A large wreath on the front door was made of faded and cracked plastic flowers. You know, those plastic flowers that were sold in the Five and Dime stores in the 1960’s. Faded ribbons and bows hung in odd gray pastel tones.
Without even asking I knew Eleora had taken the flowers off of graves that nobody had visited for years. Long forgotten wives and mothers. I knew Eleora had replaced the faded flowers with real ones and taken time to sit and chat with the departed and sing them songs from their times.
Eleora opened the front door and greeted us wearing a bright yellow skirt with a well worn orange sweater with black cat head shaped buttons. Her feet were bare and her toenails painted a glossy red on one foot and black on the other.
“Do you like my Halloween wreath? I made it yesterday.” She took my hand and led me inside.
“Shabby chic.” I said. “Very nice.”
She gave me a hug and kissed my face all over then took the hands of my children and danced them into the house.
The old lab mix slid around the corner barking, followed by two HUGE wolfhounds. I was surrounded by a sea of happy wiggling dogs. The sharp spikes in my leg was a tiny black kitten who had enthusiastically crawled up my jeans.
“Who are you?” I asked picking up the tiny purring monster. “Oh my goodness you’re cute.” It mewed back in one of those precious tiny kitten voices.
My brother Max had been there, because the wolfhounds were his. My daughter took the kitten who was named Jinx. A fitting name for a black kitten.
Eleora and Tellias are ancient Vampires. They’re seniors, despite the fact that they look like they are in their late teens or early twenties. This dear old couple has been together for over 2,000 years – a long time for any romance.
Eleora had decorated the walls and windows with old paper Halloween cut-outs. Mostly cats with a few pumpkins and other creatures of the night. She’d also included decorations made by generations of both Vampire and Regular Human children who’d come in and out of her life over the past century.
Tellias came down the stairs, his white blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and wearing old farmer overalls without a shirt. He had a Mr. Rodgers cardigan on over it.
He gave us all hugs and kisses, a smile on his lovely face. Ancient yet forever young.
“Let’s celebrate Halloween early. Max dropped off two cases of Poet’s Blood!” He led the procession of dogs and family to the formal dining room and took crystal goblets from a large ornate hutch.
I heard a car door close and knew my brother Max had arrived. He came in looking handsome as usual obviously straight from work all in black leather. I noticed he still had a weapon on his belt. The dogs went crazy dancing and barking.
Halloween is a time to celebrate. More than that, it is an excuse to celebrate and have fun. But we need to celebrate good times and those we love more often without an excuse of a holiday or other special event. It is always time to love and share, especially if you have elders or anyone who is alone or needs a little extra help or company.
We’re drove out to the old farmhouse where Tellias and Eleora live. About twice a month Teddy (my husband) and I pack the kids into the car and check up on them.
They’re ancients. Nobody really knows how old they are. They are fragile and need help. They don’t have a family. It is just the two of them.
When we drove up, just before dawn, they came to the door to greet me, thrilled to see a carload of their young Vampire friends.
Tellias was wearing an old workshirt that looked like something a guy working in a garage would wear. The name Greg was stitched on it. Eleora wore some horrible looking flowered dress with a stretched out brown sweater. She had on yellow flip flops that had seen better days.
They both looked pale and malnourished.
“Are you two eating anything at all?” I asked as Teddy took the large cooler to the kitchen.
They told me that their car wasn’t running but it was an excuse. The car was almost new but I was sure they’d forgotten to put gas in it or more likely lost the keys.
I unpacked provisions in the kitchen. They huddled around me touching my back and arms, then stroking my face.
“How long since anyone has been to see you?” I asked.
“Not since you were here. Nobody sees us anymore.” Eleora looked at me with sad round eyes.
“What happened to your clothes?” I asked, almost afraid for an answer.
“Someone stole them. We can’t get to our storage unit or the other houses.” Eleora shifting her feet, knowing I knew she was telling a lie.
“Who stole them? Did you let someone in the house?” I asked.
“We were out trying to hunt.” Tellias said putting his head down, trying to avoid my stare. I suspected they’d gone down to the river to find homeless people and transients to hunt and someone followed them home.
They were two of the oldest vampires I knew, over 2,000 years old. Treasures, but like the elderly of all kinds, they are often forgotten, especially those without children. Soon they fall apart like the past civilizations they lived in.
They both look, at first, like they are 19 or 20 years old. He has pale blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a golden eyed girl with reddish brown curls. They are slight with almost translucent skin.
