The Spirit Of Verona - Page 26

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 26

The Keeping family woke up earlier than anybody else. Jenna was so excited that day including the whole family. Remember today is the best day of her life. It was her Nuptial Day with Loren Torres. Just as they lighted the kerosene lamp, the Torres family lighted their kerosene lamp almost at the same time. Then after that everyone's too busy doing their specific task assigned to them. This will be the longest day ever, murmured Amelia and she was there downstairs on the ground providing the early breakfast. The rest of the clan woke up and helped at the chapel and at the reception area. The Russo family is busy wrapping their gifts for the bride and groom. Of course the busiest is Josephine and Arthur who help their daughter fit in with her beautiful gown of the finest Victorian lace and Italian silk brocade. Josephine sew the wedding gown so creatively will make the bride blush with pride. The chapel was ready, all lit with lamp light and candles and well decorated with the most beautiful flowers and they all are fragrant you can smell the air so sweet scented with fresh ylang-ylang, camia, jazmine and kalachuchi.

The elders helped arranged the wedding reception, the table and chairs made of bamboo are also finely decorated to suit the occasion. The food, the drinks are ready. Amelia, Stephano and the kids helped. With much ease and orderliness in the whole compound everything seemed so smoothly prepared just right in time. All they were waiting downstairs is for Josephine and her family to come down.  One more time, Josephine made sure that her daughter is radiantly ready for the special rite. Her make-up, hairdo, the beautiful gown...Then Rosalee gave the nice boquet of flowers to her sister. "Sister this bouquet of flowers are just right for you." Rosalee said. "Thank you dear sister!" said Jenna with a big smile. Rosalee mixed different kind of flowers in her bouquet but mostly of ylang-ylang, baby's breath, white calla lilly tied with a white silky ribbon. It was pretty and looks expensive.

How to get down from above the tree house is hard and uneasy with a long gown. Thankfully the groom surprised her with an elevator-like hammock filled with ornamental fragrant flowers from there   she is hoisted down the floor, through the yard where flowers of different kind are spread on the ground for her to walk on going through the path of the chapel. It was the whole clan first who went inside the chapel, the groom was there already wearing the graduation suit (in college)  he wore 5 years ago. Mila was there at  the altar together with the officiating priest, Grandpa Gustavo and Grandma Olivia. Mila has to sing the wedding song while the flower girls, the ring bearer, and maid of honor and bridesmaid  enters the chapel...lastly the bride enters the chapel. All eyes were focus on Jenna and her lovely wedding gown. It was tailor-made for her radiant beauty. Josephine would like to make a renaissance style gown for her but the textile is not enough for the long terrain and cap and long sleeves and double and triple layers of dress with petticoat. So what she made for her is just simple yet very elegant modern day wedding gown.

All the men are wearing the same kind of clothing made from handwoven fiber of jusi and pina, , agave, and rayon (bamboo). The women are wearing long sarong with slit on the left side of the skirt and zabrina style blouse. A long strand of ylang-ylang flowers adorned their waistline and on their heads for garland. Men have vest and short sarong style clothing with the same wrap-around ylang-ylang flowers on top of their heads and around the waistline. That's the motiff. That's the color motiff from the color of  this very exotic yet very delicate flower similar to yellowgreen leaves (lime color) from a tree surrounding the chapel. The fragrance is very aromatic and captivating.

Long and familiar homily from Grandma and Grandpa. All were attentive and focus to their words of wisdom. The young ones were attentive this time. Thank goodness. Then it's time for the special rite for the bride and groom. Excitement feels the air as they exchanged vows of solemn promises to keep each other in sickness and in health, till death do they part, to keep their love and to cherish love and respect for each other forever. Then Grandpa Gustavo and Grandma Olivia blessed the matrimony of Loren and Jenna. Then they asked to seal the nuptial with a kiss....and they kissed! How happy the clan is evidently seen with their smile , laughter and loud applause of acceptance.

The reception followed shortly after the mass and the wedding. They all gathered at the reception area tantalizing at the great food on the table. Roast beef, and stuffed turkeys, seafood of all kind. Boiled bananas, potatoes, taro roots on the long table spread with banana leaves used as mantle. Gourmet food such as fettuccine alfredo, seafood primavera, linguini, spinach pasta mixed with banana heart. On another table is designed for the many fruits harvested from the island such as :berries, caimito or star apples, papaya, rambutan, lychees, macopa, banana, pineapple, and mandarin oranges. After the joyous meal, Jameson went upstairs to their house and brought a box wrapped in vines  of ivy and told the bride and groom, "this is my special gift for the couple, I hope you'll like it." with a smirk on his face, "he then make a toast with the newly weds and the elders and to all at the reception.

Excitedly, the bride decides to open the gifts one by one. First, Jenna unwrapped the gift from Jameson's. She thought there is something weird with his gift. Loren helped unwrap the box. The ivy vine is used as a ribbon and bow to cover the box. Weird huh. So, when she opened it she was surprise of what's inside it. She was laughing, showing the elders of what she's got.

"Oh well!" "They are no longer wine from 100% grapes ." Loren shouted. "It's now 6 bottles of coconut wine and 6 bottles of banana wine."

"What?! the family roared with laughter. Grandpa Gustavo couldn't help express his anger. His squinty eyes was almost red in shame.

"Hey folks don't worry!" blurted Arthur. " I have another case of wine, red wine in my house." Arthur was smiling, he too couldn't help laughed with Jameson. At least Jameson proved his knowledge about fermentation of another wine. He made use of his knowledge in physics as a protege of Josephine.

Arthur brought Chivas Regal and Don Perignon at the table. This time Grandpa Gustavo keep smiling. He likes good wine, no doubt.

Jameson keeps on insisting his wine is better. They should at least try it for he tried those wines before and he is proud to share them with the whole clan.


NOTE: Please let me know if you want to read the rest of the story. The original version is 92 pages and I 'm not sure whether the readers would like to read such a very long story of adventure, family life, conflict and complicated, revolutionary ideas and several paranormal activity. I should have this novelette in Ebook or book instead however I don't have a machinery to do such thing. My apology to my readers.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 25

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 24  Secret
Page 25

Within 5 year period the Russo family, the Keeping's, the Torres, the Evangelista's, all of them in the island were able to adapt the environment which they think is favorable to their existence. Adaptation is never that easy for them at first but they managed for their own good. Who wont be? The island is such an ideal place. Almost perfect, very rich in natural resources. The climate is splendidly awesome! They never get sick. They are always happy, few quarrels that they always able to resolve. The children grew up to be who they really are, respectful of their elders, strong-willed but with fear in God, courteous and polite. Resourceful, smart and skilled. Surely it was blessing in disguised that the climate is favorable and which never harm them in anyway. There are only two season warm and not so warm. It never rain and that's amazingly good.  Similar feature of an amazonian jungle like they have there showers can't be felt that much in the secluded area. There's no storm. The last storm was when only their first day in that mysterious island.

There is so much sunshine and the water from the ocean is lukewarm but the lagoon and river remained cool. The coolest temperature ever.The air is fresh because of the abundance of greenery and lush vegetation including the tall trees, bushes, and herbs plus the coconut groves whose palms sway gracefully with the wind. The right ventilation, rather well balanced ventilation of air is felt most of the time.

Joselito, Jolina, Melinda and Joseph gathered bunch of firewood. Mila and Tamara  got  their paddles and ride on their bamboo raft paddling and sailing smoothly to the ocean. Their raft has a sail and a small bamboo house like an outpost. It was cute. They were 100 ft. away from the shore when Eric saw them and he too ride the banca (canoe) and as fast as he could paddled his canoe to  join the sisters.

"What are you doing? What are you planning to do? " Eric asked the  two sisters.

"Oh, we'll gather some oysters and abalones." Mila told Eric.

"Yeah, there are clusters of oysters on this spot and maybe those oysters already have pearls inside." Tamara  said with a smile.

"And what are you doing with those pearls? " Eric asked again.

"Secret!!!!!" the two girls jumped and dive at the same time on the clear blue waters of the ocean. So pristine clean and clear. It was inviting.

