The Memoirs of George Gracey
Chapter 1 – Friends on the Train
"Oh, George…you've grown up so fast!" Mary Gilbert Gracey sobbed, arms around her handsome son. "It feels like…just the other day, you were wrapped in your baby blanket in my arms…your father playing the violin to put you to sleep…" she began crying again, hugging her son tightly.
"Now, dear…let's not embarrass our little Georgie," George Senior said, patting his wife on the back. "He'll be fine at college. He can look out for himself. Isn't that right, my boy?" George Sr. patted his son hard on the back.
"Mother, Father—I'll be fine. I've made it this far, haven't I?" George Gracey Jr. said, laughing slightly. "I've got to get on the train soon." Father, mother and son all stood at the Toombs Train Depot, saying their good-byes. George had practically grown up in boarding schools, always keeping in contact with his mother, but barely ever with his father, so this was a rare occasion for everyone. His father was always on some sort of business trip, or something of the sort.
George Gracey Jr., as mentioned before, had never truly been able to know his father. George's exceptional good looks and his wonderful sense of humor had always helped him charm the hearts of others. His dark hair was usually combed to the side with only the slightest bit of grease; even that couldn't keep his curls down. His growing sideburns were beginning to show. The blue eyes set in his boyish face were like a couple of miniature oceans people could get a glance at. He was tall—taller than most people his age. He was, indeed, taller than his father, if only by a bit. George tended to wear a suit or something formal, even if he was just going out for a carriage ride.
"Yes, my dear; we mustn't keep you much longer." She began fidgeting with his tie and his hair, straightening everything so he looked somewhat presentable.
"Mary, please stop fussing over the boy," George Sr. said, although it was clear George Jr. was no boy. "He's going to miss the train if you hold him up much longer!" Mary stopped and looked her son in the eyes.
"I'll miss you, my dear," Mary hugged her son again. "It'll seem like an eternity until we'll see you again!"
"Don't worry; it'll only be a few months," George Jr. tried comforting her.
"I know, dear; I know," Mary said quietly. Both Georges could hear her trying to hold back her tears. "Well…good-bye, dear."
"Good-bye, Mother; good-bye, Father," George Jr. quickly hugged both. He waved, pulling his cart of luggage on to the train with him. He briefly got a glimpse of his Mother wiping her eyes with her handkerchief. He quickly went to a nearby window and waved to his parents again, knowing his Mother would almost expect him to. Both Mary and George Sr. waved back. George Jr. began pulling his cart down the middle aisle of the car, looking for a convenient box to sit in, but almost all were full.
Ah! He spotted one. George pulled his cart into the last available box and sat down by the window. His mother and father were a ways up the sidewalk, but they spotted him. Waving one last time, they began walking back to their buggy awaiting them outside the Depot.
"ALL ABOARD!" the Conductor shouted. It looked very loud, based on Mary and George Sr. both covering their ears. George Jr. wanted to laugh, but knew it was impolite. The train whistle blew once. George could just barely see a few figures hurrying on to the train crying; "Wait! Don't depart! Hold on!" He could hear the thump-thump of formal shoes running down the middle hall. George couldn't figure out how many.
"There are no boxes available, Theo!" he heard a voice whisper very loudly. "Aw; come on, Levi! I'm sure there are!" another voice said. "Just keep looking."
Two—no, three—shadows passed along the outside of the etched glass on the opposite side of the box where George sat. He could see one of the figures peering inside, their features distorted. Feeling an invasion of privacy was happening, George got up from his seat and slid open the door.
"Oh! E-excuse us, b-but is this c-compartment t-taken?" asked the nervous one in front, the one who had been peering inside. George was the first to notice, but he was taller than all three men in the hallway. The stuttering one had dark, nearly jet-black hair, falling limp to either side of his face; the next one was a rounder man, his wavy hair jutting out from beneath his bowler hat and the one in back was taller than the two in front, but shorter than George; his hair was a sandy blonde, combed to one side, and he appeared to be trying to grow a moustache and beard.
"Not at all," George said. "In fact, I think there's room for all four of us." He led the way in, pushing his cart to the far end of the box so the other three could fit their luggage inside. Compared to George, the other men all seemed to have small amounts of luggage to carry. The lanky-haired one was carrying a beat-up, worn-out-looking leather suitcase he was clutching with both hands. The wavy-haired one was carrying a large briefcase; the blond-haired man was carrying a rounded-off suitcase with travel stickers all over it.
"I'm Levi Tation," said the wavy-haired one, sticking out his hand to George. "Glad to meet ya, Mr.…?"
"Gracey," George said with an air of dignity. "George Gracey. Junior."
Levi's eyes opened wide. "The George Gracey? Of the wealthy Gracey family of New Orleans?"
"Yes, that would be them," George raised an eyebrow. Levi suddenly took George's hands with both of his own.
"Even more of a pleasure, Mr. Gracey!" Levi shook his hand vigorously. "Hey, Rustin! Theo! This is the George Gracey!" Both men, who had previously been storing their luggage, looked up at George in surprise.
"I wasn't aware of my…popularity," George said, feeling a bit confused.
