#seven sarr

[aquitainequeen]

The Events At Poroth Farm Read Along: June 11

Until August 20th, stay tuned for the unfolding of the terrible truth about The Events at Poroth Farm, by T.E.D Klein!

(This is where it starts getting good, everyone!)

***

Jeremy remarks upon the humidity of the area during the day, compounded with the chill at night. He spends most of the day finishing Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin, commenting on how it’s a book that wants the reader to hate and simply causes unconstructive rage, but still interesting and worth assigning to his class. Before dinner he then reads The White People by Arthur Machen and is immensely struck by the story:

‘the sections from the young girl’s notebook were…staggering. That air of paganism, the malevolent little faces peeping from the shadows, and those rites she can’t dare talk about […] it must be the most persuasive horror story ever written’. [1]

While walking to the farmhouse for dinner, the Poroths already having gone inside, and without really knowing the reason why, Jeremy climbs the old tree in the side yard and stands on a sturdy branch to make strange faces and gestures. ‘I must have looked like a madman’s shadow as I made signs to the wood and the moon.’ [2]

During dinner, Jeremy and Sarr get onto the usual topic of conversation: the cats, and the dead animals they keep bringing back from the woods or fields and leaving them on the porch, almost as an offering.

Once Jeremy leaves the Poroths to their television (deploring their taste in programs!) he conducts his nightly routine of hunting spiders with his extra powerful insect spray, meant for outdoor use only, and spraying his screens for good measure; trying to avoid killing moths and actively avoiding any slaughter of fireflies. Afterwards he sits in bed to read Algernon Blackwood's Ancient Sorceries and coming to dwell upon the Poroths’ seven cats, and all the numerous names they have for each of them. The only cat that doesn’t have multiple names is Bwada, Sarr’s pet from before he married Deborah; the oldest and by far the meanest of the cats, who’s bitten Deborah and guests in the past but thankfully appears to be afraid of Jeremy and keeps her distance.

Jeremy hears sounds from the farmhouse as the Poroths sing their devotions, and then there is silence. Jeremy plans to stay up and read a little more, when-

‘Something odd just happened. I’ve never heard anything like it. While writing for the past half hour I’ve been aware, if half consciously, of the crickets. Their regular chirping can be pretty soothing, like the sound of a well-tuned machine. But just a few seconds ago they seemed to miss a beat. They’d been singing along steadily, ever since the moon came up, and all of a sudden they just stopped for a beat – and then they began again, only they were out of rhythm for a moment or two, as if a hand had jarred the record or there’d been some kind of momentary break in the natural flow…’ [3]

While the insects sound normal enough once more, Jeremy decides to return to reading The Castle of Otranto in the hopes it will help him to fall asleep.

[1] The Events at Poroth Farm, by T.E.D. Klein, originally published in From Beyond the Dark, edited by Edward P. Berglund in December 1972; this edition found in The Cthulhu Mythos MEGAPACK ®: 40 Modern and Classic Lovecraftian Stories, Loc 2269 of 17308

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid, Loc 2301 of 17308

(If you want to read along and delight in T.E.D. Klein’s magnificent novella, you can find it in American Supernatural Tales (Penguin Classics) or The Cthulhu Mythos MEGAPACK ®: 40 Modern and Classic Lovecraftian Stories. If it turns out that I get a cease and desist from Klein et al, go and read the novella regardless!)

#the events at poroth farm #t.e.d. klein #Theodore “Eibon” Donald Klein #the events at poroth farm read along #long post

[thefootballobserver]

Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest: Match Preview

Should Spurs get the three points, they’ll go forth in the table.

Spurs play Forest in what is a must-win fixture before a run of tricky fixtures, including the North London Derby, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea away, and possibly a yet-to-be-rescheduled Manchester City home game. With Aston Villa dropping points against Brentford on Saturday in a dramatic 3-3 draw, a win would put Spurs in the Champions League qualification zone thanks to goal difference with a game in hand.

