>Silvana StoneSkye points at the psuedo-altar.
>Silvana StoneSkye rubs a sanded and polished deck table with a large umbrella sticking up from
the center.
>Ichiko Daiumi asks, "Wanna see my Godzilla impression?"
>Verna Delancey begins laughing at Ichiko Daiumi!
>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.

>You feel a cold finger up your spine, and hear a now-familiar voice yell, "BOO!!!"

>Verna Delancey grins at Sami Market.
>You let out a blood-curdling shriek.
>Silvana StoneSkye just helped herself to a spicy pickled pepper.
>Candi Cane hides behind Silvana.
>Silvana StoneSkye is staring at you!  Don't you find that rude?
>You ask, "Can we ermm do this soon?"
>Auguste Delatour glances at you.
>Verna Delancey says, "Careful, she might fall on you, Candi"
>Silvana StoneSkye asks, "Why??"
>You say, "I think he's playing with me now"
>Candi Cane stares around the room.
>Ichiko Daiumi sits up.
>Silvana StoneSkye drains her Whiskey Sour!
>Ichiko Daiumi closes her eyes and takes on a look of concentration, as if thinking about
something heavily.
>Verna Delancey begins laughing at Silvana StoneSkye!
>
You hear a high-snigger that turns into an all out laugh.

>Silvana StoneSkye asks, "Was the pepper supposed to be hot?"
>Ichiko Daiumi stands back up.
>Silvana StoneSkye lets out a blood-curdling shriek.
>Verna Delancey says, "yes"
>Auguste Delatour glances around.
>Auguste Delatour seems nervous.
>Ichiko Daiumi says, "okay, I even heard that one"
>Verna Delancey says, "me too"
>Verna Delancey shivers.
Auguste Delatour nods.
>Sami Market seems scared.
>Sami Market raises her plastic flyswatter.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Okay.. Candi.. you have to be nice to him."
>Ichiko Daiumi says, "This guy must be a real party animal"
>You say, "I AM"
>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.
>Verna Delancey says, "I need to get drunk."
>Verna Delancey hiccups.
>Ichiko Daiumi puts her pepper in her black field pack.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Offer for him to partake in the things on the altar, and the food and
drink inside."
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "He needs to be reminded of the things he no longer has."
>Silvana StoneSkye nods.
>On the deck table you see a sunny yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow
flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a stick
of rosemary incense, a pillar candle, a votive candle, a prayer taper, a plain cotton scarf, a
crystal rosary, a St. Jude medal, a bag of rainbow-colored confetti, a glass of sparkling
water, some multi-grain bread and a small round pumpkin.
>You ask, "So basically repeat what you just said?"
>You grin at Silvana StoneSkye.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "In your own way"
>Silvana StoneSkye just tickled you.
>Sami Market silently studies a white wicker picnic basket festooned with red chili peppers and
a rainbow of crepe paper streamers.  She seems to be completely captivated.
>Silvana StoneSkye just helped herself to a spicy pickled pepper.
>Verna Delancey grins at Sami Market.
Sami Market just helped herself to some sweet corn bread.
>Silvana StoneSkye devours her pickled pepper ravenously, leaving a scant trace behind.  What a
pig!
>Ichiko Daiumi just helped herself to some sweet corn bread.
>Silvana StoneSkye smacks her lips. Yum!
>Ichiko Daiumi takes a bite of her corn bread.
>Verna Delancey grins at Silvana StoneSkye.
>You say, "Spirit, the things on the altar are yours. Hopefully it is enough to appease you, we
have left both food and drink"
>You glance around the area.
>Sami Market recites:

    "Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepppers"

>Sami Market ducks her head.
>You stare blankly at Sami Market, which is really rather rude.
>Sami Market will shut up now.
>Silvana StoneSkye recites:

    "But if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
     Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?"

>You groan.
>The screech of a bat echoes throughout the area, marking the hour.
>Verna Delancey chortles.
>Silvana StoneSkye ducks her head.
>You let out a blood-curdling shriek.
>You say, "Oh God that scared me"
Verna Delancey glances around.
>Sami Market snickers at Silvana StoneSkye.
>You say, "Stupid watches"
>Verna Delancey says, "not mine"
>Sami gawks at you.
>Auguste Delatour pats you on the back.
>Silvana StoneSkye points at Sami Market.
>
"What's for me?" you hear the voice say, a little less sniggering now.