"You girls are so secretive." Eric blurted. He waited for a while and when the sisters come up to the bamboo raft they have lots of oysters in their handwoven basket. But for the girls they are not enough and because they are unopen yet they don't know how many have pearls inside. So they dive down again to gather more oysters. Eric doesn't like being left behind so he too dive deep down the ocean and underneath were too many sea creatures that he never could imagine are there. Even the ocean is filled with water resources, so rich and so beautiful there. Variety of colors and multitude of fish, angelfish, swordfish, mackerels and tuna, small fish and big fish, shellfish of different kind and species, so much seaweeds too and corals. Then he realized he is fixated on creatures that they don't need for now he was seen harvesting oysters helping the sisters. They only stop until they reached more than  hundred oysters  and they started opening the shells one by one. They had wonderful conversation while opening the shells and found so much precious shiny pearls filling up their handwoven basket.

It was before sunset that the three teenagers decided it's time to go home and be with their respective family.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 23

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 23

Without a fuzz, without much hesitation the herds of goat followed them on the trail home. They seemed very obedient and calm. Their heads are tied snuggly with rope, leash on their heads as they hold the rope tightly not wanting  them to escape. The only noise they can hear on the way, "meehhhhh, meeeehhhh!))))))) which made the girls chuckled loudly.

Too many tall cogon grass, thistles of bushes with lots of thorns, weird dandy lions whose flowers are bigger than normal. Too many insects that are trying to bite their skin. Buzzing yellow jackets, bumble bees and butterflies flutter freely on the air.

"I wonder who the trolls are! Ha ha ha ha!" Elmo said which Loren quickly replied, "Maybe you are the troll Father." And they both laughed so hard. Everyone laughed heartily.

Suddenly another creepy noise along the grass. Right there where the papasan, close to the anahaw leaves so thick and so green spread like a fan, that's where the loud noise is. "Tucko ! Tuck-O! "

"Wait hold on! " Loren said. He suggested they have to stop walking. Watch your step, look at the ground." I felt a sudden tremor." He told the group to keep calm. "I hope there are no snakes around." "Most of all no hippos."

The ground was shaking a bit. Animals are running around the bamboo plantation. They saw an incredible amount of birds flying in a V-formation. Then right in front of them big lizards started to appear one by one from the long rotten logs across the anahaw tree. Then they all run away abruptly. Cade saw few feathers on the ground. He picked them up one by one. Loren identified two of them, one looks like feather  of a turkey...and the other feather looks like ( he paused for a while and didn't mention the other one)  Loren exclaimed excitedly, " Know what? I think we'll have turkey for the reception." I think there are too many turkey in this island. Meticulously he aimed his rifle on the spot where the big lizards ran through. That path where he thought turkeys ran away from them.

"Go ahead catch them for us!" the girls yelled at Loren. So Loren and the boys go with them while the girls tend to the goats on leash. They find out that those big turkeys are being chased away by several big lizards called chuckwalla.  Chuckwalla is a big herbivorous lizard,  looks like komodo dragon. Frightened by the sight of the big  lizard, the girls run and dropped the harness for the goats. One goat ran away. The goat escaped pretty quick and didn't bother to chase it. They have more than enough. Loren and the guys arrived with the turkeys in their hands and manage to have the goats with them. Thankfully the rest of the goats stayed with the rest of the herd. With healthy- looking goats and big fat turkeys plus coffee berries what could they could ask for. Blessings, blessings more than enough and they thanked the Lord God for these bounty.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 22

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 22

The next day the Keeping family announced to the whole clan that they want the wedding sooner than later. Josephine beaming with pride wants the best wedding gown for her daughter Jenna. That she opened her old trunk filled with Victorian lace and fabric made of the finest Italian silk. It was sealed in a plastic and seemed not affected by water when they were shipwrecked. She had in the old trunk with packages of assorted thread, needles and pins. To their surprise, she never thought she'll bring her old sewing machine...but she did. Jenna was overjoyed. She couldn't believe that her mother is not only very creative but also very resourceful and only think about what is best for her family. She --Josephine can see the future. She can visualize what will happen to them. She is always prepared of the many consequences being away from Italy. She seemed to have a plan nestled on her mind. Jenna couldn't help herself, kissed her mother on the forehead and embraced her with much affection.

"Even if we are stranded in this unknown island I want to make sure that you and your sister will have a grand wedding." Josephine told the sisters. "And it's your turn first, Jenna. "Maybe next time it's Rosalee, " Josephine smiled.

"What about me Mother?" asked Eric.

Josephine looked at Eric and laughed, " Eric maybe we wont be here at the island when that happened. You are still too young to get married.

Scenes of happiness filled the family, the whole clan and  later on they were all busy with the preparation for the wedding of Jenna and Loren. The Torres family keep on finding the best gift they can give to Jenna and family. They need a dowry. They searched inside their house, their old trunk. Atlas! They found something of equal importance to them and to the Keeping's family. But they have to follow another tradition, they have to give an offering of live animals. The Torres family have to hunt whatever animals they can find at the jungle. Elmo can go with Loren to hunt these animals. It doesn't matter if the animals can fly, crawl or how many legs they've got as long as the family of Jenna will approve such offering.

Elmo and Loren are ready prepared with their hunting gear and  about to embark on looking for the best offering that they could find through the vast jungle when Mila and Tamara asked if they can go with them together with Joselito, Jolina, Cade and Joseph. At first Loren was reluctant but knowing the girls are good hunters and they knew how to use ax, hatchet and crossbow and arrows they could be of great help. Elmo just shook his head in defiance but Loren is his son and it's up to him. The decision is up to his  one and only son. Loren knew what his father is thinking but he whispered, "they are my cousins, father." You'd better know that.

"I know they are!" whispered Elmo. Relentless pursuit of what to offer made them so choosy about what to get in the first place. They have seen so many birds flying around the island.  Too many species of birds on top of the trees, birds on the branches of berry trees. Parrots, macaws in different size and colors. Bright colors that are so tantalizing to their eyes.

"How about those beautiful macaws father? Would that be good?!?" Loren asked Elmo.

Elmo pretend to be deaf. His mind is somewhere else. Then Loren heard a reply from Tamara, " I like those macaws." "I like them as pet."

"How many arrows in your possession Tamara?" asked Loren.

"I have only thirty arrows!" answered Tamara but I can make more arrows using bamboo stick if need be. "Why? How many animals you need to hunt?" asked Tamara who is more than curious why his cousin asked.

Loren didn't answer. It was Mila who explained that maybe he wants to hunt some animals for food. One for the offering and meat for food ... for the wedding reception. That is a clear explanation, reason  which Loren didn't tell them but now they know. They continued their wide search until they reached the center of the island. It was hot and humid. They were perspiring, their brows, their arms, their whole body sweating from the long walk. Elmo told them to sit on the grass while they wait for the next plan of action. Good that they brought water to drink. While they were seated they heard some commotion at the east side of the jungle. Mila stand up and she yelled at what she had seen ten feet away from their place.

"Holy Jesus!" Mila exclaimed.

She hollored to them, "come quick and be careful don't make any noise." The group followed her almost on tiptoes then they looked at what she is pointing to them.

"Oh my goodness! Goats!!! Lots of goatssssss!!!!!!!!!" Tamara started to giggle.

There are lots of goats. Herds of them beside some peculiar shrubs. The goats were nibbling on something. Since they were busy eating grass and those fruits from the many bushes close to the birch trees, they were also busy trying to capture these herds of goats. They issued a plan for everyone of what to do. They opened spread  their big net the one they are using for hauling fish from the ocean. They want to try if it works with goats. They surrounded the herd of goats and drop the big net all at once in abrupt action. Twenty three goats were captured all at once. Instantly! With the remaining rope enough to tie them together. It was that easy. They are getting better with hunting. Cade who is more than curious with what they are nibbling, opened one of the goat's mouth and finds out.

"Uhm, looks like berries!" These goats like berries?" he laughed at his find.

Elmo and Loren looked at the goats mouth, opened it wide  and exclaimed, " Coffee beans!!!!!!!!!!!!" They are eating fresh berries from coffee plant. They all laughed so hard and end up picking so many berries from the bushes and shrubs almost like a bean plantation in that region.

"No wonder these goats are so hyper." "They keep jumping up and down." Mila told the group.