Spurs’ form has been inconsistent recently like most of the season has been for them, winning their last three out of five games (including the 0-4 Villa game) but also lost poorly to Fulham and drew to West Ham in the previous game. However, they have won four out of their last five home games - only losing to Wolves - and are heavy favourites for this game, picking up an average of 2.20 points at home this season.

The Lilywhites won 0-2 in the reverse fixture, with goals from Richarlison from a Kulusevski cross and the Swede scoring later, taking advantage of a Turner mistake. There will be no Matt Turner for tonight’s game, though, as Forest now has a new number 1 in Sels. Bissouma also received a red card for a silly challenge, resulting in a four-game ban, although he didn’t miss any games through suspension due to his unavailability from AFCON. Veliz also had a great cameo, getting one zero touches of the ball as he was subbed on at the last minute to run down the time (my apologies, but this was too funny not to point out). Before all that, Johnson - on his return to the City ground after his summer transfer - received a nasty cut above his eyebrow, whose scar is still visible today. Spurs were still suffering an injury crisis with van de Ven and Maddison still injured (they ended the game with a midfield of Hojbjerg, Skipp, and Sarr), with Davies and Kulusevski replacing them, respectively.

In terms of head-to-head records, Spurs have won the last four out of their previous five games against Forest, only losing 2-0 in the EFL Cup in 2022 due to goals from Lodi and Lingard (I just saw the back five of Sess, Lenglet, Dier, Sanchez, and Doherty and shuttered). Spurs won this fixture last season 3-1, with Kane scoring a brace and Son adding to the tally (Richarlison had a goal disallowed), Worrall scoring a late consolation goal, and Ayew missing an even later penalty for the visitors.

Forest come into this game with one win in seven matches, although the win was a resounding one against Fulham in the midweek. Before that, they lost four and then drew two. They’re currently 17th in the table, only above Luton Town on goal difference, following the Hatters’ win against Bournemouth on Saturday. Forest have an abysmal away record, only picking up 10 points on the road, with a record of 2-4-9. Their 29-point haul this season includes their four-point deduction for PSR breaches, which are currently under appeal (which ironically revolves around the sale of Johnson).

Tottenham Hotspur News

Sarr should be returning back into the starting lineup.

Predicted Lineup

Guglielmo Vicario: Clean sheets have been rare for all his good performances. This game may be one of the best chances he has before the end of the season.

Destiny Udogie: He’s impressed this season but must be wary of Elanga during this game.

Micky van de Ven: Chris Wood is not known for his speed, but Micky’s pace will be helpful should Forest counter (which they will).

Cristian Romero: The vice-captain will have to keep Wood in check, and like the rest of the defenders, a clean sheet would be welcome.

Pedro Porro: He hasn’t been as free-flowing these days but remains everpresent

Pape Matar Sarr: He was benched the last game, presumably for rotation or injury concerns, but should start.

Yves Bissouma: He performed well against West Ham and was complimented by Ange. Despite inconsistencies in his games, his position is not at risk.

James Maddison: He hasn’t quite hit the heights before his injury, but his spot is secure.

Timo Werner: Although he has the right profile for this team, his goalscoring instincts still need to be improved.

Son Heungmin: With Richarlison injured for this match, Son should lead the frontline, and a goal would be great following his 400th appearance.

Brennan Johnson: The Forest Academy graduate will play against his former teammates again, hoping to last longer on the pitch and leave unscathed.

Players Dropped

Rodrigo Bentancur: He performed fine and has been for most of his appearances following his ankle injury, but Sarr should take his spot for this game.

Dejan Kulusevski: He hasn’t been dropped as he was benched in the last game, but his performances have waned after an otherwise consistent run, and Johnson should be starting, although Kulusevski will no doubt make a cameo at some point.

Players Absent

Fraser Forster (injury): Out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Manor Solomon (injury): Out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Richarlison (injury): He has a knee niggle, according to Postecoglou, but could return to the squad for the Newcastle game.

Ryan Sessegnon (injury): Out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury.

Nottingham Forest News

Gibbs-White has been Forest’s star player this season.