They used to have a working farm with hired workers but now they leased out the farmland. The two acres around the house were kept up with a gardening service, but nobody was watching the residents. They’d been in and out of Vampire comas for years. They’d lost their confidence. I was afraid they’d lost their hunting skills.
These two were never the fierce Vampires of old tales and modern stories. They were always timid and always got by the best they could by hiding in the shadows and keeping out of sight. They were so sweet and good-hearted that it almost killed me to think of anything bad happening to them.
Teddy came into the room and gave Eleora a gentle hug. “We need to get the two of you better.”
They were slightly out of touch, unhealthy and frightened. It was obvious Tellias was depressed. They were prime targets for Vampire Hunters.
The ancients were glad the children were over. They always fussed over them and told them tales of long lost civilizations that no longer existed and were not yet discovered by historians and treasure hunters.
“We have to move them into town.” Teddy told me where the other’s couldn’t hear.
We dined on blood in beautiful crystal goblets the couple had purchased in the 1870’s when they first built the farmhouse. We talked of friends and relatives and the future.
I didn’t want to leave them. But I’d see them soon. I’m going to get them new clothes and find the keys to the car, and move them into the 21st Century where they belong.
Our elder folks are our treasures. We should all love and take care of those we have, both family and elderly friends who often have no family. You’re never too old for love, or friends or living life.
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
First posted in 2012. This was the first post featuring Eleoria and Tellias.
I let the phone ring about twenty times before Eleora picked it up. She doesn’t like it when people leave messages, except in the evenings, after dark. She uses an old answering machine on her house phone. She only uses her cell phone when she goes out into the yard where she usually leaves it because she tells me that nobody calls her anymore anyway.
She looks like she is about twenty, but she is ancient. Nobody knows how ancient, but it was before there was an AD, and before Romans came to what is now known as England.
Anyway, I called Eleora and Tellias on their house phone about July 4th and my daughter’s 19th birthday on July 5th. I don’t know where Tellias puts his cell phone either.
Eleora answered, but as soon as she knew it was me she began to sing America the Beautiful in her angelic voice.
Me: Eleora sweetie. I called about tomorrow and Thursday.
Eleora: When are you going to pick us up.
Me: 1:00 p.m. tomorrow for the party.
Eleora: When are you picking me up today?
Me: Tomorrow.
Eleora: I thought you were coming over today? What about Clara’s birthday?
Me: I’ll ask Clara about it this afternoon.
Eleora: When are you going to be here?
Me: Tomorrow. Early afternoon.
Eleora: I thought you were coming last night.
Me: Wednesday. Last night was Monday.
Eleroa: Yesterday was Monday? Is it July already?
Me: Yes, tomorrow is July 4th.
Eleora: Wednesday is July 4th?
Me: Yes.
Eleora: When are you going to be here.
Me: At one on Wednesday. I don’t know about Thursday.
Eleora: Tellias is going to put you on the speaker.
Tellias: I have a necklace for Clara. I’ve had it for a while. I was going to give it to your mother when she was young but it wasn’t her style.
Eleora: He has a necklace for Clara.
Tellias: Yes, a necklace.
Eleora: A necklace for Clara.
Me: The blue and pearl one?
Tellias: The very one.
Eleora: When will you be here. Your brother Val will be over later in about an hour.
Me: Tomorrow.
Tellias: Juliette will be here tomorrow dear. Val will be here tonight. I see him coming up the drive right now.
Eleora: Is that Val? I don’t remember that car.
Me: I’ll see you tomorrow.
Tellias: We’re looking forward to it.
Eleora: Did you know Val has a new car?
Me: I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you both so much.
Tellias: Love you too.
Eleora: Love you to the stars and back. Are you coming over tonight?
Today is the first day of summer. It doesn’t mean we’re going to have a chanting ceremony to ancient gods or seek out rocks to hug. We’re Vampires, so we’re not chanters. The first day of summer means the Giants are playing the Padres tonight.
This morning was special. I took the dog out at 5:00 a.m. this morning. The sky was just starting to light up. Just as the sun showed itself over the edge of the hills I heard an eagle cry out. Welcome summer.
Welcome a new day. Welcome 100 degree F plus weather.
My dog has gone into a deep depression because I no longer take her everywhere with me. She doesn’t understand that it is too hot to leave her in the car, even with the windows rolled down. Poor baby.
We will do what we must do to keep cool, just hoping that nobody will end up being trapped under cool crawl spaces, only to have someone (me) rescue them fifty years later. I stress this because when my brother Aaron and his “friend” Austin come across some dried up old Vampire I’m the one they call because they’re too big to get up under there.