"So many berries, so little time! Picking up berries and having so much fun!" Joseph muttered happily. They left the area after filling up their pockets, their handwoven baskets with fresh berries they have to share with the whole clan.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 21

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author : E. Verna Turner
Page 21

The whole family, the whole clan waited impatiently  for the special announcement from Juanita and Elmo Torres.

"My wife Juanita and I would like to let you know that it's the 30th birthday of our son Loren," Elmo said.

"Ohhh...Happy birthday Loren! ))))) the whole clan replied in chorus as if there's an echo. Elmo continued what he was saying and then, " on his 30th birthday we decided it's best also to announce his engagement with one of the daughter's of the Keeping's family."

More ohhs and ahhhss can be heard within the congregation at the chapel. They wonder who is the lucky girl. Could it be Jenna or Rosalee. They are both gorgeous and at the right age for marriage. So they waited, and waited who could it be, who could be the bride for the Torres only one son. They have no daughter, they only have a son. The clan is not quite sure whether who is Jenna and Rosalee, they are identical twins and they always wear the same kind of clothing. They have the same attitude and mannerism.

When Juanita asked, " Jenna dear will you please stand up and come closer here in front beside us?"


"Oh it was Jenna!" Joseph was heard loudly and giggled like a little girl. Melinda pinched his brother's waist for being so annoying.

"Shhhhh! with eyes widened with disgust, Grandma Olivia waved a hand on those two naughty kids at the back of her seat.

"Keep quiet children." Amelia told the kids." You are messing up the solemn rites of engagement.

More long speech heard from the Torres family and short speech from Jenna and from Josephine and Arthur Keeping.

The whole clan gave the Torres family and Keeping's family a big applause for the wonderful sharing of gospel for that day.  After the Sunday mass each one of them shook hands with Loren and Jenna and congratulate both of them. One by one feels the excitement. The elders congratulate the future bride and groom. They proceeded to the beach and have their Sunday picnic get-together. Two occasions to celebrate that day: birthday and engagement. It was a total bliss.

Commercial Muna. And This Is Not Funny!

 Remember the news on TV and newspaper about the satellite the size of a bus that's been predicted to have just fallen in Canada last September? Then they figured out that it will actually land in Calgary. Later on it landed or had fallen in the US. Which one is true? Since the earth is round and it revolves around the sun and orbit into space as what they said, by scientists and astronomers. Yes all about science is a never-ending story. That on September 24 when I went out if ever there is something peculiar within air space of Canada. That time period when the wind is so strong and gusty. Furious and stormy but without rain or anything just a howling sound of wind. There is no twister or whatsoever but the rushing wind is at the speed of light going left side of where I am in that period of time. I can't see no debris falling. Then I went further back in the afternoon to pick up the local paper just close to my house. When I was about come back home I looked up and see so many tiny debris on the rooftop of our house. They are somewhat shiny. I told myself they are probably pieces of nails. The head of nails showing up and it sparkles with the light passing through it from the distance. I looked at other houses' rooftop if they have the nails of their roof showing. Hmm...none. I think it depends on the color of the roof shingles that were used. I told it to my husband. But I think he didn't hear what I said. Then days has passed by and I was looking at the rooftop again because I felt like there is something weird hitting me while I was inside the house. Sort of like "laser beam." I went out to investigate. Then I saw something weird again. This is so bizarre! I have no binocular so I used my Canon digital camera to have the lens zoomed in.

This time it's not shiny object on top of the roof.

It's a piece of bone!

Who the hell did that? Why on earth will throw a piece of bone on the rooftop?

Crazy!! ? Crazies?

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 20

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 20

At the dinner table, they have lots of food to eat. There is a big plate of the left over turkey and a big platter of unknown meat. Lots of vegetables, crabs with lemons, bunch of bananas, guyabano, and macopa. The last of the boiled potatoes and the last of the steamed rice. There are only few spices left and half sack of wheat flour, barley and pasta in their bamboo pantry. Amelia don't want to tell the family about that. It might spoil their meal. However what the kids want to know is what kind of "meat" that is on the big platter. Jameson asked Amelia. Being the family cook for thirty years she knew her family wont poison them in anyway but the kind of meat on the table is not chicken nor turkey.

"Oh you know what Jameson," Amelia starts to tell him the story while she grinned at the elders. " We were looking for you and your brothers and sister when Stephano and I saw some water buffalo close to the river."

"You mean there are buffalos here?" In this island?" And there is a river?" Jameson asked Amelia.

"Yes there's a river and water buffalos. However the water buffalos stay on the muddy pond. That's where they are at when we found them. Under the guava trees close to the river is where the water buffalos roamed." " And because just like you we are so bored about the fish for food,  so...(while Amelia looked at the kids with their eyes wide like a window that never close she stand up and got a big bowl of food from the brick stove. When she returned at the table , she served the best food ever!

"Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spaghetti and spare ribs!" the kids screamed loudly and the elders laughed at their abrupt reaction. "Oh thank you Lord God for the food, great food! " I miss spaghetti so much!" Jameson said as he forked the strand of spaghetti right to his plate.

"Beef! So much beef! Buffalo beef!!! Beef beef!" Joseph said laughing at everyone.

"We know you don't like beef, Joseph. You are a such a fish!" Ha ha ha ha !"roared Eric. Joseph actually hate the smell of beef and buffalo's meat has strong taste and smell. Anyway the whole clan enjoyed their dinner. It was awesome.

After dinner a long prayer was held. In unity with their parents, the teens and kids promised to pledge allegiance as an assurance that everything will be alright, that in unity there'll be peace and in unity there is so much strength. Life will continue to exist between them in the island. That they hope and pray that the Lord God will continue to provide and nurture their needs.They believed that they are in that mysterious island for a divine purpose and divine reason that's beginning to unfold one by one, step by step. In accordance with their religious belief they built a chapel where they installed a table made of cedar and bamboo. The table is like a counter with drawers and case where they placed their set of encyclopedia and atlas book. The map is missing. The map of their supposed to be destination of their voyage is missing and Grandpa Gustavo forgot where he placed it. He had forgotten that map since the time they were shipwrecked in that island. Nobody can remember the old map. It's no longer important to them anyway. Their mind is set on their religious vocation and devotion. They have Bible study on the importance of good family, good character, value of hard work and religion in their lives. The chapel become the house of worship and their library.

After every mass on Sunday the whole clan gather at the beach or near the lagoon for a picnic or depends on the kind of weather they have on that day.


 The whole clan is happy with their stay in the island, years after years and many years have passed...until one day after Grandpa Gustavo said his homily at the chapel, Elmo and Juanita announced a big surprise for the whole family, relatives and friends.

All eyes, all ears are focused on Elmo, Juanita and Loren, waiting for their announcement the kids seemed unfazed and impatiently wanting to stand up from their seats.

To be continued ----

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 19

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 19

Cade and Melinda heard the loud noise of excitement from inside the cave. They too are thrilled to know what's happening inside so they trailed in through the help of the rope with knots that they were holding for quite sometime. Their left hands holding the rope and right hands with the kerosene lamp as they find their group to the innermost area zone. They saw them sitting and standing beside the edge of the railway track. Surprised of what they have seen they too waited for another train to appear or pass through the track. They waited and waited but no train came. There is no sight or sound of another train. With a heavy heart Loren told the guys to let go of what just happened. "We're waiting for nothing!" he said. So they were about to step forward to the main entrance when they heard some funny cuckling sound at the back. The sounds kind of familiar and when they all looked back.... and to their amazement their jaws almost dropped.

"My God! There are so many chicken!!!!!" blurted Tamara. "Yes they are chicken alright!!!!" said Mila."Where they came from? How on earth there are chicken here in the cave?" she asked.

Laughing and giggling they cannot help but tried to grasp the creatures. One by one they struggle to catch the chicken with their barehands. They walked and  they run to get them. The struggle become evident until Loren tied so many of them with bungee cord. It's easier that way. Their hands are full. Other chicken tried to escape choosing the railway track to the darkest alley away from them. When they started counting they had a dozen hen and rooster all together and that's enough. They have to go back home. But before that, they covered the cave's entrance gate with dry twigs and coconut palms so that no prying eyes will see the opening. Nobody has to find out that they are in the island.  It would be a secret they have to keep. They returned to the campsite and told their elders what happened. The whole story. It's better to be honest. Honesty is always the best policy and being truthful  about their plan made the elders so proud of them.