Predicted Lineup

Sels; Aina, Murillo, Omobamidele, Williams; Danilo, Yates; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood

It appears unlikely that Nuno will change the lineup that started against Fulham in midweek on his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Players Absent

Nuno Tavares (injury): He has had a thigh injury since February, and this game will be too soon for the defender.

Taiwo Awoniyi (injury): His injury has been a blow for Forest, although Wood has done well in his absence.

Willy Boly (injury): Got injured during AFCON and probably won’t play a role in this game.

Players to Watch Out For

Brennan Johnson (TOT): He’s hit an upturn of form in recent weeks and might look to get a goal against his boyhood club as he goes up against Nigerian international Aina.

Son Heungmin (TOT): He may only have one goal in three matches against Forest, but he’s Spurs’ leading man and has the most goal contributions this season, even if he was unavailable during the Asian Cup.

Morgan Gibbs-White (NFO): He orchestrated the defeat of Fulham in midweek and is Forest’s brightest spark and chief creator. He’s also been linked with a move to Tottenham in recent weeks.

Chris Wood (NFO): Forest’s top scorer with 11 goals has been on fire, scoring thrice in their last three games, with 0.82 goals every 90 minutes this season. His aerial prowess will have to be kept in check by Spurs.

Anthony Elanga (NFO): The Swedish international equals Gibbs-White’s assist numbers at seven and will relish the space in Spurs’ high line, particularly when Udogie drifts inside.

Prediction

On paper, this should be a routine win for Spurs, but Spurs tend to hold possession of the ball and need to do more with it. Forest will be looking to capitalise on any Spurs mistakes and lapses in concentration to catch them on the counter, likely through their speedy wingers. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the home side concede first, but the visitors' poor away record should result in Spurs winning.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest

#tottenham hotspur #nottingham forest #premier league #match preview

[byneddiedingo]

Ynousse N'Diaye, Makhouredia Gueye, and Isseu Niang in Mandabi (Ousmane Sembene, 1968)

Cast: Makhouredia Gueye, Ynousse N'Diave, Isseu Niang, Mustapha Ture, Farba Sarr, Serigne Diayes, Thérèse Bas, Mouss Diaf, Christof Colomb. Screenplay: Ousmane Sembene. Cinematography: Paul Soulignac. Film editing: Gilbert Kikoïne, Max Saldinger.

When we first see Ibrahim Dieng (Makhouredia Gueye), he is having his head shaved and his nose cleaned. Then he strolls through the streets of Dakar, immaculate head held high, the very image of smug prosperity. He is anything but prosperous, of course: He is stone broke, having been unemployed for a very long time, supporting himself, his two wives, and seven children with a combination of handouts and loans, sustained mainly by his pride and a Micawberish sense that something will turn up. That something turns up in the form of a money order from his nephew, a street sweeper in Paris, and it will be the undoing of Ibrahim. Most of the money his nephew sent is not his: Part of it is to go into the nephew's savings, part to his mother, Ibrahim's sister (Thérèse Bas), who is a formidable force herself. The little left over goes to Ibrahim, and the thought of it elicits a brief period of delight -- one of the wives even makes up a song about the money order. But when word of it gets about, Ibrahim is immediately set upon by creditors and seekers of handouts. Mandabi (which means "money order") is a tragicomic film about postcolonial Africa, its people strangled by governmental corruption. Ibrahim is caught in a Catch-22: He can't cash the money order without an identity card. He can't get an identity card without a birth certificate. He can't get a birth certificate without some form of identification. The bureaucracy that frustrates him is both Dickensian and Kafkaesque. Ousmane Sembene tells Ibrahim's story with sympathy, but also with a smart distancing from the character, whose faults he makes all too clear. The only problem I had with the film is that it ends with a didactic speech by a character delivering the message: People should work to end the corruption that results in such misery. But Mandabi wasn't made for me, but for people like the ones it portrays. It was the first feature made in Wolof, the indigenous language of Senegal, which Sembene chose over French, the official language imposed by colonialism. "Message movies" may be tiresome to us Westerners, but they were an important tool for filmmakers like Sembene. 

