Not really on topic, but I'll post this here anyway.
I've gotten a couple of people asking me about how the story of Emmett's house ended. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, the original story is here. Follow-up is here.) The story is a deeply personal one, but what the hell- I shared a lot of deeply personal stuff when I first wrote about it. So here it goes:

I had finally decided that I should go back and rescue his dishes and such for Goodwill, as I had already taken everything that seemed to be salvageable that I could use, and found the door to be shut and locked. Apparently my comings and goings had been noticed by someone. Taking it any further would have been breaking and entering, and I had no desire to be arrested.

That, however, was not the end of the story.

About a week later I started dreaming about Emmett. In my dreams he was short and wore his horn rimmed glasses, and was very upset about something. Then one night I dreamed that I was back in his house and walking through and he was on his bed, covered completely like you would see in a TV show where they show a corpse. As I approached he sat up and whipped off the covering and started yelling at me, and I woke up with my pulse trip hammering.

I knew what I had to do at that point.

A couple of nights later I went out at about midnight so that I wouldn't be seen, parked a quarter mile away, then walked to his house with my pack of things. I walked up the driveway, and could feel him inside that house, still angry and hurting. I put on a necktie that had been his and walked around to the back of the house, then walked back to the front and asked him to come out to the porch. I felt him there with me as I did so. He was angry that I had not kept my promise to take out the rest of his stuff.

I stood there for a time talking to him, getting him to realize that it was really just all stuff, that I at least would always remember him and would honor him. I had a small cauldron with me and lit some charcoal in it, then added some sage, some rue and a few other things as we spoke, and then I took out a small plastic box that had his medals in it (he had been part of a band of some sort, possibly in the Army) and a bracelet with his name engraved on it, and used a trowel to bury it under a flowering tree in his yard. I then told him that he could keep an eye on me if he wished, but that it was time to let go. I could feel his anger ebbing as I spoke to him, and I called for someone to guide him home.

The best way to describe it is that I felt something slowly draining away, that he started to feel peace and acceptance. I told him that I still have his glasses and that I keep them in my workshop so he can keep an eye on me if he likes, and he seemed to like that. Then he left.

I have been by the house since, and it's now just another empty building. He's no longer in there. But when I'm out in my workshop he's there with me, and I swear I've seen someone looking through the glasses that are now sitting on my tool cabinet.

I think he's finally at peace.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 12:35, 21 replies)

err
if its not really on topic, why not post it on the off topic board instead?

prepares some crumpets for the expected incoming flaming.
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 12:55, closed)

For the simple reason
that not all that many people bother with the OT board, so it will be more likely to be read by the people who are interested if I post it here.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:07, closed)

but
thats the point of all the different boards

you don't post images on links

you don't post links on the main board

you don't post anything intelligent on talk

rob created the off-topic board exactly for this kind of post.
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:42, closed)

True enough.
As I said, not many people check out the OT board. I posted this here because I've gotten a few people writing me to ask how the story ends. I figured that where there are those few, there are likely more wondering as well- so I put it out here.

As this is the exception rather than the rule for me, I thought it permissible to do it this once.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:49, closed)

i wouldn't have found this
I didn't even know there WAS a OT board :)

and thanks for the post, and the end to the previous tale. Lovely, just lovely.
(DreddPirateBob has watched every scifi film ever on, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 19:23, closed)

seems on-topic enough to me...
... borrowing stuff from a dead guy's house is hardly the act of a spendthrift.
(haberman is singing in the changes, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:19, closed)

This

( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 15:31, closed)

Now I have to vote for his post
simply because I so dislike self-appointed Post Police.
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 21:59, closed)

"I think he's finally at peace."
or perhaps just, "I think I'm finally at peace".

DIY psychotherapy, eh -- it works[1] just like magic :-)

[1] sometimes.
(haberman is singing in the changes, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:07, closed)

I can't argue with that.
Nor will I- damned if I know how much of this was purely within my own head. It depends on if you have spiritual beliefs, I guess. Some do and some don't.

I just present my side of how it unfolded. You're welcome to believe as you wish. (And no, I took no offense to this- seriously, it's up to you to interpret it as you like.)
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:13, closed)

Well...
You get a *click* from me RL, for reminding me that we used to have questions on here that could lead to some interesting, well-written stories.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:32, closed)

You
mean that they've gone downhill Che?!?!?!?
(Fuckarma was masturbating into your handbag, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 13:58, closed)

Those days may yet return
he said, having a sudden image of himself in some cheesy Lord Of The Rings type movie making predictions of mighty things to come...

*shudder*

Anyway, thanks- I'm glad you enjoyed it. Emmett's story is one that's sometimes a bit difficult to tell...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:01, closed)

well..
Thank you for telling us, regardless...
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:36, closed)

Well, if they don't
I'll have get my trusty shoe-horn out of storage and see what I can pass off as on topic.

p.s. have made a suggestion for new question - see what you think.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:14, closed)

A good thought!
If it's something so absolutely wide open and general like that, it could spin out some interesting tales...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 14:23, closed)

Do you still have his pool cue
I imagine that he would be happy if it still got some use
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 15:07, closed)

I do!
However, it needs a new cork tip put on it- I think I can get a kit from the sporting goods store. I may do that this weekend...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 15:21, closed)

Re-tipping a cue is quite easy (it is for a snooker cue anyway)
Remove the old tip with a sharp craft knife, glue on the new tip with super-glue, let it dry for an hour or two and then use sandpaper to shape the new tip.

BTW: That was a nice end to the Story of Emmett & his house.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 15:40, closed)

A very fitting conclusion
Thank you for posting the rest of the story. I'm glad Emmett is feeling better.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Wed 29 Oct 2008, 15:33, closed)

I think it's a beautiful thing you did.
RIP Emmett.
(Half of Stephen Fry's right buttock pissed on your dog on, Thu 30 Oct 2008, 12:15, closed)