The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven

Teddy stood at the bottom of the hill with a long, black umbrella in hand. A few droplets of rain crashed down upon the hilly land, but not enough to make me feel agitated. The bus pulled up right beside Teddy’s dark figure, and the usual bus driver that normally took me to work simply tilted his hat in respect to the gentleman waiting outside for me. The driver did not exhibit the same fears as the one yesterday, so perhaps it was only a bad incursion. I offered a small goodbye to the bus operator, pleased that he opened the doors wide enough for me to step outside and join Teddy’s side. I could feel the heated stare of this dark cloaked figure as I walked past the front of the bus, although Teddy remained motionless as I steadily approached him.

He was draped in all black for the morning, with a smoky grey flat cap covering his head. He removed it once I stood in front of him, and angled the umbrella in a certain way to block out the rain for me.

“What are you doing here?” His eyebrows shot up with surprise. “Is anything the matter?”

“I came here to apologize.”

“Yes, but you came out of your house,” I professed. “You didn’t have to come all the way down the hill to tell me that.”

“I was rude yesterday,” Teddy apologized. “And cold towards you.” His hat was placed back upon his head. “It is perfectly natural to be a little curious, and besides, you didn’t see anything too damaging.” He stepped a little closer, allowing the umbrella to cover us both from the light dripping of rain. “I overreacted,” he confessed. “I’m naturally a private man, and things only became worse when the town began to gossip about me. But you are different, Sela. You don’t listen to that.”

“No, I know nothing,” I conceded.

A twinge of a smile spread across his face, though it was small and fragile-like. “You’re like a breath of fresh air." An arm was presented upwards, a subtle offer for me to slip my arm over his own. “I think it’s time for something hot to drink. The rain will let up soon enough, and then you can return to work.”

His mood had suddenly lifted, there was even a lightness to his rich chocolate brown eyes. He escorted me away from the side of the road, bent upon taking the smoothest route possible that would lead him back home. The umbrella was shared between us, allowing him to be as close beside me as possible. We walked in companionable silence up the hill, where only the faint lapses of the calming sea could be vaguely heard under the light showering of rain.

***

A steady downpour of water droplets fell from a steel-grey sky; it pelted against the window where Teddy silently stood. His back was to me; a large white mug clutched firmly in his hand as he watched the sudden change of the temperamental weather. I was seated in my normal chair, stroking the small cat that was lost in slumber upon my lap. The faint ticking of the clock could be heard down the hallway, and the rushing wind that inevitably came from the sea.

Teddy was lost in his own thoughts, deep and dark enough for him to wear a brooding expression. I contemplated the warning of my employer, Daphne, and the words she gave me over my phone. Something inside of me wanted to dismiss it, to tear down every wall that silently stood in between us. Luna was placed upon the kitchen table and I found my feet naturally gravitating towards this sober looking man. My hand perched itself upon his left shoulder, turning him around so that I could have a better look at him. “What is troubling you?” I gently whispered. His face softened before me, but it still revealed a haunting look in the darkest regions of his eyes.

“Thoughts,” he offered out. “Memories.”

My hand was lowered, which made his demeanour change suddenly. He looked down at the hand that once touched him, and I could see in his eyes that he wished it would return to his shoulder.

“You worry for me,” he ventured. “You should worry.” He took a small step backwards, and then turned himself away from me. “I am not my normal self today, Sela. I think it’s best to return to your normal duties.”

“It is raining,” I reminded him, which made him look to the left to see the rain soaking the long glass window. “You were fine only a moment ago.”

“I must get out of this house,” he said with gritted teeth, before he darted his head to the open doorway that would lead to the hall. “Do you mind the rain, Sela?”

“You want to go out in it?”

“I thought a walk would do me well.”

I looked to the window as well with a feeling of uneasiness. “We could catch a chill,” I reminded him. “There must be something else you could do.”

“I will go to my room,” he declared, and then immediately left the kitchen. To my surprise he did not go up the staircase, but turned right to head down the long hallway. I followed after him, too curious for my own good. Teddy entered the art room and purposefully left the door wide open for me to follow him. “You are welcome to come inside,” he said over his shoulder, once he heard a creak of the floorboard over the threshold of the open doorway. “I have nothing to hide. Not anymore, at least.” He pointed behind him, directing his fingers towards a small wooden stool. “Have a seat.”