#Mandabi #Ousmane Sembene

[ryaneswanseafcblog]

World Cup break wrap-up!

We are just about to head into an unprecedented month-long stoppage for the World Cup. Leagues all over the globe, including the Championship will pause their season due to the World Cup being played, something almost never seen before. With our break in games falling between November 13th and December 11th, there is no better time to take a deep dive into how our season has gone so far. 

We started the season slowly, only winning one of our first seven games. However, we found some form early in September and continued to perform in October, finding ourselves in the playoff positions. As of November 2nd, we are 6th in the Championship with eight wins, four draws and six losses. We are in the perfect position to push ahead towards promotion once the season resumes. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of our best games of the season so far.

Swansea City 2 vs Cardiff City 0 

Without a doubt, this game has to be discussed first. A South Wales derby always leads to a crazy game and is marked on the calendar by supporters, staff and players of both clubs. Tensions are always high, especially this year after our historic double against Cardiff last season. And boy did this game deliver for Swansea fans.

A red card in the 7th minute for Cardiff gave as the upper hand early on and we took full advantage. Academy product Ollie Cooper scored our first in the 38th minute before Michael Obafemi scored in the 67th minute. In the end it was a comfortable victory for the Swans and was a fantastic day for our fans. 

Watford 1 vs Swansea City 2 

There’s nothing better than a stoppage time winner is there? At Vicarage Road in early October Ben Cabango stepped up to be the hero, scoring the winner eight minutes into stoppage time. Watford got the jump early, taking the lead from a nice finish from Ismaila Sarr. But we fought back, first through an Olivier Ntcham strike, then on the Cabango header that was beautifully assisted by Ryan Manning. Heart stopping games like this are what we live for!

West Brom 2 vs Swansea City 3 

This game was absolute chaos! It took an incredible effort by the whole team to leave this game with three points. Matty Sorinola gave us the lead early in the 6th minute before West Brom found their footing, scoring twice in the second half. Olivier Ntcham pulled us back level in the 71st minute before we unfortunately gave away a penalty. Goalkeeper Steven Benda stepped up under intense pressure to save the penalty and Michael Obafemi secured us the win in the 89th minute. This game was a true rollercoaster and we needed our whole team to dig deep in order to prevail. 

There are quite a few new faces on the pitch this season and they have helped transform our play for the better. Let’s have a look at some of these new players and how they’ve gone so far this season. 

Ollie Cooper

We have to start with our new golden boy! Cooper is no stranger to those around the club, he first began playing here in under 12s and has slowly progressed his way into the first team. Cooper went out on loan to Newport County last season and played extremely well there. He contributed nine assists whilst playing over 30 games for a team that was pushing for promotion. The experience has helped him grow plenty as a player and has positioned him to have the contribution he’s had this season. 

Cooper has played 13 games so far in his first real season amongst the first team. He’s brought his boundless energy onto the pitch where he is constantly looking to progress the ball forward. Amazingly, Cooper has contributed three goals and one assist so far which is fantastic for a player of his age. We hope to see him continue to develop for the rest of this season and beyond. 

Harry Darling 

The new centre-back has been amazing for Swansea this season. Signed from MK Dons this summer, Darling has quickly established himself as a regular in our three-man back line. The 23-year-old has been rock solid in defence and has even gotten on the end of three goals this season. Darling looks to be a player that will feature heavily for our side in the coming years and if he keeps playing as well as he has been this season, he might just help us reach the top flight. 

Matty Sorinola 

Sorinola has joined us this season on loan from Royale Union Saint Gilloise in Belgium. The wingback has featured for us prominently so far this season, appearing in 17 games so far. Another former MK Dons player, Sorinola has been a bright spark for us on either flank this year getting back to help our defence while also being creative near the box. He has found the net once this season while also assisting two times. Strong play from our wingbacks is vital to our system and Sorinola has performed brilliantly so far. 

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Seven Sarr from Untamed is demisexual!

