, each one began to say words, which far from cheering me up awakened a feeling I had never felt before.
Little by little as I listened to their stories, FEAR, entered my body. Before they finished telling me their experiences about the place where we had been living, my legs were already uncontrollable with their trembling.
My husband grabbed my hands and felt my coldness of them penetrate his. I think the sound of my chest could be heard throughout the room. No one was talking anymore, only the families stood around us, watching our response to all the assertions...
They went on to explain... "The only place that has been a tourist accommodation is the house where you are. All the other houses went out of business many years ago. Nobody lives there anymore.
The only thing left is a historical center where historians like to visit and then leave.
-All the stories that are told of these places remain alive through ancient writings.
-There is one family, the oldest of all, the Philips. The story goes that one day while Robert's parents were working in the market, the boy, who was very fond of peaches, choked on a peach pit. His grandmother found him dead, lying at the foot of the tree.
-The parents could not cope with the tragedy of their only son and one by one they took their own lives. First, the grandmother poisoned herself. Then the father threw himself into the sea on a fishing day when the sea was very aggressive. The mother could not cope with these tragedies and was found one morning with a rope around her neck.
-The people who lived next to your house, many years ago, could not stand the noises coming from the entrance of your garden, where the peach tree is. Every day they heard the laughter, and the screams of a child throwing stones to reach the peaches.
-They say that the neighbors in front of the house, one night saw how the fire was destroying their garden, they threw as much water as they could but it was all in vain, the garden was consumed with all its beautiful fruit trees. The next day, everything was intact. They left and never came back.
-Each family that lived along that path told their own story, the one they lived while the boy Robert visited them. Apparently, he only wanted his peach plant there. That is why the house remains as a lodging for tourists. The other houses were never inhabited again."
She had actually been living with the entire history of an ancient people, told by their own characters.
This is my story on the subject launched by the @theinkwell comunity and The Inkwell Fiction Prompt #216. “FEAR”.
I am @gertu from Venezuela to the world.
A very nice and thrilling story 😌
Thank you
Thank you very much.