The Adventures of Geo Beane: Day 5 of Renovations

Humphrey did not make the mistake of sending me back to any Doggie Disneyland.

When he saw what the handlers had done to me (what with the curled fur, painted toenails, cone party hat, frufu tutu, glitter, and other Disneyfied regalia), he was rightfully indignant and declared that never again would he let His Geo be turned into a fruitcake.

Instead, he fortuitously gained a favor from the next-door neighbor, who kindly lets me wander freely through her yard sometimes. She had a few vacation days this week, and Humphrey had recently fixed her broken garden gate; And thus, it was amicably agreed. Humphrey always calls her Mrs. B., and Mrs. B. has a daughter, she calls Bonnie. So then today it was me, Mrs. B., and Bonnie, gardening and sunning, while Humphrey took off in the SUV waving with a sense of assurance that we were all good here.

And we really were. Time went quickly, though of course, I missed my Humphrey.

Sometimes, it's terrible, but I have this wicked sense of humor, and it crept up on me at one point during the wait of the day. I imagined Humphrey painting upstairs with the construction site boombox playing "I Think We're Alone Now," ...but actually he had no cd player or radio at all, so I knew he was working in silence... maybe hearing the beating of my heart buried under the floorboards... like in that one Gothic house!

In reality, I really regretted he didn't have any music to keep him company; and I was pridefully convinced that he missed me, too, and was busy working and inventing all sorts of things for our amusement later.

I should say that in the evenings, Humphrey tells us stories before bed. Sometimes he reads something he is working on, and tests how quickly I fall asleep. Other times he unravels a plot line and gages my opinion. I'm always so pleased when he says that I "help" him think.

Aarf! Arrrwagh!! mrrh!! jumps, wags, paws, nips, licks, hugs and giggles!! Humphrey!

It was late, but still light. Dinner was done, and the final walk, too. We headed right to bedtime routines. Circle, circle, circle three times; chin on Humphrey's chest. Meanwhile he adjusted his pillow and settled an arm behind his head. The vintage Tiffany stained-glass lamp set on dim, graced the oak nightstand.

"Geo Beane, the 'new' house is really special. Do you know that it is over 100 years old?! It was built in the year 1900 exactly and was in the same family for 94 years. Since then, it has been sold only to 4 other owners, including us. It even has its original windows, with 'sash weights.'

I'll have to show you next time we're there! ...There is a rope and pulley hidden inside the wooden frame, and as soon you release the window latch, the lower part of the automatically opens up all by itself. Eerie, magical. Beautiful and sophisticated, but so delicate! They don't make these kinds of windows anymore. These went out of fashion in the mid-1930s.

...We're in the depth of the historic district of the city! ... and who knows what that original old family endured or contributed during those 90+ years? Maybe we'll check the archives in City Hall. All I know at this point is that the surname was Lane. The last of the Lane's who lived in this house were engaged in some sort of Sales. At this point there is nothing about the place yet to point to any clue for details... but Beans, there is an attic! I took a peek. There is insulation, and no flooring; open beams above and below; but there are things stored up there... we'll have to take a closer look soon.

...that attic is accessed from a little cubby hole in top of one of the bedroom closets."

Humphrey started to yawn a bit, and he turned out the light.

..auwr... It gave me the creeps just listening to the rasp of his voice, with darkness falling, and a pitter patter of rain returning... I dozed off, but I had one of those running feet dreams. A window was chasing me...