" I believe your story. I am just so proud of you, all of you," as Grandma Olivia said with tears flowing down her cheeks she hugged them one by one. She, Bianca, Josephine, and Amelia were also teary eyed embracing each one of the teens and kids. They were glad, so happy that they were all safe. Imagine it took them hours to look for them around the island while they were gone. The elders got so worried for the time period that they didn't see them for quite sometime. And in those moments they realized of what they have done. Also to have known they were the only people in that mysterious island made them so cautious that they asked the children to make a promise not to do that again. That they have to tell them where they have to go and what time they have to come back. What part of the island they have to wander because it should be that way. They have to trust each other for they are the only inhabitants in a very secluded area and going back to the cave is not the best solution. That's according to Grandpa Gustavo.

"I forbid you not to go back to the cave!" said Gustavo in a stern voice and facial expression that they cannot unmask.

"But why Grandpa? That's our chance to go back to civilization without the need to cross the ocean." Loren told his Grandpa. His opinion maybe good however the rest of the elders advised the kids that it is not safe to go there. It's the security for their family they have to care about.

Anyway, the elders are happy with their catch. A dozen chicken, of rooster and chubby hen...they looked so healthy. But they cannot cook and eat their meat all at once. The older men built a cage made of bamboo sticks that can fit in more than 12 chicken. Their plan is for the breeding of the chicken, let the group of  hen lay eggs, hatch, multiply the chicks and when there's enough for them there in the cage they will lay out plans of what to cook next. It's a short term and long term plan. Besides, they found so many other food they can gather from the island. One of these fruit bearing trees that are edible and can be cooked as food are: jackfruit, breadfruit, squash (pumpkins) their flowers are also edible . The ocean gave them lots of seafood: crabs, lobsters, clams, oysters, variety of fish: salmon, tuna, swordfish, halibut, mackerel, anchovies, herring,rock cod, lingcod, abalone. Now that they have chicken in their cage they have meat and what they found at the middle of the island is surely fascinating. They haven't told the kids yet.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 18

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 18

After a hearty Thanksgiving dinner, the whole clan decided to have a merry-making of a sing and dance, comedy act, Melinda and Joseph recited poems, and a declamation program by Jenna and Rosalee. The elders had at least a bottle of wine and grape juice for the teenagers and kids. Their happiness subsides at about 12 midnight. Good for the elders they can sleep tight and be peaceful for the rest of the night, actually dawn already and the teens were busy sorting out a plan. Loren passed a note to Mila ... she read the message and Mila handled the message clearly to the rest of her sisters and brothers, to their friends.

The next morning even before sunrise, they manage to get out of their temporary camp or call it their newfound home nestling on top of the trees. Looking at it from the ground, looking up to the trees from a different perspective there is no other reason why they cannot call it a HOME. A small village of bamboo houses, made from bamboo poles, twigs and vines from trees, walls made out of coconut palms. Surely it's a winner if there is such a contest for innovation and survival life skills to build a kind of home just like that in the jungle.

However they have to go search for a new route on how to get out from the island just in case. They cannot live there forever. They cannot be stranded there and grow old in such an island with only them living for years. There must be another way, a different way of conquering their own fears. On this day they have to find out their capability. So together with Loren and Mila who lead the hike-trail to search and find a better way to keep them busy and at the same time to find the best route and what that island is all about. Somehow they were fixated on what is in the cave. Curiousity has befallen them to follow the trails going to the cave instead. They passed by through the long rows of tall bamboo plants which is defined as the tallest grass in the world. Imagine bamboo plant is a giant grass. How could that happen? It can grow up to 300 to 350 ft. They reached the main entrance of the cave, at the left side of the cave are bigger trees, variety of trees: maple trees, aspen and birch. There are at least two oak trees and Loren tied the rope around the oak tree, the bigger tree.  He's got two long ropes each measures 200 meters (x2=400 meters rope), Mila and Tamara brought their bungee cords. Loren told the teens and kids that they will hold on to that long rope while they enter the cave. They can only enter there up to 200 meters because they don't really know what's inside the cave and that's for their own safety not to prolong their stay inside. They are not supposedly be  there for an hour. Less than an hour is what they assumed they can do to finish their search and research to that unknown cave, a mysterious cave. Mila told Melinda and Cade to stay close to the cave's entrance as their guard while they moved on to the depths of the cave holding on to the rope with knots for every 10 meters. They are only using one long rope measuring 200 meters remember...with knots every 10 meters. The group went to the right side of the cave. As they go further away from where Melinda and Cade, the air is suffocating to the point that Tamara almost vomit. Jolina, Joselito and Eric started coughing. The air is dry and stinky and who wont get suffocated even at the thought of it? But they were there inside trying not to be bothered by that foul , awful smell that can make them so sick to the bones.

"Oh no!" "I think we've better get out!" Mila asked Loren  and the rest of the kids. But then the kids said they can continue the ordeal. So they went further up to 50 ft. and then they heard a noise. It's like somebody is crying. More noises and they all felt nervous about to run away of what they saw... a huge black hairy entity was moving on the right side of the cave. When Joselito raised the kerosene lamp and take an eyeview of the crying being, they saw a hairy monster carrying something on her chest, running away from them, it was so dark their lamp is not enough for them to see what kind of being who just run away They all screamed in fright but the unknown hairy being was even frightened when it see them coming. They laughed at the horrible situation.

"Oh my God! I'm gonna have a heart attack!" Mila told the guys. What else is this cave for? What's in this cave that we don't know about?" she started blabbing asking so many questions.

"I know nothing!" I don't have a clue." Joseph quickly answered trembling from what he had seen but not too frightened to show how nervous he is. Nobody wants to show how afraid they all are. It can boost down their morale. Besides they have weapons with them. They have rifles, shotgun, ax, hunting knives, crossbow and arrow. They are good in martial arts which they learned from martial arts school. They know survival skills. They learned those skills in school. How to survive and protect one's self is one of the best that they've learned from school and at home. Then all of a sudden Jenna stepped onto something and it has that "crackling sound" when they looked at it on the ground was a ------

skeleton!??? Eeeeehhhhhh!!!!!!!! All of them were screaming loudly. Joseph dropped the kerosene lamp on the ground and run as fast as he could but  Loren stopped him. "Joseph come back here you----! It's just a skeleton of a dead buffalo okay?" Loren assured that it was a water buffalo's carcass. That's all.

They walked in through the middle of the cave this time reaching 110 meters. Suddenly loud noises was heard. The noise becomes very evident. Tamara and Rosalee just right through a downhill side when all of a sudden a rushing metal carts passed by through  the dark alley. It was very fast and long before they could breathe in, " that's a train!" How could that there's a moving train in here?" Tamara asked them.

Loren and Mila and the rest of the guys held their lamp up high for them to see what's in the dark alley. Yes. There is a railway track inside that cave!

The kids couldn't help jumped up and down. "We are safe! We are in civilization." "There's a train here!" kids shouted on and on.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 17

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 17

Gathering of firewood and food the first priority for that day. The elders decided it's best to cut some long bamboo poles that they can use as water pipes to deliver fresh water from the lagoon to their place. They have to have at least hundreds of these kind of bamboo poles that they can use also for delivering water to their bathroom and kitchen. Easier than having to fetch water with the use of aluminum and steel bucket that are heavy to carry. It's okay if the distance  from the lagoon is just ten feet or twenty feet away at least the kids wont hesitate to lift the buckets of water but the actual distance from the lagoon to where they are settled is about 60 ft. That is way too much and hard work. Back breaking hard work for the kids to endure. They are not really used to back-breaking work such as carrying heavy loads. So the best way is to have those bamboo poles for water pipes. At least it keeps them busy with something else such as hunting for food and learning the rules of the jungle. They have to adapt real well to a new habitat because they don't know when they have to leave or stay depends on what the island has to offer.

