The family consists of G.W. Chester (some call him 'Sofa', perhaps because of a supposed link to Chesterfield) who is the oldest known resident of Graveside and the one who everyone calls 'Pops' when they aren't calling him G.W. or Sofa or Mr. Chester to his face. Then there is Myrtle, old G.W.'s wife and life-long companion. Myrtle is the Graveside post-mistress, seamstress and the one who remembers who begat who in town, and when. Myrtle's slightly blue hair is the result of a rinse she uses to help her retain a fresh youthful appearance (if you dare ask her anything about the color, this is the reply you get) and if she's not got darning needles in her hair, or tatting that she's working on, or a notepad open on her ample lap while she takes notes on all and everything going on in Graveside, then Myrtle is probably helping G.W. with the bookkeeping for the hardware store.

Now, G.W. doesn't own the Graveside Nuts and Bolts, or even run the store. His son Rowland inherited the hardware store about six years ago from G.W., and as part of the continuing relationship G.W. wished to have with his life's work he had Rowland agree that he, G.W., would be 'taking care of the books' for awhile, until Rowland understood the ins and outs well enough to handle that task himself. That was some time ago, and although Rowland could in fact handle the books with no problem old G.W. thought otherwise. The problem, of course, is that old G.W.'s eyesight isn't quite what it used to be and so Myrtle (who still has her eyes, but whose hips prevent her from being as active as she once was) has to occasionally look things over and help with the fine print.

Rowland just watches his parents go about their self-apointed care-taking of the Graveside Nuts and Bolts which he now manages and controls, and after old G.W. puts the books back in the safe Rowland goes over the figures, edits some items as needed, and generally orients himself with his Dad's thinking and purchasing priorities. This is the easiest way to handle Dad, Rowland figures, because even though he sees the hardware-store world different from the way G.W. sees it, it is easier to go with G.W.'s decisions on purchasing tools and inventory items than it would be to fight with his Dad over these things.

Jennie is Rowland's wife, and Jennie is the kind of person who accepts everything - on the surface. You just never know that Jennie is unhappy, or of a different mind, until one day she states her point of view and takes action. Then you know. Like the time Rowland bought a new Chevrolet, bright green and a pretty roomy four-door sedan with all the trimmings. Jennie looked, didn't smile a whole lot (but then, she never does anyway) and didn't say a whole lot. Rowland had no idea Jennie didn't like the Chevy until one Saturday morning, about ten o'clock, Rowland looked out of the hardware store front door and saw another Chevrolet parked right where he had parked his earlier. This one was a coupe, maroon in color, and a year or two older than the new model he owned. Or thought he owned. Rowland raced out the door looking for his car and saw Jennie putting her purse in the back seat of the maroon vehicle.

"Jennie!" he cried out. "Where is my car?"
"Right here!", replied Jennie calmly, "I traded it back for this more economical model."

Rowland looked at Jennie without speaking for several seconds, then abruptly whirled and went back into the store. This is all we knew at the time, those of us who saw the action, but as I said Jennie does more acting out than speaking. Seems she's that sort of person.

Rowland's younger sister Roxanne is a killer. She got 25 to life for slipping something lethal into Bill Kesslinger's tomato soup and so Roxanne is not really part of this story. Just like Bill Kesslinger, whose Dad owned the Essex gas station in town, is definitely not part of this story. This all happened six years ago, and Roxanne is plenty of years away from the possibility of parole so put ol' Roxanne out of your mind. Bill, too.

So now that you have met the whole family, I must go on to tell you what happened to them. Sometimes I have to take a small break as I myself am getting on in years, and this is all very tiring for me. Not long after Jennie replaced that Chevrolet of Rowland's, she came into the store and told him that she was pregnant. In her usual and cool manner, she might as well have told him she just bought some new socks, but Rowland, now he was very excited. I was down the street at the time in Lucie's Dinner and I could hear him yelping from there.

Rowland shut down the store early and went running over to see his parents and tell them the good news. Myrtle was ecstatic "I am finally going to have a grandchild. Oh Rowland, you have made me so proud." She had tears in her eyes.

G.W. on the other hand didn't look all that pleased. "I thought the doc had told you that you couldn't have kids?"

"Pops, the doc said that the chances that we have kids is slim and not to get high hopes for it. But there was always a chance. I guess my boys finally decided to perk themselves up."

Myrtle gave G.W. a quick slap on the arm "Don't you be ruining this day for our boy."

Pretty soon the whole town knew about it. It was an odd thing to think of Jennie and Rowland as getting ready to have a kid. Rowland would make a great father, that was for sure, but we all had our doubts about Jennie being a good mother. She just didn't seem like the type to enjoy having a baby around the house. When Roxanne got pregnant before going to jail, Jennie was adamant about not wanting a child in her house. Lucky for them all, I guess, that Roxanne had a miscarriage in the end. Any-hoo, I got sidetracked again, life changed for them and preparations for the new arrival began. This is where all the trouble started.
<-Break-> Dahlia - 04/11/98