>Sami Market raises her plastic flyswatter at you.
>You say, "The food, the drink, the flowers"
>Candi Cane points to the table and to the flowers on the ground.
>You say, "All of that is for you"
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "oops"
>Silvana StoneSkye gets a lighter with a laser engraved etching of a Komodo Dragon from inside
her denim jean jacket.
>Silvana StoneSkye carefully lights a stick of fragrant rosemary incense.
>Silvana StoneSkye carefully lights a pillar candle.
>Silvana StoneSkye carefully lights a prayer taper.
>You say, "The things on the altar are for you, so you can remember the things you had in
life."
>Silvana StoneSkye carefully lights a votive candle.
>Silvana StoneSkye whistles innocently to herself.
>Silvana StoneSkye puts her lighter in her denim jean jacket.
>On the deck table you see a sunny yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow
flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a fragrant yellow flower, a stick
of rosemary incense, a pillar candle, a votive candle, a prayer taper, a plain cotton scarf, a
crystal rosary, a St. Jude medal, a bag of rainbow-colored confetti, a glass of sparkling
water, some multi-grain bread and a small round pumpkin.
You put your rose on the deck table.
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
>The flame on a pillar candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>You say, "The smell, sight, taste, and touch... they are all represented here for you to
reclaim."
>The flame on a prayer taper flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a votive candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.

The voice giggles then says in a sing-song way, "Why for me, for me, for me?  Come on, sweet
thing, why for me?"

>Silvana StoneSkye smiles.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "I like him, you should keep him."
>You grin at Silvana StoneSkye.
>Auguste Delatour chuckles.
>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.
>You ask, "Because today is a day to remember and respect the dead. Don't you think you deserve
to be remembered? To be respected?"
>
A light flashes around Candi momentarily.

>Sami Market glances at you.
>Sami Market asks, "Hot flashes?"
>Dance Instructor Morgan LeFox came through a flight of lightly stained steps guarded by a deep
red iron gate.
>Auguste Delatour glances around.
Morgan LeFox hugs you.
>Auguste Delatour waves to Morgan LeFox.
>Morgan LeFox just hugged Verna Delancey.
>Morgan LeFox just hugged Auguste Delatour.
>Verna Delancey just hugged Morgan LeFox.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "What out Morgan, you might get flashed on."
>Morgan LeFox just hugged Ichiko Daiumi.
>Morgan LeFox just hugged Silvana StoneSkye.
>Ichiko Daiumi just hugged Morgan LeFox.
>Morgan LeFox just hugged Sami Market.
>Silvana StoneSkye backs away from Candi.
>
The voice speaks again, in a lower register and with no hint of mockery, "Why remember?  No one
remembers.  Who is to remember Manuel?"

>Sami Market stands next to Silvana StoneSkye.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "We all do.. no one should be forgotten."
>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.
>You say, "If you pass your story along, there will be plenty to remember. I will remember"
>You smile.
>Sami Market agrees with Silvana StoneSkye.
>Ichiko Daiumi nods to you.
>Ichiko Daiumi says, "We make sure our friends are not forgotten"
>
The voice, now discernably male, replies, "No one ever remembered.  Sometimes there's no one
who cares to remember."

>Morgan LeFox sits down next to you.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Someone always remembers, it just may be hard for them to pass that
memory along to others."
>Sami Market says, "I care to remember.  Everyone here will remember, that's why we're here."
>Silvana StoneSkye just nudged you.
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
You say, "I care to remember. I would not lie to you"

"Sweet thing will remember?" the voice asks as the nimbus surrounding Candi grows brighter.

