~ Chicago, Illinois - November 1999 ~
It took about five weeks to get some paperwork and identification papers before I could return to Chicago. My human home had been held as part of a trust Carlisle arranged for shortly after my change. Over the years, the law firm overseeing the trust hired people to maintain the property and ensure it was largely kept as it was in 1918. Some small changes were authorized by the trust, but I anticipated it would be much as I left it some eighty-one years ago. The current caretakers who oversaw the house where Dr. William Alexander and his wife of nearly fifty years, Josephine. Dr. Alexander was a sixty-nine year old retired pediatrician. Josephine was two years younger than her husband. They both lived next door to my human home in the same house Josephine grew up in. The Alexanders, specifically Josephine, had been looking after the house since the mid 1950s.
My new identification Jasper had arranged for, stated that I was Edward Anthony Platt, the great, great, great nephew of my human parents on my mother's side. My only living relatives were my older sister, Esme, and my cousins Alice and Rosalie. The trust had been notified that I would be taking up residence in the house and that the caretakers could expect me the third week in November, which was this week.
During my rebellious period I spent time hunting worthless dregs in Chicago, but I hadn't been back since. During that time I certainly didn't associate with humans, other than the ones I hunted and killed, nor did I visit my old neighborhood. I was shocked and amazed at the growth and congestion of Chicago of today as compared to my youth. I hailed a cab near the lakefront and had it drive me to my house. The overcast day was perfect for travel so I was able to arrive during the daylight hours.
As the taxi turned onto my street, I almost told the cabbie to continue on. Forgotten memories of me walking this same street took me by surprise. I was unsure if I wanted to remember my human life, but Alice told me to trust her, so I let the taxi pull up in front of my house.
The outside was a bit weathered, but it had obviously been maintained and the paint refreshed over the years. I stood outside the house for a few minutes before the Alexanders approached me.
"Mr. Platt?" William asked tentatively.
I turned to greet them and I shook William's offered hand. "Hello. Yes, I'm Edward Platt. Would you be Dr. and Mrs. Alexander?"
"We are." William said with a smile. "But none of that doctor crap. I'm just William now and my wife goes by Josie."
"Okay, William, as long as you call me Edward." He nodded while I shook hands with Josie. She still hadn't said anything yet. She was aware that I looked very similar to one of the previous owners she had seen in old photographs.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners," Josie finally replied while shaking her head. "It's just…the family resemblance is amazing. You look just like Edward Anthony Masen, the only son of the family that lived here at the turn of the century.
Alice had warned me that Josie was very familiar with my house and some of my family's history. My cover story included that I was named after the Masen's son who once lived here.
"Really?" I asked in mock astonishment. "I was told by my parents that I was named after a distant relative that once lived in Chicago."
"So your middle name is Anthony as well?" She asked.
"It is! I am Edward Anthony Platt." I replied before turning towards the house. "Should we go inside?" I asked.
"Of course." Josie replied. She pulled a set of modern keys from the pocket of her jacket and handed them to me. "You will need these."
William and Josie gave me an unneeded tour of the house before they excused themselves. Before they left, William explained that some of the original furniture had not made it over the many years the house sat dormant. Likewise, all of the rugs, curtains, bedding, and other fabrics had been removed because of deterioration. Most of my family's personal belongings had been crated up and placed either in storage up in the attic or in the crawl space below the first floor.
After William and Josie left, I roamed the house.
The more I wandered around, the more memories trickled into my mind. One of the first things I noticed was the relatively modern electrical and water service that had been installed in the house. Until I was about fifteen or sixteen, the house had no electricity. The memory of my father priding himself on being the first house in the neighborhood to have electric lighting made me laugh. I stood in the front foyer and flipped the switch repeatedly just like he did.
Being in the kitchen brought back memories of my mother scolding me for sneaking gingerbread cookies before a holiday dinner. In my father's library, I could still detect the smell of his pipe tobacco amongst the aroma of the old law books. Upstairs, in my room, I sat for hours on the floor as pieces of my childhood filtered back to me. As I spent time in each room I new piece of myself was re-added to who I was.
Alice was right; coming to my human home was going to be good for me.