Haunted Object Deck

THE TRUTH IS: AGNES INDIGO IS HAUNTED. WHEN MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, NONNY, PICKED UP THE SHELL FROM THE BEACH, SHE WENT WHITE AS A SHEET, MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, POPPY, SAID. BUT AFTER NONNY HELD AGNES TO HER EAR, EXPECTING TO HEAR THE USUAL OCEAN SOUNDS, POPPY SAID NONNY’S EXPRESSION BRIGHTENED, SHE SMILED, AND TOLD POPPY SHE WAS FINE. AND THEIR HONEYMOON CONTINUED. AT HOME, NONNY PUT AGNES INDIGO ON A ROUND TABLE BY A LACE CURTAINED WINDOW AND SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY HAVE LISTENED TO AGNES. SOME HAVE HEARD HER SOFT, WINDY VOICE CHANTING MERMAID SONGS OF SIGHS, LONGING, AND TOO MUCH FREEDOM. SOME HAVE HEARD SONGS OF THE DOLPHINS AND THE WHALES. I’VE HEAR AGNES TELL STORIES OF THE MEN WHO SPENT THEIR LIVES ON THE SEAS, SOME WERE HONEST AND WEARY, AND SOME CRIMINAL AND ADVENTUROUS. BUT ALL LIVED DANGEROUS LIVES. MY FAMILY LOVES AGNES INDIGO, AND SHE, IN HER OWN WAY, MAY LOVE US. NOW, HOLD AGNES TO YOUR EAR, AND LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY. JOANIE HOFFMAN, 2008.
(family image provided wonderfully by The Vintage Moth), card by me.