Biddy Mayfair
Nosy Neighbour Extrordinaire!
The Musings and Gossip of Biddy Mayfair:
"There is definitely something very strange about that house..you know the one I mean, those Pendrakes. I've been watching them for years. Ever since James found that woman Angelica and her 'funny' child Persephane, odd happenings occur around them and in town.
Why, when Persephane was just about a year old, I happened to be looking through the hedges..(not 'spying' of course, just making sure the child was alright, you see) and what do I see? The little girl is waving her hands around in the air and, mercy me..all the flower heads are following her hands! They're literally 'dancing' to her antics!!
What's a person to think? I believe our quiet community of Rockmanor is being invaded by aliens or something. Worries me to death. Curious to say the least, very curious indeed...."
"Have I told you about when James first brought them home? Probably not. Now you must understand, I'm not one to spread rumours, but things were queer, to me right from the get go.
Angelica and Persephane stayed in the little cabin James has in his yard, you see. And there is this..um..hole in the side fence..needed mending..but I could not help but notice this beautiful young woman, hair golden, long glinting in the sun. A slim thing, large light blue eyes and very light, almost alabaster skin.
But the child, couldn't be more different. Dark, almost black thick head of hair on her for such a tiny thing. Light skin, but more olive tone and chestnut brown eyes, like a doe. Pretty thing, but hard to believe the woman was her mother. They can't fool me, been around the block too many times to have the wool pulled over my eyes. Yesiree, too smart by far for this lot. I'll be watching, I will. And mark my words, at some point they'll mess up and I'll be proven to be right. There is much more than what meets the eye going on here. You'll see....you'll see..."
"You know..I used to see Persephane next door a lot at Mr. Hornby's. She seemed to really like that digusting dog - Gruesome - all drooling and everything..nasty.
But I have to say..it was very, very strange. When she looked at the dog and spoke to him, his eyes met hers as if he understood every word. No matter what she'd ask him to do..go fetch something, look at something, whatever...he'd do just as if he spoke the Queen's English. Not that I spent a lot of time looking, of course...this was just in passing...as I walked past the gate. I mean, how could one NOT notice?..."
"You know, I'm far to busy to keep telling you these stories...but I can just feel how much you want to know.
I can remember one time, when I was grocery shopping...Angelica, the mother, had Persephane in the seat of the shopping cart...she couldn't have been much older than three or four.
As they were strolling down the snack section, the little one grabbed a bag of chocolates from the shelf. Quick little thing, she was.
Angelica smiled kindly, but took the bag and put it back on the shelf. She then walked down the aisle, obviously looking for better quality snacks...nearer the organic popcorn and corn chips. As she turned to look at the items, to make a choice...Well!....that bag of chocolates literally jumped off the shelf where it had been put back..and floated to the child. Persephane seized it with outstretched arms and tucked it behind her back!! Now!! How do you explain THAT????..."
"You see, it's my constant concern for my front garden, that keeps me outside...it's the only reason that I see so much.
Anyway, there's a story I have to tell you about. Wouldn't have known this if it wasn't for my garden..you know...as I've said.
The child, Persy they call her, was skipping down the street, you know with a jump rope. But the THING was...she was NOT holding the handles! No, not at all! Just running and skipping and the rope circled over and over her as she ran. She just held this stick thingy in her hand, twirling it round and round and the rope followed.
Now, you tell me...is THAT normal???? Of course not. But it's not for me to say...I mean...I'd never spread rumours or anything..."
