Perri and Nina woke up to the insistent cawing of crows. It sounded like they were right outside the window. Perri sat up and stood up, misjudging the height of the bed, which was several inches higher than her own, and stumbled halfway to the doorway before she caught her balance. Nina stirred, “What’s going on?”
“That’s me trying to be quiet and not wake you up yet as I went to have a look out the window. You’re welcome.” Perri walked to the window and pulled back the heavy jacquard drapes, “Do you hear the crows?”
“Yeah, I hear them. It’s kind of nice though.”
Perri squinted in the morning light after the darkness of the room. “There are several of them in a tree in the garden. Looks like Alice is putting some food out for them. They must be wanting their breakfast.” She watched for a few moments. “I’ve heard that if you keep chickens, having crows around will help keep the hawks away from your chickens.”
Nina sat up, “Are you planning on getting some chickens to keep?”
“No. Just a handy-dandy piece of trivia for you in case you ever get too much time on your hands with that cute little handful of yours.”
“Which one do you mean, Aaron or Tom?”
“Point taken.”
Nina yawned and stretched, “After that supper last night I shouldn’t want breakfast, but I’m ready for it.”
“Me too. If you don’t mind, since I already showered last night, I’ll run in the bathroom and get dressed quickly, and get my stuff together while you get ready, if that’s ok?”
“Sure, that works for me.” I’m moving a bit slow this morning anyway.
Perri picked up her clothes that she’d laid out the night before along with her facial soap and bath poof and headed into the bathroom. She hung her robe on the iron hook shaped like a swan on the back of the door, got a towel off the rack, and prepared to wash her face.
The most outstanding feature in the bathroom, and the first thing she had noticed yesterday when they arrived, was the claw foot tub. She’d nearly needed a stool to get into the tub, just like the bed. The round sink bowl was in the center of a very wide oval porcelain pedestal with two formed soap dishes near the taps and plenty of room for other toiletries on each side. The taps were x-shaped white porcelain with Hot and Cold in black letters, and in the center was a short metal rod with a knob on the end that said Waste. Perri turned on the hot tap and let it run long enough to turn warm. While waiting, she turned and pushed the Waste knob, and the drain popped up and down. “Huh, I’ve never seen one of these.” The water ran hot so she turned on the cold to get the right mix.
The porcelain toilet bowl and seat were separate from the tank, which was wooden and located up near the ceiling. There was a long chain to pull to flush it. “Fancy.” The bowl had a raised leaf pattern around the base, next to the floor. “I could get used to this,” she thought to herself.
Freshly scrubbed and dressed in jeans and a cotton t-shirt, her straight, shoulder length brown hair brushed, Perri went back into the bedroom, where Nina was just ending a call to Tom. “Everyone survive the night intact without you?”
“Barely. Aaron fell and conked his noggin on one of the drawer handles in the bedroom. That child can find more ways to smash his head, eyes, and nose against some unlikely targets. It takes talent. He inherited that from Tom.” Nina hopped off the bed and headed into the bathroom, sauntering and waving one arm in the air. “I’ll be out after my luxuriant bath, Seamore. See that my meal is prepared, I’ll be going in soon.”
Perri exaggeratedly rolled her eyes, “Yes Mi’lady. You’ve been binge-watching Downton Abbey, haven’t you?” She could hear the shower begin as she opened Google Maps to locate Whippoorwill Cemetery. It was only a few miles west of town, right off Interstate 68. She opened an app on her phone to plug in the location, not to navigate there, but to add it to favorites. She liked to keep a record of where she’d been in case she needed to return, or found something interesting while she was there and wanted to reference it later.
Nina and Perri found their way to the dining room, between the front parlor and the kitchen. Alice came in from the kitchen in an apron with flour spattered across the front and dough stuck to her hands. “Morning all! How did you sleep?”
“Very well, thanks.”
“Like a log.”
“I’ve got the sideboard over there ready for you; there are plates at the far end. I’ve got scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles in the warmers, just put them in there about 10 minutes ago, and there’s fresh fruit in the bowl, and syrups, cheese, and preserves for the scones, which I just took out of the oven. Coffee and juice is on the table, help yourself. Be right back.”
“Oh man, I can’t wait. That smells good” said Perri.
“You’re not wrong about that. Let’s get started,” Nina said, rubbing her hands together.
They each took a plate and were loading them up when Alice brought in the fresh, hot scones piled in a basket and covered with a tea towel. “This is a feast, Alice, thank you!” Perri and Nina each took a couple of scones and spooned on some of the strawberry preserves. They sat at the long wooden table. Made from rough-hewn planks, it was a bit uneven, but had been smoothed and polished until it glowed.
“We saw the crows in the garden this morning. Do you feed them every day?” asked Nina
“Did they wake you up? I’m sorry if they did.” Alice quickly replied.
“No, no, they didn’t. We wanted to get up early and get going, but I did want to see them.”
“I usually give them some of what’s left over from the day before; leftover bread or crackers, scraps of meat, even cooked beans. They hang around in the morning waiting for it.”
“Smart birds!” said Nina.
“This is delicious, Alice. Just what we need before heading out today. Going to poke around in cemeteries looking for headstones.” Perri glanced up to see Nina smiling.
“I’ll let you eat and get going then. I’ll come back and get the dishes when you leave. You have a good day and I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Both tried to reply, but with their mouths full, they opted to wave.