"What are you talking about? Your family's famous!" Levi had let go of George's hand by now, his hand still feeling that shaking feeling. "Your family is one of the most wealthy in all of Louisiana!"
"Why, thank you," George said, beginning to take a seat.
"I remember hearing about you—I never thought I'd actually get to meet you in person!" Levi gushed. All four felt a sudden thrust forward (or backward); the dark emerald-green colored locomotive, marked with, "Atencio Academy" in silver lettering on the coal car, began slowly pulling out of the station.
"Small world after all, isn't it?" George smirked. The blond-haired man sat next to Levi, the lanky-haired man next to George.
"I-I'm Rustin," the man next to George timidly reached out his thin, bony hand. "Rustin P-Peece. Pleasure to m-meet you, s-sir."
"The pleasure's all mine," George shook his hand. Rustin looked meek and wide-eyed.
"I-I just c-can't bel-lieve I'm f-finally m-m-meeting you," Rustin was still wide-eyed.
"Oh, don't mind him; he always gets nervous around new people," Levi said, waving it away.
"You haven't introduced yourself, sir," George said, turning to Theo, sitting with one leg crossed over the other.
"I'm Theo Later," Theo said with a surprisingly deep voice, reaching out his right hand to George. George shook it.
"Nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Later," George said in his polite tone. "I see you enjoy reading from the works of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley?" He had spied the books Frankenstein and Dracula sitting in Theo's lap.
"Yes; quite a lot," Theo held up Frankenstein for George to see, but there wasn't much to see, besides the words Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley in gold. "Some might call them boring and some might call the writers insane for writing such dreadful and dreary tales, but I find them fascinating."
"It's good to have varied tastes; not always follow what the crowd most enjoys, "George explained.
"All three of us try to do just that," Theo explained. "I enjoy painting, in fact. It's become quite a hobby of mine."
"Really?" George said, questioningly. "What is it you like to paint?"
"Oh, just…people, places, things from my memory or experiences." Theo said. "I'll often sketch it first – to get a basic idea."
"I'd love to see your work someday," George smiled.
"I don't think it'll ever be hanging in any famous museum," Theo said modestly. "They've just become a pastime for me."
"I'll say!" Levi added in. "Sometimes, he works on those things for days at a time!"
A knock on the glass outside interrupted them. "Would any of you gentlemen care for refreshments?" a kind-sounding but muffled female voice asked.
"Oh; thank you," George got up from his seat and made his way around the luggage to slide open the door. Outside was a middle-aged woman with grey streaks in her brown hair. She was pushing a cart of assorted refreshments down the aisle. It appeared she needed to restock on some items.
Below the top were small cakes, cookies and pastries in their own individual boxes wrapped in ribbons. The packages looked as delicious to the eye as they did to the tongue, George hoped. Some were covered in fruits and jelly, others in chocolate or other sort of icing. The cart also contained small boxes of jellybeans, assorted chocolates and licorice whips, all perfectly arranged.
The other three inside the box were practically drooling, staring at the cart. George placed a few gold coins in the middle-aged woman's hand. "What would we be able to get for this?" he leaned down, inspecting the prices for the different foods. The woman looked shocked at the amount of money.
"Well…" she said, shifting from one foot to the other, feeling put off by the money, "Let's see…"
00000
"That was real swell of you, Georgie," Levi said, putting another chocolate in his mouth.
"Yes; thank you," Theo was leaning back against the chair, halfway through a piece of cheesecake with strawberries. "But we could have paid for…actually, I don't think we could have paid for any of this. I know all of my savings went to my college fund. I'm not sure about these other two, though." He thumbed to Levi and Rustin.
"It was nothing." George said, waving it off and smiling. He glanced over at Rustin, who was silently eating his blueberry cobbler. Rustin realized someone was looking at him.
"Oh…th-thank you, Mr. G-Gracey," Rustin looked up at the tall man.
"Please…call me George!" he laughed. "It makes me uncomfortable for people to call me 'Mr. Gracey'."
"All r-right, Mr. G – I-I mean, G-George." Rustin said, glancing back down at the desert in his lap.
Levi threw the empty box to the side. "Delicious," he said. "This college has always been known for their great cuisine-style cooking! Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll help myself to a piece of chocolate pie…" Levi licked his lips as he reached over and took a pastry from the stack of treats waiting to be unwrapped.
"What's the matter, George?" Theo asked. "You've only eaten a half a raspberry tart." He pointed to the half-eaten tart sitting on a plate in George's lap.
"I'm…not very hungry today," George had his cheek resting on his hand. He began gazing out the window at the quickly passing landscape, thinking about what kind of life he was actually off to.
A/N: Hello, everyone! Another Haunted Mansion story from Melanie. Many Haunted Mansion fans know the tragic "official" story behind the Mansion, but this is my story as to what really may have happened. Hope you enjoy! Also, much, much thanks to Werecat Boy for the (new) title. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Haunted Mansion ride, movie or anything mentioned in this fan fiction. The Haunted Mansion rides © 1969 Disney Imagineering. The Haunted Mansion movie © 2003 Disney Enterprises.