Page 12 of Positively, Penelope

Date: September2

Subject: The story

Well, actually, I have a lot of stories from the past two days. (Plus I received that email you were talking about, Josephine. The one from Mrs. Jacqueline Morrow Crenshaw. I haven’t read it yet and am not sure I have the emotional energy for it tonight because this day lasted two weeks, but I will read it tomorrow.)

First things first, the story behind The Darling House! Mr.James Everett saw the debut of the stage production ofPeter Panwhen it came to London and the experience made such a mark on him (as he’d just lost his mother a year before) that he determined he’d one day create his own theater. Mr.Everett survived the hardships of World WarI, and like so many other creative men who came through that war (Izzy, you would know of which authors I speak since two of them are your favorites), he turned the trials into something magical and built The Darling House. The theater then passed on to his granddaughter, Lorianna Gwendolyn McKay, who married Mr.Lewis Clarkson Gray. By all accounts, Mr.Gray, who loved his wife dearly, also adored her theater, and the two of them saw wonderful careers of both performances and classes (his wife was a dance instructor). I don’t know much about the productions that the theater has performed long-term, but I plan to do my research starting tomorrow. Research is vital in creating an authentic marketing strategy, but I can already tell this is going to be a delicious mystery. My scalp is tingling at the possibilities.

From what I understand, when Lorianna Gray died, something in the magic of The Darling House died too. The plays became less frequent, Mr.Gray pulled himself away from the public eye, and a steady decline of The Darling House has led to its current gloominess and... quiet. Oh, you haven’t known quiet until you’ve stood on an empty stage in an empty theater and stared out into the shadowed seats. Doesn’t the idea just send a shiver through you?

And here I am! Me. Like my very own Esther moment for such a time as this. No, there are no kings nearby—or at least ones associated with this theater. Neither are there devious Hamans, or at least I don’t think so—most men here have Scottish or Norwegian name derivations—but there is a lonely theater with a bunch of sad-faced workers who are in desperate need of a great deal of . . . possibilities. (There isn’t even music playing in the offices around here. It’s a little scary-movie-like.) I’m supposed to meet the rest of the “team” tomorrow, sans Alec Gray. He’s scheduled to arrive back from a work trip this weekend.

So there’s the first finished story. Isn’t it all so exciting?! Since I’m planning to do some sneaking around the theater tomorrow, I decided on the perfect hat to wear for courage. My large-brimmed bowler like Diane Keaton wears inAnnie Hall! I’m afraid anything fromMy Fair Ladywouldn’t fit through the doors, except maybe the adorable pink one she wears when Freddy sings to her. Sigh. What a voice! All he needed was a little more backbone.

Penelope

PS: I’m going to hold out for backbone. I think that’s an excellent characteristic for the leading man of my life.

PPS: I’m considering going to the beach on Saturday. You know how I love watching the waves from a safe distance. Though I can see a lake just beyond the tree line, so I may venture there first. What a magical place!!

PPPS: The Darling House has beautiful bones. But it needs a makeover as badly as Mrs. Lennox. I’ll start with her first, though.

From: Luke Edgewood

To: Penelope Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Josephine Martin

Date: September2

Subject: Re: The story

Penny-girl,

I’m glad you’ve raised your expectations from slugs, jellyfish, and spiders to creatures with actual backbones as possible lifelong partners. It shows real growth.

Luke

PS: Maybe you could include “mammals” as a deciding factor too. Just think of the possibilities!

Text from Penelope to Luke:You’re hilarious. I know why you identify with all the mammals. The hair. Gross. You might actually look like a leading man if you shaved once in a while.

Luke:I can list a few very fine leading male specimens who wear hair quite well.

Penelope:I wasn’t talking about King Kong or Bigfoot.

Penelope:Ack! Stop texting me photos of the Chrises with beards. (You know I have a weakness for Chris Pine... and Chris Evans.) I refuse to agree with you.

Luke:And yet, I bet you saved the photos to your phone.

Penelope:I hate you.

From: Izzy Edgewood

To: Penelope Edgewood, Luke Edgewood, Josephine Martin

Date: September3

Subject: Re: The story

Penelope,

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