“Never volunteer to crawl under a house,” I tell my children. “Unless it is someone you know. But it won’t be someone you know because you’ll make sure all of your friends are smart enough not to do anything like that.”
Summer is a time for night walks, and night swims. I wish it was also a time for night blooming flowers but not so much in my yard. Of all things, I am a collector of day lilies. I’m also growing sunflowers but don’t expect blooms until September.
In the meantime here are a few of my blooms. Vampires are fantastic gardeners. I bet you didn’t know that about us. We feed our plants with water and great amounts of love from our cold unbeating hearts.
We think of a lot of things in the summer. Two of those things are frogs and heat. I believe I’ve used the frog story before, but I shall tell it again.
Put a cold cast iron skillet on a cold burner on your stove. Gas works best. Place a large, live, cold blooded frog in the center of the skillet. Use a good sized one – like a great big bull frog. Turn on the heat ever so low, then gradually turn it up. The frog will sit until it gets blazing hot and it’s feet and belly stick to the cast iron and it is cooked.
This is what happens to people in this heat (we’re expecting over 100 all week and over 105 F on some days). Elderly people and others who are not always aware will sit in the heat like the frog until they cook. They’ll forget to jump out of the pan, or in the case of some folks, forget to turn on the air conditioning or fan. Or they’ll forget to call for help because they won’t realize they need help.
If you have anyone in your world who is elderly, or otherwise needs help, please check on them in the hot weather. Make sure they are getting plenty of liquids and are staying cool. Local park and recreation districts often have events, such as free movies, during the week for seniors and others. There are also libraries and other public places people can go to for a few hours to read and cool off. Our you can check and make sure your loved one has turned on the air conditioning. Depression era babies who are now elderly often refuse to turn on the air conditioner because they’re afraid it might cost a few extra pennies – even if they can afford it. PLEASE convince them otherwise.
If they’re vampires they’ll just dry up, but that is a fairly easy fix. If they’re regular humans they could become extremely ill or die.
So please. Check in on them. Call them. Take them out for ice cream. Show that you care. It could be a matter of life or death.
Also, remember when it is blistering hot outside your dog’s paws will burn on hot streets and sidewalks. Take your pooch out in the mornings or evenings, or get it booties. Nobody needs a trip to the veterinarian.
Summer is here. It is a time of summer love. It is a time of fun. It is a time for vacations, breaks, and concerts in the park. Enjoy it for what it is. But shouldn’t we just be enjoying everything for what it is. OK not everything. No. Not everything. But you know what I mean.
Awww man, it’s time for summer music and a road trip.
Even Vampires get the blues, but nothing so bad that some flowers won’t fix it. I dare say I don’t live in a black house with dead plants in the yard. OK I’ll admit that everything in the yard used to be dead but not anymore. I’ve spent the past three years digging in the river rocks rolled in a light dusting of dirt and managed to make something of it. The key has been to plant so that something is always blooming.
These are my flowers. The gray one is Oscar the cat.
Oscar, pre-scar days.
But one can never have too many flowers in their world.
A few weekends ago I took the old ones Eleora and Tellias out to see the world. I had to get them out of their old musty house and into a bright spot. We went to the Sacramento Orchid Show.
Eleora wore satin red shoes. These were old shoes that she’d used years ago for ballroom dancing. She’d tied silk orchid flowers to the straps. She matched it with a red skirt decorated with appliqué poinsettia and snowflakes. With that she wore a yellow lace blouse. I asked her about her choice of a Christmas skirt.
Eleora looked at me with almost an eye roll and said, “Flowers. We are going to a flower show. This is a flower skirt.”
I didn’t argue. Tellias wore his usual yellow flip-flops, black dress pants, and a white tuxedo shirt with rolled up sleeves. He’d trimmed his pale blonde hair from just below his shoulders to collar length. It had kind of a wave in it now that I hadn’t seen since the 1960’s.
Lola, my great great great great great grandmama also came along. She is quite a bit younger than Eleora and Tellias, but still ancient in her own right. She wasn’t wearing anything unusual, just jeans and a pretty shirt like just about everyone else at the orchid show.
But all in all we looked like a group of nice young people. Tellias and Eleora appear to be in their late teens or maybe twenty or twenty-one. Lola looks forever twenty-five, and I look just slightly older, even thought I’m the youngest of the group at a mere 158.