“Teddy, won’t you tell me what is wrong?”

trembling of his hands as he walked around the room. There was something wrong, almost too overbearing for him. He used his shaky fingers to brush back his hair, revealing his entire face and the long frown that he could not hold back any longer. “It’s unbearably hot in here,” he complained, and moved swiftly to the window to force it open. The cold rain pattering against the stony grey wall was loud, you could hear the echo of the wailing wind as it battered against the wall with forcefulness. I expected it to rain a little bit this morning, but I was never prepared for

frantically tried to pick up some papers, and motioned his hands for me to stay away when I tried to assist him. I blatantly ignored him, and picked up some sheets of papers that were closest to me. There were some sketches of the house, and self-portraits of him in different rooms. I peered at one in particular; an illustration of him in this very room. There was a haughty expression about him, a defiant glimmer in his eyes, but the thing that troubled me the most was the deliberate grey shading positioned next to him as he sat

do self-portraits,” he declared in a booming voice. “Either

thought you don’t

mind.” He retrieved the small piece of paper from my hand, and protectively placed it against his chest. “I don’t do it for money

could,” I suggested. “You

pulled open a different compartment than before. “I drew it yesterday evening.” A fine quality paper was lifted into the air, and then he slowly strode towards me. The paper was handed to me,

voice fell so low that I could

“You don’t like it?”

his expressions displayed his anxiety as though it was choking him to death.

“How?”

I was standing there in front of you,” I mused aloud. “It’s beautiful!” The paper was pressed upon my chest. “Could I keep it? I hope I don’t sound vain, Teddy, but I have never seen anything like it before.” My feet moved to the right, and ever so slowly I moved towards the open window. “It is like you captured my very existence,” I pondered quietly to myself. “In a single

black ink, and then frame it

do that?” He responded with a small nod of his head in affirmation. “You’ve done so much for me,” I exclaimed. “And I feel as though I have

slippers elegantly stepped over the light almond coloured floor to get to

He stopped his movements abruptly. “What

pick you up.” He took another bold step forward to enclose the last of the space between us. “I want to show you the rest of my lands. You would like the shoreline, I think.” He took

I’ll

knew he

mine. “I don’t like to see you that upset. I am glad you

rain?” he laughed in

mind, I see no reason

voiced aloud with a half-startled

reminded him

“Yes, you are.”

then I nervously avoided his gaze. To stare at him any longer would be at my peril. Teddy must have gotten the hint, for he stepped aside and returned to his normal stool where he would conduct his paintings. I watched him busy himself with his apron, securing it neatly before he set up his station. I wandered about the room,

the room with the familiar scent of rainfall that I loved so well. “Fill this with water,”

When I looked over my shoulder, Teddy was already lifting up

the left to observe the tightly sealed door with the heavy iron chain, wrapped around the doorknob and hooked around the corner of the wall, where a bronze hook jutted out of it. I wondered where that room led to, and if someone was down there. Should I be afraid of Teddy? Could there be someone down there like me? Some victim of his, or had my imagination gone too far? I turned on the tap once again, and forced my mind to a more positive sphere. I came to the logical conclusion that it was only my imagination, or the sound of the wind that made that sound that

questioned me,

me to fill

Feel free to take up any book you’d like. Be a dear for me, and turn on the music. I concentrate better that way. If you could be quiet while I paint, I will make the most

“And what is that?”

all politeness. He waved his free hand over his shoulder, dismissing me with a simple gesture. I embarked on the errand to switch on the radio, hardly amused when classical music began to play. His bookshelf was full of non-fiction books, a sad fact that

paintbrush continued to dab on the canvas, focusing on a particular area of a tree in

revealing a

next to you. Besides, I ought to finish this one. Feel free to look at my other work,

of disarray. I thought it was an acute reflection of his own mind, but I

enough to look at his landscape paintings, noticing that he was very talented at his work. “Teddy? Who