#seven sarr #untamed #canon aspec #demisexual

[lovedlegion-archive]

Suzanne Levesque

For as long as she could recall, Suzanne Levesque had  been drawn to the extramundane and macabre, or rather, it to her. Since the day she was born tragedy had loomed over her like a dark storm cloud, striking every time her deeply religious father thought himself to have found peace. The first of which occurred only a few days after she’d been birthed, when a semi-truck, skidding on a sheet of ice, collided with the family car on their way home from the La Sarre hospital, landing her mother in a coma, from which she would never recover.

Not three years later, a mysterious fire ignited inside the local kindergarten Suzanne had attended for little over seven months, which she, through some incredible stroke of good fortune, was the only child to survive mostly unscathed. Believing the town to be cursed, her father, Clark Levesque would soon gather their belongings and move to an entirely different province, but when the trials and tribulations followed them, he began to suspect that it was not the town bearing the curse, but his own daughter.

Despite being a kind and charming girl, Suzanne never excelled at making friends, in fact, for the better part of the first thirteen years of her life, she scarcely spoke to anyone save for her father, and her mysterious imaginary companion, to whom she refereed to simply as “The whispering spider”.

After moving from town to town for many years, Clark and his daughter finally settled in a small, remote ski town with idyllic slopes and a tight-knit community at the roots of mount Ormond. It was there where the father, daughter duo finally appeared to have found respite, for a time. Slowly the young girl emerged out of her shell, making her first ever friends. Julie, Joey, and eventually, the charismatic but manipulative Frank Morrison.

It was a match so perfect, that you’d think the universe itself had orchestrated for it to happen—that every stroke of misfortune she’d suffered through had come to be for the sole purpose of bringing them together like this.

It was a comforting thought.

#ic #just a short introduction to my darling hellion #I very much intend on making this character my own

[nivasvas]

Watford vs Brentford

he Hornets are six points from safety with seven games to go and have played a game more than 17th-place Everton. After four defeats from their last five, Roy Hodgson’s side are up against it but they have a winnable run of games to finish the season. A victory against Brentford would give them belief they can get out of the bottom three. That said, the manner of their 3-0 home defeat to Leeds last time out was demoralizing and it appears that Watford just can’t shore thing up defensively. Going forward they have fine attacking talents and the key against Brentford is getting to the second half level and then trying to get Ismaila Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and Josh King in the game.

With four wins from their last five Brentford are absolutely flying right now as Christian Eriksen is pulling the strings and Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo are back to their best. The Bees have won back-to-back games against Chelsea and West Ham and are pushing hard for a top 10 finish in their first-ever season in the Premier League. That would be an incredible achievement for Thomas Frank’s side as they’ve got over their severe mid-season slump and look set to finish the season in fine form as key defensive players have returned from lengthy injuries. Brentford beat Watford 2-1 at home when they met earlier in this season and this should be a similarly close game.เกมสล็อตออนไลน์

#สล็อตแตกง่าย #บาคาร่าออนไลน์ #สล็อตออนไลน์

[your-mail]

Sadio Mane netted the winning spot-kick as Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations, after the final ended goalless following extra time.

The Liverpool forward had earlier seen a seventh-minute penalty saved by Pharaohs keeper Gabaski.

Chelsea's Edouard Mendy denied Mohanad Lasheen to give Mane the chance to win it in Yaounde's Olembe Stadium.

Gabaski had made three good saves from Senegal's Bamba Dieng in extra time.

And in a match billed as a battle between Liverpool forwards Mane, of Senegal, and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah, it was the former who had the decisive word.

After two previous final defeats, Senegal are Africa Cup of Nations winners at last, while Egypt missed out on a record-extending eighth continental crown that would also have been a first for Salah.

"It just shows that if you work hard, if you persevere, you will get what you want," Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said.

"I am very emotional because the people of Senegal have wanted this trophy for 60 years."

All four of Egypt's knockout games at the tournament went the distance, and the North Africans had beaten Ivory Coast and hosts Cameroon on spot-kicks en route to the final.