The group of Loren and Mila gathered firewood and brought them back to their camp and then they went for a hike trail back to the woods. Together with Tamara, Joselito, Cade, Melinda, Rosalee, Joseph, Jolina and Jenna the group of young kids and teens brought with them their lantern, flashlight, sharp bolo, rifles and shotgun. This time they are really in full outdoor gears ready to do the hunting. They were briefed by Loren and Mila on the guidelines, standard precautionary use of weapons and hunting skills. They are really bored of the seafood that they have for over a month now. They are Italians, they are meat lovers! They love spaghetti, fettuccine, linguini with meat. Fresh meat from cattles, meat from pigs. They crave for beef, pork and chicken.

Loren asked where Jameson is, only to be answered by Joselito that he is at their hut doing something else.

"Like what? Is he not interested in hunting?" Loren asked the brothers and sisters of Jameson.

Mila quickly replied, " Jameson is not interested in something like this. He is probably experimenting about "soap." The teens and kids laughed so hard they frightened the many birds resting on the branches of berry trees and flew away. "Jameson, our brother is somewhat a geek okay?! so that explains everything." Tamara added to the funny conversation.

The group passed the bamboo plantation and happened to spot few dodos. Cade couldn't help exclaimed, " I first thought dodos are already extinct."

"What dodos?" asked Melinda. Mila answered it was an extinct , "almost extinct wild bird. " But hey there are few dodos here at the jungle!!!! How could that be?  That's worth a lot of money. Then suddenly they flew away maybe because of their loud noise and then for a change they spotted some turkeys. Right there their eyes widened and couldn't help shouted at the sight of several turkeys. "Oh my God!!!! Turkeys!!! What a miracle!" they were smiling and laughing. They were overjoyed.

"Shhhh.....quiet kids." Loren told the kids to shut up and aimed his rifle at the big chubby bird. However the turkeys run away and they followed them wherever they go until they reached a certain opening at the back of the bamboo plants. They wade in through the thick cogon grass and to their amazement the opening was actually a cave!

Before the turkeys entered the cave, Loren aimed his rifle one more time and shoot the turkey point blank. The turkey was lay dying on the grass and the kids run towards the turkey and grabbed it by the head. Then another turkey was shot. Two turkeys!!!! "Hurray!!!! The kids enjoy their hunting trip, most of all   they all are happy to bring back their first two turkeys for dinner. That's their first Thanksgiving Dinner at the unknown enchanted island.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 16

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author:  E. Verna Turner
Page 16

The next morning at the breakfast table: There are two long tables made of bamboo wherein the first table is reserved for the teen and kids and the second table is reserved for the elders. The two tables are located close to the kitchen made of bamboo within the view of the ocean. They have their kitchen not above the tree but at the rocky shore and three feet away from the sandy shore. At low tide the sandy beach is almost half a mile away from the ocean while at high tide the water is at the rocky area of the beach. The kids and teens gathered at the first table waiting to be served by Amelia and Stephano who is the family cook for over 25 years. Melinda and Joseph joined the group. Joseph asked why Eric screamed last night. He was curious to know. Eric didn't say a word. He was quiet trying to ignore Joseph. Then Melinda tried to ask him again maybe he didn't hear what his brother asked him. Eric ignored her too. Then Mila's turn to question Eric, " was it really a nightmare Eric?" Tell us about what you have seen in your dream?" Please?" she begs him to narrate to them the story of his dream or is it  really a nightmare?"

"No! I wont tell you what I have seen." It was just a bad dream okay?" Eric told them with a stern reaction on his face.

"Ow come on, tell us..." Jolina curiously asked Eric to tell them what that nightmare is all about.

Eric doesn't like being forced to talk. He is not that verbal. He walked away. Amelia advised the kids to stop pressuring him from talking. Jenna and Rosalee told the group to leave him alone. Then the elders arrived. Bianca and Panfilo, Juanita and Elmo with Loren, Grandma and Grandpa   sit down on the second table for their breakfast. Josephine and Arthur were in their hut above the tree. They never join them for breakfast. The elders don't mind the couple being unsociable. Actually they know why they never join at a very early breakfast. They were awake most of the time at night busy doing their work.

" What kind of work they have?" Jameson asked Grandma Olivia.

"It's not for you to know Jameson." "Finished your breakfast!" And I want you kids to gather more firewood for the bonfire tonight.

Now the teens and kids are more than curious about the Keeping family.
After breakfast, Loren, Mila, Jolina, Cade and Tamara, Joselito went to the jungle to gather firewood. While Jenna, Rosalee, Melinda and Joseph helped clean the dishes, pots and pans.

The elders resumed with their daily routine of finding and gathering food from the ocean and from the forest for some veggies. If they can find some other vegetables aside from fern, mushrooms, sweet potato leaves and young leaves from cassava. They have to find new variety of food before the kids freak out of the same kind of servings. They can try seaweeds but they don't know if that's edible or good for them. Unless of course if they will try first. Everything is a "trial basis." Thank God for the many variety of fruits around the island, these fruits help sustain the good food nutrients that their body needs to keep them healthy and wise. Banana tree is a sure winner for keeping them healthy. There are three variety of banana in the island: the cooking banana called saba which is good for banana cue, and mashed banana with butter and milk. Too bad they don't have butter and milk.  The fruit called tundan for dessert, and saksi for both dessert and cooking banana as a garnish for other delicacy.
Banana is the fruit of the wisemen. No wonder monkeys are clever and wise.

The Spirit of Verona - Page 15

The Spirit Of Verona
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 15

'Thank God for the mosquito nets, the whole family , relatives and friends are safe from mosquito bites. They can only hope and pray. Noisy sound of the waves from the sea, the creepy sound of the cicada, the croaking of frogs, hundreds of them maybe. The howling sound of wolves? Is there any wolf in the island? What could be creeping and howling from the woods? Bugs and ants and the grey owls, funny sound of the cuckoo birds, hounding haunting sound of wild animals leaping through back and forth from the trees to the forest. What could be the freaks of nature? Lemurs, tarsier and squirrels? Chameleons, geckos and iguanas. Salamander and komodo dragons? Oh no!

"Yikkkessss!" Screeching from too much thinking and imagination of what lurks in a dark secluded cove in a deserted island in the middle of the ocean, panic starts to uphold the young mind of Eric. His loud scream frightened almost everyone. The thought of these creeps will bite him made him screamed at the top of his lungs. The loud scream frightened also the animals lurking from the dark shadow of the jungle. Noises were heard animals trying to escape from close by. Eric didn't stop screaming until everyone was at his side.

"What the hell is that? What happened?" his parents was curious to know. Arthur and Josephine were wide awake together with the rest of the group watching Eric closely. Arthur told everyone that probably Eric is having a nightmare,  he looked at his son who  is nervous and frightened to open his eyes.

The girls chuckled and giggled. Their Mothers told them to keep quiet. "You girls go back to sleep," Bianca advised the girls. "It's only 4:00 PM. They all hurriedly went back to the hut walking through the rope bridge from the Keeping's hut to their hut. Two Lantern lamps with lights on hanging through the bridge post helped them watch their steps. "Don't run, just walk slowly, and be careful, "she told the girls.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 14

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 14

"What are you looking for?" Mila couldn't help asked her sister. Tamara was looking for something under their bamboo bed, thr.  the bamboo cabinet. It was annoying that she was back and forth in the room.

"I'm looking for the mosquito net. Mama asked me to look for it  in your room. Tamara quickly replied. So Mila helped her find the mosquito net and found it inside their old trunk. Signorina Bianca decided it's best to use the mosquito nets at night because of the weather that is too hot and too many bugs keep flying and too many creepy crawlies on the floor. It's okay on the ground wherein they have built a bonfire and at least the bugs are afraid to circle closer to that fire.

More stuff were brought to their nipa hut on top of the trees. They climbed up and down through the stairs. Later the kids get so tired and Cadee asked if he can just use the rope to hoist the remaining stuff from the ground to their house. Panfilo was amazed of his son's incredible idea. He is very smart. Pan hugged his youngest son and laughed, " You are such a smart kid you know!"" You've inherited your father's genes."

Well it's really easy to hoist the rest of the stuff, materials and some few trunks above the tree to their house from the ground with sturdy rope. They are durable rope no doubt about it.

More things to do for them: Making bamboo cabinets, tables and chairs. It was such a busy day for all of them. As they gathered more bamboos from the bamboo plantation more furniture are made including bamboo sink and bamboo counter.