I watched as Eleora and Tellias went off by themselves, huddled over each orchid plant in awe of the beauty of the unusual blooms. They talked over each other, hummed, sang a few songs, held hands, and occasionally gave each other a quick kiss. I kept a sideways eye on them just to make sure they wouldn’t do anything too odd. They were indeed a beautiful and strange pair who positively glowed over the sight of the orchids. If anyone did look at the couple they’d usually smile. How could they help but smile at those two.
Lola and I walked behind them admiring the plants and catching up with each other. She mentioned her ex-husband, her first, was alive. She thought he was dead. Of course she hadn’t seen him in about five hundred years, give or take a few. She had no intention on seeing him ever again. I asked if he had an Internet presence and she told me no. That isn’t unusual for Vampires. A lot of them go on the Dark Web for obvious reasons, or they’re like me and don’t give a crap what people think. Nobody believes any of this shit anyway, but there is an element of truth in it all – more than an element. But back to Lola…
“You need to let go of him,” I told her.
She took my arm in hers and led me to a giant yellow orchid. “That is so beautiful. I need get one of those. I’ve been trying to keep up the greenhouse. It keeps Eleora and Tellias active. They can putter around and sing little ditties to the flowers to make them bloom.” She led me over to a grouping of pink orchids. “These too. Eleora loves pink. We’re growing herbs too. Back when I was married to him we grew oranges and lemons in a greenhouse. It was too cold to grow them outside.”
“Why’d you leave him?”
“Not why you’d think. He wasn’t cheating on me or cruel to me. He was just such an asshole. So full of himself. And he was violent even for a Vampire. I didn’t like his friends either. The passion was there but… always the passion, but I got tired of fighting and making up all the time. I got so tired of all of the drama. When I met Thomas, my next husband it was like a glowing ray of moonlight. He was so kind and gentle, and he was funny. He made me laugh. And there was also great passion like every Vampire woman dreams of. Then… I just don’t understand. Thomas was burned alive as a witch, and that asshole still lives on.”
She has told me this story over and over and over, for my entire existence. We all have friends and family members like that. And as they get older they tell the stories more often. I try to keep Lola, Eleora, and Tellias involved so that they have new stories to tell.
Than again Lola’s current boyfriend is thirty nine years old. You wouldn’t think it would work but it does. I wouldn’t want my son or daughter to get involved with a much older Vampire, but Lola and Cody went in without one taking advantage of the other. Plus Lola has always been diligent about keeping up with the modern world.
As a parent I’ve always kept up with current culture. There is nothing worse for a young adult to have a mom or dad who is still living in 1984. Parents owe it to their kids to keep up with everything from music to fashion to movies and everything else that is going on. If your kid is politically involved you need to be too. Share your music – new and old. You’ll be surprised how many things you both like. Keep an open mind. It will keep you young.
Despite their age (well over 2,000 years) I’ve always believed keeping an open mind is one of the things that has kept Eleora and Tellias young. Nobody wants to be a musty dank old Shadow Creeper and sit around in rotting Victorian clothing drinking thick days old blood in chipped old china cups. That isn’t just good advice for Vampires. It is good advice for everyone.
Tellias and Eleora bought twelve new orchids for their greenhouse. Lola texted Cody and told him to meet us later for wine on the back deck. I called my husband Teddy to do the same.
No matter who you are, or what you are, make it a goal to keep growing and blooming. And have fun, no matter what your age.
They danced around me, twirling, lightly kissing my face and taking my hands and twirling me around, then twirling each other. Their voices were light like tissue paper in lightly brushing against more tissue paper. Corny description but that is what it is like when they sing and dance a welcome song.
What were they singing? It was in a minor key, but sort of like an old country dance mixed with a funeral dirge. Oh shit. It was Duran Duran.
Even on the darkest night when empty promise means empty hand And soldiers coming home like shadows turning red When the lights of hope are fading quickly then look to me I’ll be your homing angel, I’ll be in your head
I went out to the barn and took a nap, up in loft, like when we were kids.
That was a weird cover version.
This is pretty typical from Tellias and Eleora. They’re old. They’re really old. They’re ancient. They look like college students but they’re over 2,000 years old. And like me, they’re Vampires. Yes, we have our senior citizens too.
Tellias was wearing an old pair of pants with the waist band almost to his nipples – or at least it looked like that. He had tucked in a white dress shirt and put on an orange tie. On his feet were yellow flip flops. He always says if he wears yellow flip flops that nobody will know he is a Vampire. Eleora was wearing a knee length green plaid skirt, with a purple cardigan over an orange lace blouse. They are both pretty in an almost innocent way, like they just walked out of a Botticelli painting, or maybe Rafael.
