Subj: Collinwood 2001 Part 34
Date: 8/2/01 5:44:50 PM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

Collinsport Middle School was a great mix of hip-hoppers, head bangers, book worms, jocks, cheerleaders, the popular crowd and the invisible. It was just like any other school in America except for one thing. Violence was pretty much absent. The Collinsport young received such a strong hand at home that they rarely required a refresher course at school. But it was not forbidden as David Collins had just found out. He had just received three swats from the physical education teacher and he was now cooling his jets in Miss Vicky Easley's office, the principal of the school..

David was surly to her. "You're gonna be sorry that you let this happen. You act like you don't know who I am or what I can do, and you're gonna be real sorry."

Miss Easley had been warned about the Collins' heir. He was spoiled and he was belligerent and she had been given a free hand in his discipline. "David, your father gave me permission to see to your rewards and your punishments. So far you haven't gleaned any treasure and making idle threats is no way to make friends."

He bit back. "I don't want to be your friend and I'm not just making threats. I have friends that won't like the way you've treated me. That stupid man who hit me is gonna pay for it, they'll see to it, and there isn't anything anyone can do about it!"

Vicky got mad. "What friends are you talking about, little boy? I'll have you know that we run a tight ship when it comes to violence and talk of violence and I will have you in detention and or community service for the rest of your pre-adult life! Do you understand what I am saying, here David?" She arched her back high in her big swivel chair and gave the boy a daring glance.

"Oh, I was talking about the ghosts of Widow's Hill. I bet you don't believe in them, but they're real and they protect my family and they have for hundreds of years. Mr. Casey will going home some night and he'll be all alone, and they'll come and get him!" David jumped forward to emphasis his words and it did spook Vicky just enough to make her mad.

"Return to class and remember what I said, young man."

David made his way down the hallways. He was in no hurry to get to his math class. He hated math. He wasn't good at it and he didn't see any reason why he should learn something that he was just going to pay someone else to do for him when he was old enough. Miss Winters had taught him so well that he had been placed in the eight grade instead of the seventh. This put him in with the older kids and only made it that much harder for him to fit in. He wouldn't have fit in with his own age group much better. He had made a friend of sorts. A girl in the seventh grade named Amelia Jennings. She was another outcast. A member of the invisible student body. She wore thick glasses and her hair was in braids like a little girl and she was awkward and shy, but she had spoken to David in the lunchroom once or twice and he liked her. She listened to the ghost stories of Collinwood and even offered some of her own. She didn't laugh at David or make fun of him. She believed him and when he invited her to come up to Collinwood to look around she couldn't believe her good fortune! David was getting nearer to his dreadful destination when he saw Amelia up ahead talking with some friends. He didn't think it odd that Amelia didn't have any friends, but him, and he also didn't take notice of the fact that she wasn't wearing her glasses. He did notice that she was in a cheerleader's outfit and he guessed that she was making a joke.

"Hey, Amelia, what's with the Halloween costume?"

The girl gave him a look and gave him a lash of her tongue. "I am NOT Amelia. Amelia is my wormy sister. I am Molly and the difference between us is that I would never speak to anyone who..."

Another girl leaned in and whispered in Molly's ear that she was about to insult the richest boy in town. "...I would never speak without being first properly introduced to a nice boy like you must be." She was all sugary sweet and David Collins was as foolish as any young boy would have been. Molly went on and she took David's arm on her own. "I was just going to dance rehearsal. Would you walk with me, David?" He was hers to command.

The black limo pulled up in front of The House Of Styles and Jon craned his neck to see who was getting out. He picked up the private line to Amanda Styles and gave her the word. "Styles, you better get down her and turn on the charm. Nora Collins is coming into the shop this very minute and she's got that governess and her nurse with her."

The front door opened and a bell tinkled merrily. Vicky entered with Miss Collins on her arm. The nurse followed with a traveling wheelchair and they deposited the elder woman in it comfortably.

Jon stepped around to the front of his desk and turned it on. "It is a rare honor to see you here, Miss Collins. Why I can't remember the last time you were here?"

She answered without looking at him. "That's because I've never been here and I wouldn't be here today if my personal assistant had not come up with the idea. Miss Winters always has such good ideas."

So the governess was now a personal assistant! Well, that was news worth knowing.

Vicky spoke up. "I know we don't have an appointment, but Miss Collins has something very important coming up and I was hoping that you could fit her in somehow."

Styles entered with all her flair and flourish. "Of course, there is no problem, Miss Winters, is there Jon?"

Jon gave an unnecessary look at the books. "No, it just so happens that this has been a rather slow day and we have several openings."

Nora Collins was pleased, but she didn't show it too much in front of what she called the commoners. "Very good. I want my assistant and my nurse to be seen and attended to as well. I will be billed for it all and I want the best and nothing less will do. We are going to be on the television, Entertainment Tonight and you know how harsh those camera lights can be on delicate skin."

Styles thought the upcoming events were thrilling. "How very nice for you, Miss Collins. Can you tell us what we'll be seeing?"

Nora smiled gleefully. "I am going to tell a great secret. It will set this town on it's ear, I can assure you of that. Now I can't say anymore, so can we get on with our beauty making?"

Jon went to work rounding up operators. Vicky excused herself from Nora and caught up with him. "Is Maggie Evans available? I liked the way she did my hair last time."

Jon told her yes. "And Miss Winters, do you know what the big secret is?"

"Yes, I do, Jon and no I won't tell you either. If I told you we wouldn't need to tell ET."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.