NOTE: This novella : THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
has two version for the YOUNG and ADULT readers.


I have the right not to publish Page 11 to 13 because it's about Hunting Game and readers might get so very opinionated on the killing of wild animals. For them it's okay to eat fish but not animals. Readers are totally bizarre on this novel I don't know why.

NOTE: Another blogger is stopping me from "broadcasting Page 11" of my novelette. I had it typewritten in the sticky note and when I was about to transfer the copy here it was gone. I tried to retrieve it but it's always "page 10" that keeps appearing. So it is not an act of ghost but by some people who doesn't like to reveal what happened on Page 11. I'm not sure of their move whether it's good for my own novelette or it is a hindrance to their own movement or cause or whatever it is that they are so much in anxiety or whatever problem they have is unknown to me. There are too many weird people on this earth and I think one of them is such a pain stealing whatever I have. Go ahead make yourself rich. STEAL again and I will lay a curse on your soul.

WARNING: I make myself clear. Don't mess up with karma. This is my blog not yours.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 10

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 10

While everyone's pointing their hands at Cadee to climb up the coconut tree, Joselito came in the picture and asked what they are talking about.

"Oh we are talking about having to eat  papaya everyday will cause us to have diarrhea." Mila told Joselito. "By the way Grandma, do you know the cure for constipation?"

Grandma Olivia replied to Mila, " Of course I know. Fruits such as cherries, nectarines, peaches, apples and other fruits with lots of fibre can soften your stool and banana is good for you if you have diarrhea. Buco juice or coconut juice has plasma in it that relieves, refresh and strengthens  your body from too much dehydration. It's good! You must remember that because we are here in the island without clinic or hospital. So watch out for the many food that you will gather and eat. Read more books and learn. It's better to be a bookworm for there is no school here. All of you can read and comprehend. Teach the young ones when the words are getting difficult to understand and their pronunciation is different from its actual meaning and spelling. Watch out for spelling demons. The kids roared in laughter when they heard "spelling demons." Loren and Mila can teach you almost everything. Learn to appreciate the beauty of nature and you'll find out that there is so much to learn here." Grandma continued the sermon...err discussion for everyday "Food that matters!"

The teens and kids walked away courteously they had enough of the long "sermon" from Grandma Olivia. They went back to the forest which according to Jolina is not really forest but a jungle.

"What did you say sister? You mean this is not a forest but a jungle?" Tamara asked Jolina to clarify what she said. For Jolina a forest is just an area filled with millions of trees, shrubs and  everything is green and foliage is evident due to changes of weather. It is from the forest we get the lumber, the wood for the building of houses and the making of furniture, boats and cabinets. While a jungle is a wilderness that consist of a forest and wildlife combined and all the many wild creatures from birds to monkeys and snakes. That's a good explanation from Jolina and Tamara thanked her sister for her knowledge.

They walked once again to the woods, passing through the bamboo plantation. They brought their hunting gears with them. Logan was carrying his rifle. Joselito hold his shotgun so tight and ready for an aim just in case. Tamara, Mila and Jolina were carrying their cross- bow arrows. The girls were taught in the Archery club when they were in Sardinia and they were expert in using their bow and arrow. This is the right time where they could practice their expertise. With Loren Torres as the taskmaster they wont go wrong all they need is a "target" and everything would be a challenging trial of the hunting game.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 9

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 9

Amazed of the nipa hut they built made from the materials from  bamboo, sturdy wood from oak, narra,  mahogany, and coconut tree ...the children appreciate what their elders did within a given time. It was really nice. "I don't mind being stranded here for years and years," Mila said laughing. "We can all live here just like Johnny Weismuller in his movie "Tarzan." Loren added. The temporary house for them is surely built like work of arts. Although it is far cry from what they have in Sardinia. What they have is a mansion made of bricks and stone. Roof made from tiza. They have a big fireplace and flooring made from the finest marble and living room and kitchen filled with antique furniture. they have a beautiful garden like that of the hanging garden of babylon. They have acres and acres of vineyard filled with grapes. they have a winery. Good life is what they have in Sardinia. Anyway living in another unknown island with all what mother nature has to offer is just within  a touch of their bare hands. They don't need to go to the market and buy food and purchase beautiful clothes. That's what it is there is no store for their clothing where they have get their new clothes, dress and pants, new linens, blanket and before they could say anything, Grandma Olivia told them to read their books before bedtime so that they can increase their knowledge.
 But before that they hoisted their stuff, pots and pans, ward robe, trunks, and almost their entire belongings from the boat filled their house up on the trees. They built tall ladders so that it's easier for them to climb up and down the trees and the long rope hanging from the middle of the bridge and two ropes hanging on each side of the tall douglas fir  trees.

For their food they gathered seafood from the ocean and gathered fresh fern and mushrooms from the forest. There are vegetation that are so foreign to them such as sweet potatoe leaves and cassava leaves which according to the book they  are edible. They wandered and wondered through the forest one more time and found so many edible fruits such as: papaya, banana, macopa, catmon, guyabano, caimito or star apple. There are lychee nuts and sago from a different variety of palm. It's a huge tree similar to coconut but this kind of tree is taller and weird. They run around one of the biggest tree. The roots are bigger and the trunk is so bizarre that they can lay hidden from it and they did play hide and seek underneath the thick wide roots. It was a pili nut tree. It's nuts inside an oval shaped- shell that is very tough they need a hammer or rock to break the shell. Mila, Lorne, Joselito, Joseph, Tamara and Cadee gathered all what they can carry and brought them all to their elders.

Grandma Olivia was so pleased of their find. "My God you kids are very resourceful!" I am really fortunate to have you all as my grandchildren." Grandma saying it all with much enthusiasm and delightfully cut the papaya in half, tried a piece of the papaya and uttered, " this is a sweet fruit." "Sappy and rich fruit." We can have this for breakfast everyday.

"If we'll have this everyday, Grandma?!" We'll have diarrhea," Tamara said and looked her in the eye and laughed like a naughty juvenile. Everyone laughed at what Tamara said.

"Don't worry Tamara we have coconut juice and that will cure the diarrhea," Cadee added to the prolong dialogue. The problem is who will climb up everyday to pick up the coconut? "Hmmmm...?!"

"You are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" the whole clan blurted out loudly.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 8

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner
Page 8

Half an hour later all the teens and kids rushed through the lagoon frolicking on the cool water as they chased so many school of fish as they hid through the rocks and algaes. There are grass tall and sharp and grass that looks like papyrus at the middle of the lagoon. The oldest of the group: Loren, Mila and Jolina walked away from the lagoon and wander through the forest to find out what else in that forest. They realized that they are so lucky to have the vastness of a paradise-like island for them to look after and jsut to be there they thought was a blessing in disguised. So they talked to their elders and shared their thoughts. It was a decision they were waiting for. They all have a mutual agreement that they will stay there in that area for as long as they want. For as long as the whole clan wishes. Hours passed by and they were busy building hut made of coconut palms, sturdy wood from evergreen trees. They decided that it's best to have them built on top of the trees. There are giant sequoia and douglas fir tree 30 feet away from the ocean, farther away from the shore. Their temporary shelter or house is made for their own safety from any kind of wild animals roaming the area. Since they are in a tropical zone there are probably wild animals such as komodo dragons, alligators, crocodiles, wolves, coyotes, wild deer, snakes, wild monkeys, leopards, and other wild cat, buffallos, and creepy crawlies. Who knows. They don't know yet what kind of animals they will encounter aside from tropical unpredicatble weather. They are new in that place and although they have their atlas book, whole set of encyclopedia brittanica, and other guide book for reference still is it's too early to conclude of the nature of that uninhabited yet it's almost like a paradise island.

With complete tools for carpentry, gardening and hunting that their hut is finished within two days. With all the materials just ready within a distance they built five nipa hut. The Russo family had the biggest hut because Signorina Bianca and Signor Panfilo have five children: Mila, Jameson, Jolina, Joselito, Tamara and Cadee. Aunt Juanita and Uncle Elmo have only one son named Loren. They are the Torres family. The Evangelista family: Grandma Olivia and Grandpa Gustavo. Bianca had their family bestfriend> the Keeping family: Josephine and Arthur Keeping and they have 3 kids: Jenna, Eric and Rosalee. While the family's servant: Amelia and Stephano have Melinda and Joseph. They were all in this maiden voyage in search of a new life in another country but stranded in a beautiful island far away from the civilization that they want to forget.

