Blackwood Heights

Chapter Seven

Piper, was happy her leg had healed perfectly and she was thrilled about today, it was her chance to practice to get on a swim team. She loved swimming and when they lived in New Jersey she was on the girls Y swim team. 

 She was listening to some hip hop music and was dancing happily as she walked into her bathroom, wearing Hello Kitty pj's. She jumped into the shower and was singing for the first time in a year. Things were going to be okay. 

 She packed a professional swimsuit and then threw on a casual t shirt and a jean skirt. Thrusted her paper for history in her bag. She knew she had more time, but since her old school had studied it in depth it was an easy paper to write. 

 Her mom was looking over the paper in a silk robe and was sipping orange juice. Piper eyed it and suddenly craved the fresh squeezed liquid and took a sip, spewing it all over Seth's white silk shirt. She made a face that only an adolescent could make. 

 "What's wrong Piper, what is in your orange juice mom? Tasted like gasoline." Piper asked rinsing her mouth with fresh bottled water. Seth, looked concerned and took a sip, glared narrowly at Lydia not saying and then announced that he would take Piper to school. 

 "Cool, I can tell you all about the swim meet after school, we have two weeks before team try out's!" She said excitedly skipping to to get her sneakers that lay at the front door. 

 "Lydia, that girl has gone through enough, we will talk about this later?" He whispered through clenched teeth. He quickly walked through to the master bedroom and grabbed another shirt and headed off with Piper. "Can you please you take that shirt and the others to the dry cleaning later?" He asked as he walked backwards to the door swinging his briefcase with his left hand and then spun around in an about face manner to grab the door for Piper and she was talking a million miles an hour about her new friends. Seth was trying to keep up, it was pretty useless, but Piper seemed oblivious. 

 She hugged him then slammed the door to his sports car. He winced shook his head, and made his way to the office. Looking at her skipping towards two girls and a boy. Well, the girl has friends, good for her. He thought to himself as he drove away. 

 Piper showed the trio her healed leg they cheered with her. They were happy that she was able to partake in the swim team.  "This is going to be so cool. Our swim team usually makes it to districts and nationals, mega fun!" Emily said in wonderment everyone could tell she was imagining her holding up a trophy. 

 "Well, before we make nationals maybe we should make the team." Tara said, diplomatically making Emily force a fake sad face. 

 "Well, I am taking the most beautiful of the girls to history." Oliver said making the other two protest pretending to drag Piper off to history against her will. The three laughed and then parted ways until lunch. Oliver and Piper walked into Mr. Fisher's history class. Piper, was the first one to hand in her War of 1812 paper. 

He read something in her paper that made him seem impressed. "Okay, class our new student has found something incredible about the war of 1812. She pointed out something interesting that has never been addressed before. 

 The Star Bangled Banner was wrote over the battle of Ft. McHenry. She wrote, though the war of 1812 was lost, the hope of the Americans was not lost and they counted the battles they did win as, priceless regardless of the ultimate outcome. This truth is the same with our lives. No matter what battles we lose, we have to keep fighting to win at life.  

 "What are your thoughts about Piper's conclusion of her paper?" Mr. Fisher asked.  None of the students said anything. "What about you Mr. Quince?" Mr. Fisher looked at Oliver. 

 "Well, you know that my family owns the town's funeral home and back in the depression we kept on the people that owned owned it. So, I guess they lost the battle against the depression but won the war in life by having good friendships." Oliver said thinking about proudly. 

 "Very good, Mr. Quince." Mr. Fisher said giving him a pat on the back, and a thumbs up. Piper turned to him and smiled. 

 "What about you Sheila on the phone lots?" Mr. Fisher asked a girl whose head was engrossed in her cell phone. 

 "Huh" She asked blushing the whole class laughed out loud. 

 "Okay, class by the end of this week I want your papers on the war of 1812 and what you learned from the war and how it relates to your life in some way. Your midterm will be on the war of 1812, so study it folks your midterm grade depends on it." Mr. Fisher said turning to a smart board and  forcing the class to look at how the US lost one of the most important wars in history. 