Ichiko Daiumi smiles.
>You smile.
>Sami Market touches you.
>You say, "Certainly"
>Sami Market gasps aloud.
Silvana StoneSkye glances at Sami Market.
>You whisper to Sami Market.
>Sami Market says, "My hand just grew icy cold as I touched her"
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Well.. yeah."
>Sami Market shivers.
>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Please Manuel, tell us your story so that we can remember."
>Auguste Delatour nods.
>
>Sami Market glances at you.
>Sami Market sits down.
>Sami Market asks, "What do you want to know about life?"
>Morgan LeFox says, "Love, friendship, joy, the new beauty of each day. These are some of the
gifts of life"
>Sami Market agrees with Morgan LeFox.
>Morgan LeFox says, "Whoops"
>Sebastian Benvenuto smiles.
>Morgan LeFox just kissed Sebastian.
>Morgan LeFox just kissed Sebastian.
>Sebastian Benvenuto holds hands with Morgan LeFox.
>Sebastian Benvenuto just kissed Morgan on the lips.
>Sebastian Benvenuto says, "Hi honey"
>Sebastian Benvenuto just hugged Silvana StoneSkye.
>Ichiko Daiumi glances around.
>Sebastian Benvenuto sits down next to Morgan LeFox.
>Sebastian Benvenuto speaks into his communicator.
>Sami Market says, "Just look at these two...this is a gift of life."
>Sebastian Benvenuto blushes a nice shade of off-pink.
>Sami Market guestures slightly at Sebastian and Morgan.
Auguste Delatour smiles.
>You say, "The gifts of food and flowers are for you to experience. We experience these scents,
tastes, and smells every day and we take them for granted."
>Sebastian Benvenuto gets a single yellow rose from on top of a sanded and polished deck table
with a large umbrella sticking up from the center.
>Sebastian Benvenuto puts his rose on the deck table.
>Sebastian Benvenuto gets a single red rose from inside his leather belt pouch.
You say, "The scarf is to represent warmth and comfort. The water, bread, candles and confetti
represent the four elements of the earth that you are now a part of."
>Sebastian Benvenuto puts his rose on the deck table.
>Candi Cane glances at the deck table.
>Sebastian Benvenuto gets a single yellow rose from inside his leather belt pouch.
>Sebastian Benvenuto puts his rose on the deck table.
>
A cold wind whips through the room, making the candles flicker rapidly and moving the flowers
around.

>Sebastian Benvenuto gets a single red rose from on top of a sanded and polished deck table
with a large umbrella sticking up from the center.
>Sebastian Benvenuto puts his rose in his leather belt pouch.
You say, "The rosary and medal are to help you on your way to finding happiness"
>You reach out and touch a St. Jude medal.
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
>The flame on a pillar candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a prayer taper flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a votive candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>
The nimbus brightens to that of an almost human outline.  It settles into form, then moves away
from Candi to take a position over by the offerings.

>Verna Delancey takes a sip of her Zinfandel wine.
>Silvana StoneSkye says, "Oh, the pumpkin is just a sign of the season that we thought you
might find joy in remembering."
>
The voice says solemnly, "No one has ever remembered Manuel Martine on this day, and you are
more gracious to me in death than others were in life.  Gracias."

>You say, "De nada"
>You smile.
>Ichiko Daiumi bows.
>Sebastian Benvenuto blinks.
>Auguste Delatour smiles.
>Sami Market smiles.
>
The voice asks, "Will you hear my death?"

>Verna Delancey says, "I will listen."
Sami Market says, "Please, tell us."
>You nod.
>Ichiko Daiumi nods.
>Auguste Delatour nods.
>Sebastian Benvenuto nods, "Please do."
Silvana StoneSkye sits down on a red iron chair.
>Ichiko Daiumi sits down.
>
"You are good to Manuel.  This is the telling of my death, and in so doing, may I find my
rest."

"A long time ago, so many years that I can not tell from one season to the next any longer, I
loved a young woman named Angela."

The voice says, "Angela was indeed fair and angelic to behold, a sweet thing to be with.  But
she did not care for me in the same way.  It was nothing, we were poor and untutored, and she
was a overseer's daughter."

>Sami Market frowns.
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
>The flame on a pillar candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>Ichiko Daiumi sighs.
>The flame on a prayer taper flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a votive candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>
Manuel says, "We were friends, though I wish it were more.  And one day we were walking on
Pacup Point, to get away from our chores."  The voice breaks into a giggle again.