A civilization that is corrupt, dirty, murky and full of liars and the most painful is they all worked so hard and the government sequestered the wealth that belongs to them and that's what is so unfair. The injustice and persecution that is intolerable and that lead them to escape from a place they thought was burning  hell. War could be just like that HOT as in HELL! They are very religious devoted Catholic and war is something they cannot afford. There are too many ways, millions of ways to stop a war and since they were not heard or listened to by the authorities it's best to start a new life somewhere else. God is everywhere. Maybe God is with them in every step of the way and every decision they have to make.

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 7

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Written by: E. Verna Turner
Page 7

At about 5:00 AM sunrise. No more lightning and thunder. They were all wide awake of a sudden glimpse of the sunrays blinding bright their senses they all hurriedly got out of their tent. They can see the sandy shore white as snow and the murky water so dirty is now so clear... pristine  clean! The children and teens run towards the water and had fun swimming, floating for a while until their elders called them for breakfast. They were all having their breakfast of pita bread which they stored in a cooler and which is still safe to eat. The last pita bread they have. Although they have at least two sack of potatoes they brought with them which will last probably for a month. While they were having their bread and cup of heated coffee and milk almost getting sour but still is good enough for that day, Cadee noticed that Loren is not with them.

They had their breakfast finished when Loren came out from the water and in his hands were fresh lobsters. Three big lobsters weighing 3 lbs. each. Tamara, Cadee, Mila and Joseph were awestruck.

"Where did you get those?" Arthur asked Loren.

"Oh, I went snorkeling far away from the cove and got lucky seeing so many crawling lobsters under the sea," Loren said with a grimace on his face.

"You mean there are lots of lobsters there?" Tamara asked him curiously.

"You bet there are so many lobsters there. Small, medium, big lobsters. Actually too many crabs too and clams, oysters and way too many sea creatures" Loren  excitedly told them.

Mila and Jolina were smiling at the thought of the richness of this ocean paradise. Grandma Olivia and Granpa Gustavo took the lobsters and gave them to their servants for them to cook for supper. "Amelia and Stephano knew what to do with these fresh lobsters.

Teens and children went inside the forest to gather some firewood. They were amazed of the richness of the forest filled trees of different kind mostly of course tropical trees, shrubs and vines. What is the striking eye-catching scenery for them is the long rows of bamboo plants. They are lovely! They are very exotic plants. They walked to the path of the rows of these giant grass and it seems that it is a plantation of bamboo trees. They wade in through the green grass and found that there is a lagoon crystal clear with water. Mila dipped her toes in it to try if its cold. Jolina and Tamara followed and imitated their oldest sister.

"Uhm wonder if the water is safe to drink. What do you think?" Mila asked Loren.

"The water looks clean and clear. Find out if there are fish swimming on that water," advised Loren.

Cadee walked around the lagoon and he hollored them when he saw a big turtle laying eggs closer to the lagoon's bank. There are group of frogs and their funny color made them laugh. Imagine a pink and green colored frogs. "But the turtle that big is called tortoise," Mila said. It should be in the ocean. That tortoise belongs in the ocean not in this lagoon.

THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 6

Everyone enjoyed the mouth-watering coconut meat and juice. The coconut they thought was only real in fairy tale was "really real" they can see them with their own eyes and eating the white tender succulent meat  piece by piece and drinking the water juice so sweet to the last drop.

"Coconut tree is known as the tree of life!" Panfilo told the children." Everything in this tree can be used for so many things. For too many purpose and usage and most of all it's very fortunate of them to be stranded in such a beautiful island. We are so lucky."

"Indeed! We are lucky than ever!" Mila and Tamara blurted in the same line that made the elders chuckled.

"Okay children it's about time. We'd better get into the tent for bedtime. It's not that we dreamed of being here sleeping in the middle of nowhere but we need some sleep and rest, it was such a long day." Grandpa told everyone. Grandpa and Grandma looked so tired. After all they were already age 70.  Too old for this kind of voyage. Too old for so many hardship.

While inside the tent they all recited a solemn prayer of a peaceful night and guidance. Thankful for their lives were spared from the violent storm and for the many blessings surrounding the island. It would be one heck of a day tomorrow and they sleep soundly until at dawn when they heard loud thunder and lightning flashing back and forth. The rain  started to pour but not that strong enough to wreck the strong tent made of hundred percent water repellant fabric. The same kind of fabric used for umbrella but durable enough to withstand wind and water. The pegs are sturdy made of metal and hard wood. The ropes they used are made from abaca which is known for its durability. They also have nylon cords for dual utility. On top of the tent is the big sail overlapping the many coconut leaves they painstakingly had woven for the roof, altogether unable for the rain to penetrate their temporary shelter. It was chilly for a while but with the wool blanket that they shared with the whole family and clan plus their non-stop novena keep them awake but safe from harm.


THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 5

The teenagers and kids brought dozen of ripe and medium ripe guava to their elders for them to share. Then they helped their parents unload the rest of the stuff, trunks and other loads from the big boat. Some of the wet clothes and linens were spread under the sun on the sandy shore. Bianca took a long rope and tied it from end to end on two coconut trees. The children hang their wet clothes and blanket. The sunny sky cooperates and with the wind blowing and cooling their   dress, shirts and pants were dry after an hour except for the thick wool blanket which are half-dry. It was past 2:00 pm when they noticed greyish cloud.

"Children you all should gather the rope from the boat, take the extra sail, turf, and the gas lantern and oil lamp," advised Grandpa Gus (pronounced as Gas) "I think there will be another typhoon or hurricane." It's better to be prepared."

Panfilo told the men: Arthur, Elmo, Stephano and Loren to build at least two tent for them to shelter for the night. Loren, Elmo's son climbed the coconut tree and detached some coconut palm leaves from its base with the use of sharp bolo. The teens younger than him asked him what he is doing. But he continued his work, not wanting to answer their question. He unhooked the rope wrapped around from his waist and tied himself to the coconut trunk, this time he was seen gathering coconuts and dropping each nut on the ground. After all the leaves shaped like a sheath-shaped canoes, he went down and gather some of the leaves. Then he ushered the kids to gather some firewood.

While Arthur and Elmo are busy building the tent, Loren and Stephano are building a make-shift house made of coconut leaves. For the posts they had to cut the mahogany trees. With everyone helping out the two tents and the temporary house made of coconut leaves were ready at about 6 pm. They gathered rocks and formed in a circular formation and at the center they had those firewood made of dried twigs and cogon grass. The kids brought box of  crackers that they can nibble while they wait for the elders to cook. Dried fish and bread and some grapes. They brought lots of grapes. Signorina Bianca's family owned a winery. Their 20 acre land was a vineyard. Loren, the oldest of the teens and kids in the clan cut some of the coconut in halves never letting go of the coconut juice and poured the juice in stainless cup...and on another cup until everyone had the sweet juice from the coconut.

"This coconut juice will give us the extra strength, vigor, and might be the source of youth!" He made a toast to everyone.

Almost everyone laughed. "You believe such crazy story eh?" Grandpa had his cup up high and toast with him and everyone. All together they cheered in so much gladness and they waited for the hurricane to come.

The wind was just blowing mildly this time. The boat was about to be ready for the next sail maybe tomorrow. Actually the elders finished with the repair yet they are waiting for the children to find out if the island is just right for them to stay instead.

 THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 4

The family and clan's fixation over that dome-shaped lodestone which they measured 8 meters at the base and 6 ft. tall where their big boat was anchored. How the boat got stuck to the rock is simply incredible. They thought it's because of their engine, the motor and other parts of the boat that's made of metal that attract its properties to the huge magnetic lodestone. It was so dark and hard of stone and the hunting knife was snuggly fastened to its center as if sort of an artifact displayed radiantly on its body. Then they realized they have to hurry up with their plan. Panfilo and the men started inspecting the boat and its cargo. Panfilo checked the boat's problem whether he can fix the boat within a reasonable time so that they can sail back to the ocean and move on to their destination of choice by his father Gustavo.