 Finally, the class was over. Piper's curiosity grabbed a hold of her. "So, your family is like one of the original families, Oliver?" She asked amazed. He nodded, yeah. The Peabody family left to do forestry work in California and my  great grandparents never sold it. My parents are the fourth generation to own it, and when I grow up I will be the fifth generation.  I have heard strange things though about the cemetery." Oliver, said just as the bell rung for her to go to second period. "See you at lunch." He said with his left dimple showing. She smiled at her redheaded friend and walked over to art class. 

 Soon, it was lunch time, and like two weeks ago they went over to D's for lunch. They ordered the same thing. Oliver, was goofy and Emily was overdramatic to all of his antics. 

 "When are you going to grow up?" Emily asked kiddingly. 

 "When Piper agrees to marry me." He stated matter-of- factly. Making Piper shake her head and she threw a fry into his gaping mouth as he leaned over Tara's food. 

 "Okay, you two I want to eat my food, not wear it." She said seriously but her eyes were smiling. They finished eating talking about swim practice.

 "I'll skip study hall, and come and see you guys, but Piper, I need your number you are an expert on this war of 1812 stuff, want to help me after school?" Oliver asked with eyes that were forcing her to answer. She nodded and a huge yes echoed through the diner, making other students stare and laugh. The three girls almost in unison stacked their trays on his. He sighed then did the gentleman thing and threw their garbage out, as forced penance. They laughed but did hold the door for him. "So, not cool." He said giving them pretend daggers with his eyes.  The girls ignored him. "That will teach you manners." Tara said skipping with Emily and Piper arm and in arm. Oliver was not going to give into their torments and grabbed a hold of Piper's arm and skipped like a girl. It was clear the three girls were not ever going to ditch Oliver he was their best friend too, even if was immature boy. 

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                                                                                 1928

Father Tobias was in throws of a second wind. Several months had passed and him and Angela Perkins were officially in a courtship, he told her of the Susie visitation. She said nothing just listened intently. She had a understanding that God worked in mysterious ways. 

 So, Father Tobias knew that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He took her to widow's peak lighthouse. He had Herman who owned the Beck and Call  set up a small table and chairs on the table was a candle and fresh pancakes, bacon, and toast. Angela could hardly breathe their table overlooked the lake and a full moon that reflected perfectly over the water. 

 After they finished the delicious meal, Father Tobias got down on one knee and pulled out a small box from his pocket with wobbly hands. He nearly dropped the box his hands were so sweaty, but managed to opened the finicky box. 

 "Angela, I loved you for a very long time, and I William Tobias would be more than honoured if you would do the honours if you would be my wife, and help me keep Blackwood Heights safe and a place where God is honoured?" He asked with a look of sheer determination trying to pull a yes from her lips. 

 Angela, smiled and gave a loud yes. They hugged and kissed, and he slipped a huge diamond that was his grandmother's ring on her finger. They kissed under the light of the full moon and the night could not have been more perfect. 

 They walked around the catwalk of the lighthouse saying nothing just enjoying each other in the fullness of new and blossoming love. The night waned on and he walked her to door. "Good-night future Mrs. William Tobias." He said kissing her cheek like a child kissing a baby bird. He skipped off and blew her another kiss. 

 Love was blooming in Blackwood Heights and so was something else. A tiny light was glowing from the field of the cemetery but Father Tobias was unaware of it that night; he was trying to get people change their ways, some that lived on Five Penny Lane were not.  

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  Piper was putting on her suit and jumped into the pool. Coach Chloe stood poolside. "Okay, ladies, we are going to start this practice with five laps breast strokes, twenty-five leg kicks, and ten laps butterfly stroke." She spoke loudly but cheerfully, the shrill of the whistle blew and the warm-ups started. 

 By the end of warm up everyone was ready for the real stuff the relay training this is what the try-outs in two weeks would be about. Piper's best swim was butterfly stroke she flew above the water remembering to breathe. She could see her father cheering her on and in that moment realised he was probably cheering her on from Heaven, it pushed her even more. 

 Watching her swim Chloe was impressed her form was perfect her speed was off the clock and the timing of her passing the baton was well done. She marked her board. "Tara, work on your form, Sandy, you better work on your speed. Good job everybody, shower time." Chloe said as she blew the whistle to make sure everyone was out of the pool. 