Gabaski had already saved four penalties at the tournament by the time the match went to a shootout, but on this occasion the 33-year-old ended on the losing side.

Follow reaction to Senegal's historic win

Egypt were the first to err when centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem saw his penalty hit the left-hand upright and bounce away - but Gabaski immediately denied Bouna Sarr.

However, Lasheen saw his effort saved and Mane won it with an emphatic finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

His Liverpool team-mate Salah did not even have the chance to take a penalty, with the Pharaohs captain set to go fifth for his side.

Senegal's two Nations Cup final defeats came in 2002 and 2019.

And while the Teranga Lions will celebrate finally winning the tournament, Egypt will soon have a chance for revenge, with the two sides meeting again next month in a two-legged play-off for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Mane spurns early penalty

Senegal win Afcon: 'The best trophy of my life' - Sadio Mane

The match saw a free-flowing Senegal side with Mane as its attacking spearhead come up against Salah's compact and defensively-minded Egyptian outfit.

The West Africans were handed an early chance to take a lead when Abdelmonem lunged in on Senegal left-back Saliou Ciss in the fourth minute.

Mane had words with Gabaski before placing the ball on the spot - appearing to tell the keeper to get back on his line.

The 29-year-old blasted his attempt just to the left of centre, but Gabaski dived the right way and punched the ball clear.

Salah was well-marshalled by the Senegal defence and only had two efforts in the first half, forcing Mendy into a good save with the second.

The second half became somewhat fractured as record seven-time champions Egypt, with coach Carlos Quieroz absent from the touchline through suspension, looking to break up play.

Extra time was more lively as Senegal took the game to their opponents, and Dieng saw a low, angled effort pushed away, and a good downward header clawed behind.

The substitute then had a long-range shot pushed behind before Mendy tipped over a fierce attempt from Marwan Hamdy with three minutes remaining.

Redemption for Cisse

Senegal have been Africa's top-ranked side for the past three years under coach Cisse, who as a player missed a crucial penalty in the 2002 final defeat and was in the dugout for their loss three years ago.

Mane was instrumental in their landmark success in Cameroon, scoring three goals at the tournament and setting up another two.

Salah's influence waned as the contest went on and he ended on the losing side for the second time in a Nations Cup final, having been part of the Egypt side beaten by Cameroon in 2017.

The next Afcon is due to take place in the Ivory Coast in June and July next year.

The Teranga Lions eventually ended their wait to lift the trophy after a protracted presentation which saw captain Kalidou Koulibaly go up to the VIP box in the stands alongside Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe and Fifa president Gianni Infantino to greet Cameroon president Paul Biya.

[aquitainequeen]

The Events At Poroth Farm Read Along: Affidavit

Until August 20th, stay tuned for the unfolding of the terrible truth about The Events at Poroth Farm, by T.E.D Klein!

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

***

As the novella begins, the summer is over, but Jeremy’s hotel room is like an oven. Instead of finishing his preparations for the course on gothic literature that he would have been teaching at Trenton State in the fall, he’s spent the past few days shut up in his sweltering room with the windows locked tight, not daring to leave. The place where he spent the past few months, Poroth Farm, is now a crime scene, while the residents of the nearby town of Gilead whisper of bad crops, polluted well water and rural murder.

Jeremy knows the truth, and he’s going to tell his story…just as soon as the telephone in his room stops ringing, and as long as whatever he desperately fears — whether it’s something waiting on the other end of the line, or an ordinary youth in red sunglasses, sitting on the courthouse steps opposite Jeremy’s hotel for almost as many days as he’s been hiding there — allows him the time to tell it.

