Subj: Something Wicked part 1
Date: 7/10/00 1:40:25 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Julianka
Willie sat thinking. By the look on his face it was
easy to tell his thoughts weren't pleasing to him. I should be a happy man.
Why am I not satisfied? The modernization of the Old House was almost complete.
Willie felt a justifiable sense of pride in the way this had been brought about.
First of all Willie had convinced Barnabas on the need for electricity in the
Old House. He played on Barnabas' innate need for order and neatness. Using
the generator that was still in the basement from the life force experiments,
he showed Barnabas the clean front parlor. He then vaccumed the carpets and
the furniture using the hoover he had borrowed from Mrs. Johnson. When Barnabas
saw the amount of dirt and dust Willie had removed from the room, he had been
shocked. Willie had further drove the point home on the need for electricity
by giving Barnabas a detailed listing of the cost effectiveness of installing
electricity could bring. When he had Barnabas' grudging respect for the way
he had proven his point. He then refused to carry another slop jar out. He talked
to Barnabas about how unsanitary slop jars and outhouses were. He persuaded
Barnabas to go to Collinwood and try a hot shower. Barnabas had been delighted
with the experience and decided to install a bathroom at once. Willie then convinced
Barnabas that not one, but four baths were needed. A master bath for Barnabas,
himself. A guest bath, a downstairs half bath and one for Willie near his room.
Willie was very careful to design the bathrooms to have every luxury and be
as tastefully elegant as Barnabas could desire. Willie then planned his last
campaign to modernize the Old House's dark and inconvenient kitchen. He began
by serving Barnabas' meals just a little late and not as well prepared as he
had in the past. When Barnabas complained, Willie explained that the working
conditions of the kitchen weren't the best. He then showed the plans he had
drawn up, using all modern appliances. But at the same time keeping the charm
of the past. Barnabas quickly gave Willie the go ahead to begin. And yet there
was something ruining Willie's satisfaction in his victory. Some niggly premoition
overshadowing his pride of accomplishment. Something he couldn't quite put his
finger on.
To be continued......