 "I am so sore!"  Emily said dragging her arms like a monkey. Tara laughed, well, just remember the vision you had earlier this afternoon about that trophy win.

 "Yeah, Tara is right, Emily. No pain no trophy!" Piper smiled patting her friend on the back. 

 Piper got a text it was from Seth. The text read he would not be able to pick her up, he told her to text her mom to get her from school. Piper sighed something strange was going on with her mom. She just could not figure out what it was. 

 She texted her mom. Explained the situation. 

 No answer. She shrugged. Oliver, showed his head to the door that lead to the school pool and met the female trio. "How did it go?" He asked excitedly. 

 "Really great!" The three replied. 

 "Do you guys want to go to Oliver's house to work on the war of 1812 paper?" Piper asked knowing that her mom had not answered the text and did not want her friends just appearing out of nowhere. 

 "Sure. So, they all waited in the parking lot and a huge SUV showed up with a read headed lady in her thirties. It was indeed Oliver's mom. 

 "Mom, this is Tara, Emily, and Piper, we all have a paper due on the War of 1812 well, except Piper, because she is a genius." 

 "Well, ladies, let's get you to the house, my son needs all the help he can get, and I just made a pot roast so you can all stay for dinner if it okay with your parents." Mrs. Quincy said looking around to make sure she could exit the school property. 

 "Thanks you, Mrs. Quincy."  The girl's said in unison.

 The Quincy house was pretty extravagant almost a duplicate to Piper's house. The entourage rolled out and followed Oliver into the kitchen and the four of them got to work. By super time the three of them got most of the papers written. Tara's had the nicest handwriting. 

 By six o' clock Mr. Quincy came home with a briefcase and breathed in the aroma of pot roast, mash, and corn, with homemade bread. All of them were hungry. 

 The whole group sat down. Mr. Quincy said a quick prayer and hungry mouths dug in. 

 Piper being inquisitive asked Mr. Quincy about the funeral home. "The funeral home is quite old, since the time of the town's founding?" Piper asked between bites of pot roast. Mr. Quincy nodded. 

 "Yes, Piper that is true." Mr. Quincy said taking a sip of wine. 

 "Oh, dad, you should tell her about the Susie Blackwood Ghost." Oliver said excitedly stuffing his face with mash potatoes. 

 His wife shot him a don't you dare look but seeing the same mischievous grin mimic her son's there was no point. 

 "Well, supposedly Susie Blackwood was Marion Blackwood's niece, she died because her father killed her because Marion gained custody. He was jealous. She died but it is said she kills any parent that abuses their kid if they live in Blackwood Heights.  That the Tobias family knows all about her. They are to force people from abusing kids, if they do not listen to the Tobias generation she kills them in strange accidents." Mr. Quincy said in a spooky voice that made the girl's arm hair stand on edge. 

 "Ooh, dad tell them about the cemetery bell." Oliver chipped in as he gulped his milk leaving a huge milk moustache. 

 "There is a bell in the cemetery's storm cellar, if a Tobias rings the bell, it calls her forth, or any other child whose in trouble, she will answer them and kill any evil parents."  His voice became dark and menacing. Making the girls a little paler than normal. 

 "Okay, Alex, I think you scared them enough. I think we should wrap up dinner and you and Oliver can drive the girls home." Mrs. Quincy gave that look of don't say another word. Alex digressed and the bunch helped clear the table and load the dishwasher. 

 Backpacks were stuffed with papers and then they were off. 

 Tara and Emily lived right next door so they got out first. "Bye, guys see you Monday." Piper and Oliver waved and then Piper was driven home. 

 When Oliver saw where she lived he squealed. "Dad, she lives where Marion Blackwood used to live. Susie Blackwood died near the shore's edge of your pond!" Oliver cried out. Piper was not sure what to say. 

 "Thanks, Oliver, I guess my property has morbid historical meaning. I can't believe you actually believe the story." She said jokingly making Oliver blush a deep shade of crimson. 

 "Thanks for the lift, Mr. Quincy, please, tell Mrs. Quincy her dinner was really good." Piper, said smiling and closed the door to the SUV. 

 She did not notice but Mr. Quincy gave Oliver a big brother slap on the head. His dad just shook his head and Oliver just gave his dad a mischievous grin.