A sense of humor- that's one quality I never noticed in it. I saw only a deadly seriousness and, of course, an intelligence that grew at terrifying speed, malevolant and inhuman. If it now feels itself safe enough to toy with me before doing whatever it intends to do, so much the worse for me. So much the worse, perhaps, for all. I hope I'm wrong. Though my name is Jeremy, derived from Jeremiah, I'd hate to be a prophet in the wilderness. I'd much rather be a harmless crank. But I believe we're in for trouble. [1]

While working out how best to begin his affidavit, Jeremy muses on the wilderness that can still be found in rural New Jersey, and the numerous tiny towns that can exist so close to major cities while both are nearly unaware of the other’s existence; religious communities that have remained virtually unchanged since the late 1800s, when technology such as telephones and telegraph truly began to link up America. Jeremy travelled into such a wilderness to one of those towns, Gilead, twenty miles north of Flemington, in quest of solitude. Two members of the close-knit community in Gilead were the Poroths, a married couple barely a few years older than Jeremy who had come to farming relatively late, having purchased their property only the previous year. Looking to supplement their income while they built up their farm, they advertised for a tenant to rent one of their refitted outbuildings behind their farmhouse, and Jeremy, seeking a place where he could read without distraction, saw the immensely secluded location as the perfect spot for his studies.

Jeremy goes into some detail describing the friends he never expected to make, and whom he’s clearly lost. He muses on their physical similarity, due to the limited gene pool in Gilead – both of them were tall, black haired, incredibly pale despite their work in the sun, and seeming at first glance to be siblings rather than merely third cousins - and on the dichotomy of the pair; while belonging to a tiny Mennonitic order and possibly only allowing someone like Jeremy (a dyed in the wool sceptic) to stay on their property because of Sarr’s affinity for the prophet Jeremiah, they were considered young liberals by most of Gilead, with Sarr obtaining a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Rutgers, Deborah attending community college for two years, and the sheer fact that they owned a television set – ‘in light of what was to come, however, it is unfortunate they lacked a telephone.’ [2] He muses how a visitor to the farm would initially think Sarr moody, stoic and silently judging them, until they realised ‘his reserve was not born of surliness but shyness’. By contrast, Deborah bubbled over with enthusiasm whenever she forgot the formality of her order, with ever increasing verbal and physical affection to both guests and the couple’s seven cats. Alcohol only increased their differences; ‘Deborah would forget the restraints upon women in the order and would eventually dominate the conversation, while her husband would seem to grow increasingly withdrawn and morose.’ [3] In hindsight, Jeremy wonders who really was the stronger of the pair, as he only ever saw them quarrel once.

His plan, now, is to turn to certain portions of the journal he kept throughout the summer in preparation for his anticipated course. Initially meant to record the books he read each day and to keep track of how he’d react to relative and extended solitude, it’s now the sole chronicle of the beginning, unfolding and climax of the terrible events at Poroth Farm. Once his affidavit is completed, Jeremy plans to sneak outside to mail them, and then leave New Jersey for good, clinging desperately to his optimism even while knowing that his fate ‘perhaps […] depends on what’s beneath those rose-tinted spectacles’ [4] of the boy on the steps.  

The first diary entry begins on June 4th…

[1] The Events at Poroth Farm, by T.E.D. Klein, originally published in From Beyond the Dark, edited by Edward P. Berglund in December 1972; this edition found in The Cthulhu Mythos MEGAPACK ®: 40 Modern and Classic Lovecraftian Stories, Loc 2093 of 17308

[2] Ibid, Loc 2188 of 17308

[3] Ibid, Loc 2203 of 17308

[4] Ibid, Loc 2203 of 17308

(If you want to read along and delight in T.E.D. Klein's magnificent novella, you can find it in American Supernatural Tales (Penguin Classics) or The Cthulhu Mythos MEGAPACK ®: 40 Modern and Classic Lovecraftian Stories. If it turns out that I get a cease and desist from Klein et al, go and read the novella regardless!)

#the events at poroth farm #t.e.d. klein #Theodore “Eibon” Donald Klein #the events at poroth farm read along #long post

[cruorvolt]

Régiment de la Sarre is primarily known for its participation in the American theatre during the Seven Years War. Oversmoothed the skin, not very happy here, more on that will be published later.

#commission #soldier #military #uniform #military uniform #digital art #illustration #portrait #france #fusilier #fusil #seven years war #commission work