>
The voice continues, "The day was very bright and lovely, as was my angel.  But I was not a
reverent lover!  No!  I loved a joke as much as I loved her.  And so I did what I should not
have done."
>
Manuel laughs, and it comes out high and sniggering again.  "I had a small garter snake in my
pocket, and when my Angela wasn't looking, I put the snake around her neck!"

>Sami Market gasps aloud.
>Verna Delancey winces expressively.
Ichiko Daiumi blinks.
>Morgan LeFox shakes her head slightly.
>
Manuel continues, laughing heartily now.  "Oh she shrieked and swore!  And I laughed and
laughed, which you should never ever do if you want to court seriously."

>Silvana StoneSkye grins.
>You chuckle.
>Verna Delancey says, "Oh dear."
>Auguste Delatour says, "Oh, my."
>Auguste Delatour shakes her head.
>Sebastian Benvenuto rests his chin on hands, pondering.
>Sami Market glances at Sebastian Benvenuto.
>
Manual stops laughing.  "My Angela was not amused by my joke, and not by my disregard of her
person either.  In her anger, she did something which would cost us both ... she pushed me
backwards."

>Sami Market says, "He's getting ideas."
>You cringe.
>Sami Market whimpers.
>Morgan LeFox pokes Sami Market in the ribs.
>
The light begins to dim.  "Backwards over the cliff."

>Auguste Delatour frowns.
>Verna Delancey gasps aloud.
>Auguste Delatour gasps aloud.
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
>The flame on a pillar candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a prayer taper flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>Ichiko Daiumi slumps.
>The flame on a votive candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>
The light fades some more, and the voice finishes, "I am Manuel Martine, and this is how I
died.  Not out of love, or out of honor, but out of the love of a bad joke and the temper of a
woman."

>Verna Delancey fidgets.
>Silvana StoneSkye sniffles.
>Ichiko Daiumi sighs.
>You ponder for a moment and reflect.

>The light changes to a swirl of color motes, which fly to Candi and surround her in a vortex
of color!

>Xenia Wilson sits down.
>Mariko Shinobu just helped herself to some sweet corn bread.

>The colors slow, flicker then fade completely.


>Silvana StoneSkye whispers to Candi, "You're back to looking your rightful age again."
>Ichiko Daiumi glances around.
>Candi Cane smiles and nods to Silvana.
>Morgan LeFox lets out a soft but happy sound looking at Candi.
>Ichiko Daiumi asks, "Is he..?"
>Auguste Delatour smiles.
>You say, "I feel less weary"
>You ask, "Manuel?"
>You glance around the area.
>Sebastian Benvenuto smiles.

>A voice says, "Yes, sweet thing?"

>Verna Delancey says, "I have to say he pulled a good prank on Candi."
>You say, "We will always remember you, and if you must go now. I hope you rest in peace. I
can't say it was bad having you around"
>You grin.
>You say, "But I do have a single question"
>Sami Market grins at you.
>The voice whispers, "My time is short now ... ask."
>You say, "Why did you age me? Was it as Verna said, one last prank? It's the only thing that
has puzzled me because it was the only unpleasant thing that has happened."
>You smile.
>A faint whisper reaches you at the edge of hearing, "Sweet thing, grow wiser not older.
Farewell."
>Ichiko Daiumi breathes a sigh of relief.
>Silvana StoneSkye grins.
>You say, "Rest in peace Manuel Martine"
>The rosemary incense continues to burn, a curl of scented smoke floating upwards.
>The flame on a pillar candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>The flame on a prayer taper flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>Verna Delancey says, "Bye Manuel"
>A breath of air flutters the room, and you hear "Remember."
>The flame on a votive candle flickers as a breath of air sets it to dancing.
>Ichiko Daiumi says, "I hope..he will find his Angela waiting for him"
>Silvana StoneSkye exclaims, "Oh, take some food Manuel, I made too much!"
>You nod to Ichiko Daiumi.
>Verna Delancey agrees with Ichiko Daiumi.
>Auguste Delatour nods to Ichiko Daiumi.
>A slight breeze blows the cool salty air across your face as the sound of the ocean drifts
upward from below.