Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: The Flower Beds

[froodle]

The flower beds were mounds of bare black earth ringed with a trench a foot deep within a decorative border of standing stones. The workmen in utilitarian grey jumpsuits and hi-vis safety jackets had gone home for the night and their shovels and wheelbarrows lay off to one side in an untidy jumble. A cold wind blew off the lake and made the white plastic covers over the waiting mulch piles rattle and snap with motion. An orange traffic cone topped with a reflective warning sign announced that the assorted landscaping tools were property of the Eerie Nursery and Garden Centre, and should not be touched by unauthorised persons on pain of death and embarrassing fungal infections.

Marshall Teller aimed the sodium-yellow beam of his flashlight at the heap of tools, holding it as steady as possible so that Simon could take a picture. The explosion of bright white as the Polaroid camera went off dazzled him for a moment and the pool of illumination bounced and flickered as he automatically raised his hands to his stinging eyes. In the unsteady glow, the black and white logo of the Eerie Nursery and Garden Centre – a screaming toddler almost obscured from view by encircling vines – looked as though it was moving.

Now he gripped the torch between his teeth, regretting the loss of the helmet-mounted miners lamps while in pursuit of an adolescent mountain troll in the tunnels beneath Deadwood Park, and fumbled for his Swiss Army knife. Simon was already pulling at the heavy industrial wrapping on the mulch pile with a couple of novelty grabbers shaped like dentures, and beneath the plastic sheet the dark, lumpy texture of the contents could be dimly made out.

Mars pulled loose the instrument for taking stones out of horses’ hooves and pressed it against the taut surface of the bag until it gave beneath the pressure. A strong, loamy smell filled the air and a lump of dark mud came free to land on the paved walkway with a soft splat. Simon tugged at the tear with the toothsome grabbers, widening it to expose more of the tight-packed fertiliser. The Polaroid camera hung at his neck bumped against his chest as he worked and made handling the long-armed grabbers awkward, but slowly more and more of the wrapping was peeled away.

Eventually, the beautiful twisting garden path with its inlay of coloured tiles and cloudy sea glass was covered in a sticky layer of certified-organic compost. The looming bulk of the potash lay in the midst of its tattered packaging like the black centre of a great white flower. Simon picked his way carefully between the earthen islands, photographing as he went. Occasionally he used a long stick to break up the larger clumps, examining the exposed interiors through an old-fashioned magnifying glass. Across the other side of the sea of mess and mud, Marshall did the same.

The sky was the washed-out grey of false dawn by the time Marshall straightened. His back and knees were complaining after spending a night hunched over in the cold, and his fingers were numb despite the thermal lining of his favourite blue and yellow gloves.

“I think we should call it a day, Simon,” he said.

Simon gave a guilty start; he had been half-dozing on his feet amidst the scattered soil. He rubbed his red-rimmed eyes and nodded in sleepy agreement.

Marshall shot a reproachful look at the tangle of gardening tools, all bearing the monochrome brand of the Eerie Nursery and Garden Centre.

“The least they could do is hide human skulls in their fertilizer,” he said.

“The very least,” Simon agreed.






Trusted Associates, Inc.

Halloween by froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve

Surprise by froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year

The Glade by froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th

Egg Hunt by froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities

Boardwalk by froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising

Lady in Red by froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Seafoam by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside

A Night at the Circus by froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves

Taking a Break by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R

Model Railway by froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie

Shoreline by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie

Parade by froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot

Homestead by froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class

Hound by froodle, in which Simon makes a friend

Errands by froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list

Slyboots by froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.

Waterlogged by froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Facilities by froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

Castle by froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Euclid by froodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo

Comments

[eviinsanemonkey.livejournal.com]

omg marshall xD

[froodle]

:D

[deifire]

Ah, Marshall! He was so much more in his element with the elevator.

And that is the greatest logo ever.

[froodle]

is it weird and narcissistic if i kinda want a eerie nurseries logo tshirt?