Anyway, they’re old and I check on them, because like a lot of elderly folks they need help because they can’t always help themselves. And I love them.
Tellias helped me bring bags of cleaning supplies into the house. I brought in a case of Poet’s Blood. I don’t know how often or what they eat. I need to make sure they’re safe.
My brother Val came in wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, and carrying a tool box.
“Working on the barn?” I asked.
“I finshed the roof and took a nap in the loft,” he ansered giving me a kiss on my cheek.
“There are rats up there Val. Big rats,” I said.
“I know, I just grab them by the tail and give them a hard wack on the beams,” he said.
“Make sure you put those little bodies in the recycle bin,” said Eleora.
“Recycle? You aren’t supposed to put dead animals in the recycle bin,” I said.
“Well maybe someone might want to turn them into cat food,” said Tellias.
“Tellias, look at you with that Kylo Ren look going on,” said Val.
“Val is never around. He just comes by and sleeps,” Tellias said looking disgusted.
“I heard that. I’ve spent all day cleaning up your messes,” said Val.
“What did you clean? You’ve been on the computer machine and the telephone all day,” said Tellias.
“On the phone all day long. On the computer machine all day long,” said Eleora.
“All day,” said Tellias.
“All day,” said Eleora.
“I fixed the roof of the barn so the next storm won’t blow it away,” Val said to the elders. Then he turned to me. “Eleora had been channel surfing in the week hours of the morning and saw an informercial about veteran’s benefits. She figured since Tellias had done some work for the war effort during WW2 that he should be getting benefits.”
“That would make me one hundred and two years old according to my military records,” said Tellias.
“You didn’t close that out?” I asked.
“He can get a flag if he dies,” said Eleora.
“Tellias, you need to let them know that THAT Tellias passed away years ago,” I said.
“Some nice man with a strange accent signed me up for life insurance, and a home security system in case one of us falls down,” said Eleora.
“Juliette I spent most of the day getting that cleared up and getting a hold put on their bank account,” my brother said.
“It isn’t our only bank account,” said Tellias.
“She also has five companies coming out for free energy checks and to measure for solar panels,” said Val.
“Free lunch,” said Eleora putting her hands on her hips.
“No Eleora,” said Val. “I canceled the appointments. You already have solar here. You’ve had it for years. ”
“Where?”
“On top of the barn. I fixed some of the panels today. That is why I was up in the loft.”
“I thought you were killing rats up there,” Eleora said.
“That too,” said Val
“Don’t forget to put the rat bodies in the Green Waste can,” said Tellias. “Or the recycle can. I don’t think it matters.”
“When are the nice men coming out to fix the windows?” Asked Eleora.
“There is nothing wrong with your windows.” Val looked at me again, “Juliette, I cancelled the appointments already.”
“They said we need new windows,” said Tellias.
“Brand new windows. Nobody else can do those kinds of windows,” said Eleora.
“A news crew from the TV station is coming out tomorrow to interview the one hundred and two year old WW2 vet and his pet lion. That would be me,” said Tellias.
“Cancel it NOW,” I yelled. Sometimes I have to yell. I try not to but sometimes…
“I can make them think I’m old,” said Tellias. “I am a Vampire you know.”
“They’ll want to film you,” I said.
“Oh. I see,” said Tellias.
“A lion? Really Tellias?” Val said.
“I just made that up. It sounded more interesting than a regular cat,” Tellias said.
Val went to the cottage on the edge of the orchard where he sometimes lives. While he was out there Eleora and Tellias talked about him and how flighty he was and how they didn’t like his choice of girlfriends, except the one with black hair who was so smart and put together. I had no idea who they were talking about.
When he returned I poured out some Poet’s Blood into big goblets and added a shot of Bourbon into each one.
It had started to rain so we all sat on their big floral couches and watched Logan Lucky for the third time then talked about the Oscars.
“Was your cat named after the Oscar awards?” asked Eleora.
“Oscar Wilde I believe,” said Tellias.
“Yes,” I said, “Oscar Wilde. But he always wears his gray tuxedo, ready for the awards.”
That made Eleora laugh and take my hand.
We visited for several more hours. On the way home I thought about preditors to prey on old people, and young people, and confused people. I thought about the horrible doctor going to prison for the rest of his life because he spent a career abusing girls who were in his care. He was caught. So many are not.
Take care of those who need your help, even when it is frustrating, or confusing, or with no thanks. They might now always seem to care but they do. In thier own fragile way they do.
