earest Great Grandfather,
I hope Kenya finds you well. As you asked I have taken over your house
and now (one year to the day) I write to tell you how I am getting along.
I am delighted with it! As I am sure you knew I would be when you requested
I look after the place. Yes, it is old and rather draughty and there
are far more rooms than I actually have any use for, but the buildings
age is on of its charms and to an antiquarian such as myself it is,
most charming. As for its placement, well I could not ask for more,
so perfectly perched looking out over the harbour. I have spent many
happy days watching the fishing boats plough through the sea on their
way to the fishing grounds. I have also feasted on the harvest they
bring back, the fish and chips here are excellent!
I have started renovations as you requested and found the sum you deposited
in my bank account more than generous enough for my needs. You are,
as ever, a most charitable relative.
Moving to the north has seen my spirits lift more than I would have
believed possible, especially after the lengthy break up with Anya.
The divorce is finally through and though I lost nearly everything to
her it doesn't really seem as important as it did at the time, the sea
air seems to have blown my cares away. Most of my time is taken with
walks over the moors and along the sea paths. Regretfully I have made
few friends, the locals are an insular lot and do not seem to have any
time for me, hopefully that will change. Despite this I believe that
I will be well enough to return to work by the time you are back.
Were you aware you have bats? At the beginning of the summer I decided
to clean out the loft and was met by the most fearful reek. Bat droppings
have a most unpleasant smell and these bats are rather bigger than most
British species. Twice I have had a gentleman from the environmental
health come to move them and twice the bats have re-appeared. The gentleman
informed me they seem to be Pipistrelle bats but have grown much larger
than usual. He imagines there must be some abundant food source nearby
and this is why they constantly return. I have ceased trying to remove
them and often watch them fly at night. They are rather delightful creatures.
There is only one real downside. The tenant. I am aware that his contract
means I cannot ask him to leave but must admit I would be even happier
if he were not here. I have enough melancholy of my own without that
of your mysterious lodger. I do not mean to complain but you are the
only person I can tell of him, secrecy is another of the bizarre clauses
in his tenancy agreement (whatever you got from him I hope it was worth
it).
To be quite frank I find the old man almost impossible to live with,
the only plus is that I have until recently, rarely seen him. Are you
aware that he considers the property his own? When I first arrived he
greeted me on the threshold and bid me "welcome" to his home! I attempted
to correct him but he just smiled and shuffled off into his rooms.
The old man is quite frightful to be honest with you, wherever did you
find such an oddity? When I first took residence I repeatedly asked
him to join me in the solar as his complexion is so dangerously pale
I thought the sun may well do him some good. The old man did not seem
to want my company, for which I must be grateful as his personal hygiene
is rather questionable.
I also believe your tenant procures prostitutes for his own amusement.
A number of times I have heard female voices coming from his rooms and
sounds that I can only describe as "sexual" in nature. For a man of
his age he seems to be most vigorous but I cannot approve of any illegality
taking place on your property. I cannot imagine that any young women
would choose to spend time with someone as old and ugly as him and can
only presume he pays. I have asked him about this and all he does is
shuffle back into his rooms only to return tapping the tenancy agreement
with an overgrown fingernail.
"Privacy" he slurs in a voice so guttural I can hardly make out his
words.
The man is insanely protective of his privacy, one night I tried to
enter his rooms and was met with a glare so dreadful that I feared he
may become violent. I am sorry to say this but I think your tenant may
be experiencing the onset of senility, although he is sprightly enough
(and strangely, becoming sprightlier by the day!) his actions lead me
to believe his sanity may be deserting him.
Take this for instance: I have had central heating put in, something
people such as you and I would take for granted but I came down last
week to find the old man doddering about in the parlour snarling to
himself (like an animal, truly he reminded of nothing so much as a great
wolf!).
"What tricks do you play!" he roared at me.
After some discussion it came to light that he believes the water running
through the pipes and into the radiators is harmful to him. I have tried
to explain this is not the same water he drinks but still he persists.
In the interests of a quite life I have stopped using the heating to
prevent any further upsetting behaviour from him. Though the house is
now cold, even when the weather is not.
I am sorry if I sound aggravated when really I should be thanking you
for your generosity but lately he has decided to spend more time with
me. He wishes to "get to know me and my kind," whatever that may mean.
I have found the time we spend together strangely tiring, as if the
creeping lassitude of my depression is returning.
He has also become obsessed by the television.
"What miracles your kind perform!" he says nearly every time he watches
it.
He insists I sit with him (putting up with the smell, I do not know
what he eats and whatever it is I am glad he has not requested I dine
with him!) and we watch the news. He would know more of the world outside
or the "doings of your kind" as he so quaintly puts it, apparently he
wants to bring his knowledge of the outside world up to date.
I can only hope that this means he has decided to move out of the house
and back into the world of people. I am sure that with your assistance
we can find some nursing home that will accommodate him. Surely this
would be a blessing?
Your Loving Great Grandson,
Henry Renfield
© All works subject to Copyright Robert James Barker
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