20 June 2012
Shaking myself, I read on. Each sordid detail of this house's inky past revealed before me... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE BANGOR POST
RETURN OF A FAMILIAR FACE
Doctor Rowland Faxton has returned to Bangor and Van Der Beere House again, this time with another family in tow. The ill-fated medic, still under scrutiny by many in the village for the deaths of his first wife and son, reoccupied the family home with the new Mrs Beatrice Faxton and their four year old son Theodore. Dr Faxton met his second wife in Belfast on the coast when he went to live with his aunt five years ago, escaping the storm surrounding the deaths of Amelia and Virgil Faxton. The young Beatrice (only 24 years old) worked in his aunt's flower shop in the town and they were wed, returning to the property on the outskirts of Bangor. 'I do not believe that the tragedy was anything to do with the rumours of bad luck surrounding Van Der Beere House,' the new level-headed Mrs Faxton commented. 'What happened was a result of Amelia's unfortunate disposition after the birth of Virgil. Of course, with the correct attention the atrocity could have been prevented but what's done is done and cannot be changed. Furthermore, it was caused by Amelia's actions and poor mental state and that alone, no supernatural causes.' Dr Faxton was also very optimistic about his new start, even if it is under the watchful eye of Bangor and he could not be more pleased to be a father again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Mother,
We've settled in to our new home in Bangor. The house needs a bit of work. I always hear the taps running or dripping in the night, we'll have to call someone in. However I am most worried about our dear Teddy's reaction to the move. He's become a very introvert child, only playing with himself and never the other children in the town. He has bad dreams in the night as well, calling out all manner of things from a past he never knew. He says he met a new friend, Simon who we can't see. Of course imaginary friends are normal for any young child but this Simon is anything but normal. Teddy says he's about five and doesn't talk much because he never learnt how to properly. And he's always soaking, dripping from head to toe. The oddest thing is occasionally we find wet footsteps or drops around the house. I worry about him, Mother. Rowland seems to think its fine and that he'll recover. But I know my Teddy and this is not him. Lovingly yours, Beatrice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Journal entry: 17th Aug. 1931
I'm growing increasingly concerned for the boy. I've let it be for three years now but the problem has only worsened. All he talks about is this friend of his, Wet Simon. Anytime I hear that name I can only think about that night. My poor son gone and now the other being taken over too. He drew a picture of him today and I can only see my face therein. It's as if...but that would be impossible. I also fear the memories of that night still haunt me. I hear him screaming in the night in my mind, the taps gushing, her gasps as she held him under, her sobs as she pulled that trigger. I knew this place couldn't possibly be healthy for us, but it's the only thing I've ever known, ever truly completely loved. The idea of my family in this home, it's an obsession, an aching need, a hunger that has to be fulfilled, like some sort of poison corrupting me. I think I know what is best for the boy. We are sending him off to a school in New Hampshire. Perhaps then the memories of this place will not harm him there. R.F ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Mama and Papa,
I am doing fantastically well here in Broadleaf. My masters are incredibly happy with me and I've made many new friends. They have brought out qualities I never knew I had in me and I can honestly say I'm having the time of my life here. The dreams and Simon are gone and I feel, well, normal now. Sending me here was the best thing you could ever have done for me though I hated the idea at first. Thank you very much. With love, Teddy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Mother,
Teddy has returned to us over Easter and I must say I wish he hadn't. While I missed him terribly things at the house only got worse and I thought he could fix them but he didn't. He was sucked in. Row has become somewhat obsessed with this place. Everything he does is about the house, fixing the house, improving the house, promoting the house and he refuses to move away despite my begging. And when Teddy came back it was like an avalanche. His dreams have returned. He wakes up in the night screaming about me, saying 'Mama, no!' or 'I love you Mama, why don't you love me back?' And when he shouts he sets Row off who starts calling for Amelia. Teddy has even started sleepwalking, going into the bathroom and running the taps of the bath, the sink, anything. If I hadn't have found him the other night the bathroom would have flooded. And to make matters even worse, Wet Simon has returned. Teddy talks about him constantly and when he's alone he just sits on the tyre swing over the river. I'm at my wit's end, Mother. Yours, Beatrice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE BANGOR POST
FAXTON CHILD DROWNED IN RIVER
The ill-fated Faxton family has been dealt yet another blow. The seven-year-old son of Dr Rowland Faxton and Mrs Beatrice Faxton was found dead in the river at the back of the family residence Van Der Beere House. Mrs Faxton saw the entire event while her husband was at work in town. She claims that from the kitchen window she saw a wet boy pushing her late son Theodore on the tyre swing overhanging the river. However, the young boy proceeded to produce a pen knife and cut the tether on the swing, causing Theodore to fall to his death in the river. Mrs Faxton claims to have rushed to save her son who could not swim. By the time she reached the bottom of the garden the mysterious boy had gone and her son Theodore was dead. Neither Dr nor Mrs Faxton were available for comment, simply asking to be left alone to grieve while the search for this elusive child murderer continues. This is the third loss Dr Faxton has felt in recent years after the deaths of his first wife and son in 1923. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dearest Rowland,
This is more than likely the most selfish thing I could do in this situation but it seems the only way out. It isn't the most pleasant way to return from a day at the practice, I know. But I feel that the light has gone out in my world since Teddy left it and since you have become more and more engrossed in preserving this house. Love died in you when Amelia did what she did and I despise her for that. She broke you, you who should have been mine. She never gave you a chance. So I leave you to your house. It's the only thing you can love as you know it won't hurt you back. There was only ever space for one woman in your heart, one family and I can see now that she takes that place. She is this house now so I hope you two are happy together. I know for sure you will be happier than I ever made you. You will find me at the bottom of the garden, in the river with stones tied to my feet and I am sure to be sped before you arrive. With all my love to you forever, Beatrice. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE BANGOR POST DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
30th April 1968: Dr Rowland Faxton passed away in the quiet of the night at his residence Van Der Beere House. He was a most valued member of our community and we hope that his broken soul finds peace in Death where it could not in Life.
Drip Part 3: Happy Families • Opuss № I