Mila was asked by Amelia (wife of Stephano and mother of Joseph and Melinda) to help her with Joseph who is still unconscious. Mila thought he is just sleeping and tired of the difficulty in the voyage they had which of course a voyage of hell. Fortunately they were all alive and that's what they were thankful for God whom they believe that they were there in a deserted island breathing in a new air without the smell of stinky coal and other gaseous substance brought on by thousands of farm animals.

Mila who was a freshly graduate from university and has a degree in Medical Technology brought her medical kit with her and check Joseph. She checked his breathing which is normal. But why he is not awake until now is simply a puzzle. She yelled at him and wake him up touching his face but there is no movement whatsoever. She wants to try CPR to resuscitate him...just in case but there is no need for that kind of situation. He is either sleeping and dreaming not wanting to wake up. So she took a bottle of ammonia and poured a tiny bit amount of ammonia, just a little drop of ammonia in a piece of cotton and let it closer to his nose. Suddenly, Joseph moves. He opened his eyes, his squinty eyes as he opened and closed his eyes due to the brightness of the sun, and of the sky he screamed.

"Hey it's okay. You are alright! There is nothing to be afraid of." Mila told him in assurance of Joseph who looked so frightened. It's like for a moment of hysteria he is seeing a new world. He looked for his mother right away who was just there beside him together with Mila. Joseph's mother hugged him and embraced her son and told him not to be afraid. Melinda and Stephano hugged him too and Mila soon went to join her own family busy attending to their needs that's after Joseph's family thanked her.

Panfilo and Gustavo told the other men and teens to join them take all the loads and cargo from the boat. They found out that it will take two to three days to fix the boat. For the meantime that the repair works being done they have to stay in the island and find a shelter for them to sleep in.

The island seemed uninhabited. Looks like it hasn't been known or most likely a secluded area hidden from anybody. The teenagers and children wandered around the island while the elders were busy unloading the stuff from the boat.

The island is almost like a treasure island in its appearance. Lots of vegetation, coconut groves abound. Too many fruit-bearing trees. Each one of them gather round one tree with lots of fruits in it. They never seen such kind of fruit in Italy although they have seen some maya birds having a grand fest of those fruits and they started picking the guava.  Guava is a tropical fruit with a funny ring or crown on its round shape fruit and has lots of seeds inside. It has a pretty good  scent of smell, that it could be made into fragrance or shampoo. Its leaves can be grounded and be used as artificial toothpaste or mouthwash. It sure does has the property of menthol in it. As a matter of fact it has the eucalyptus aroma.


THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
 Author: E. Verna Turner

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 3

The violent storm continued to cause havoc on the boat of Signorina Bianca's family, relatives and close friends. The raging storm tossed their yacht with portable sail made like a sailboat. It was a 60 ft. boat that can accommodate them comfortably however with the uncooperative wild weather almost about to give up. Grandma Olivia vomit and almost fainted from the harsh movement of the boat. Loud crying and yelling seemed to suffocate them all. Who wont be distracted in such violent act of stormy weather and they were in the middle of nowhere in the dark side of the treacherous Pacific ocean. All they can do was pray. Pray non-stop fervently while they hold on to their lighted kerosene lamp, railroad lamp, oil lamp and have some candles ready and rope knotted to their hands so that they wont get thrown away from the boat to the cold water. The men were still up on the upper deck of the boat trying with mighty force to keep their sail to the right side where the big compass is pointing them. They were shouting and cursing. Until one hard blow of unknown force rammed their boat.

Total darkness and silence. Only the blowing of gusty wind can be heard and the wild splashing of turbulent waves remained in the depth of the night.

It was bright and sunny the next morning.  Peace and quiet. 

Mild humidity can be felt but the air seems fresh and ....there is so much green! Lush of greenery in this place. The vegetation and the trees are freshly abundantly green. One more time Mila opened her eyes. She closed her eyes again. She thought she was dreaming. She got up and made noises.

"Wake up everybody!!!!!" She shouted and yelled in excitement. "Mama, wake up! She tried to wake up Bianca who was unconsciously lying on the cabin's floor, almost submerged halfway through the dirty water,  together with her other children. Aunt Juanita was awake but had bruises on her arms and legs.She couldn't scream and complain how badly it hurt.  She doesn't know where Uncle Elmo (her husband). Her son Loren was at the upper deck together with Panfilo, Arthur and Grandpa Gustavo. Stephano and his family, who were Bianca's family servants were in another cabin. They were all in good condition except that Stephano's son Joseph is still unconscious. Grandpa Gustavo said he is probably tired but he is not harmed in anyway. Arthur's family : Josephine Keeping, and three daughters were all wide awake. Mila's loud noise was herad earlier and they all got up immediately and then proceed to the upper deck. The lower deck of the boat is flooded. The water is up to their knees. They have to get out.

While they were at the shore staring at their boat anchored the black rock. It was such a huge black rock standing at the sandy beach.

"Grandpa what kind of rock is that?"" Cadee asked his grandfather curiously. "It was so big! It's my first time to see kind of rock and it's black as if it's a giant magnet!"

"Hmmm...you think it's a giant magnet? It might be a lodestone. Maybe is." Grandpa Gustavo said in all curiousity touched the black rock shaped like a dome.

"Well the only way to find out is...Panfilo grabbed his hunting knife and throw it on the big black stone.  Everyone's eyes were  fixated on the knife as it attached to the stone tightly. It didn't even fall.

"You are right, Father! It is a huge magnet!" Panfilo told Gustavo and pat his back.  I think we'll be in a great adventure of a lifetime we wont ever forget.


THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Author: E. Verna Turner

The Spirit Of Verona - Page 2

In the middle of the night of that fatal December month, cold and with a heavy heart Signorina Bianca and her family and clan have to leave right away. The fascist movement are getting unruly and creating so much troubles on the street, on the roads, and the villages are being burned down. Panfilo Russo was seen rushing to the house made of stones and bricks and ushered his family to get ready as soon as possible. Together with their six children they hurriedly board their family yacht. The rest of the clan boarded with them. As their yacht were sailing fast speeding to the horizon beneath the waves in a very dark water all they can see from the shore, from the island are so much chaos. Loud noises, canons blasting, houses on fire. There were loud screaming and yelling. The loud blasting and wild pandemonium couldn't help Bianca's tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks to her neck and her family embraced her tightly and cried with her. "Don't look back," Panfilo told her. "I think... you and the women and children should stay in the cabin and all the men, the robust men will stay here and take care of everything," he advised and commanded the clan to stay calm also and everything will be alright.

It was a long journey. Sailing through the Pacific ocean is a daring escape. Only the braves and the well experienced can tread on this water. But there is no other choice. Leaving the life, affluent life they once enjoyed in Italy is joyous however when another kind of government is taking over then it's time to leave. It's time to save their lives, their skin from slavery.

Panfilo Russo once in while checked the engine and commanded Arthur Keeping and Stephano Millan to have watchful eyes. He need their sharp vision and alertness. Grandpa Gustavo is already old but his sharp mind and his knowledge about the map, geology and use of navigation devices is worthy of help to their survival. Of course Gustavo's wisdom is a sure winner. We need Grandpa for his wit and his religious belief that keep their family pray together, stay together. Religiously, they are family of devoted Catholics.

There are too many hindrances to survive along the treacherous Pacific ocean. There are lots of sharks, schools and multitudes of them. There are typhoon and hopefully no tornado. There can be giant rays, and dolphins and tuna. Tuna, the bluefin tuna is a surprise meal for them not sharks.

His children hated sharks so much and no matter what they read from old books of a bowl of shark's fin is not that impressive. Sharks are cold blooded. Just the smell of a tint of blood can make them wild and circle through its prey. No way that they be a meal for these wilds.

 While all the women and children were inside the cabin, fast asleep trying to sleep actually despite the many unfavorable circumstances that they've been through and  all the men up there above the cabin watching the sail and the unknown route their boat will pass through. Then suddenly wild waves sent in turbulent motion, tossing and sloshing the boat as if they were in a hammock. One of the children screamed, " Mamaaaaaaaaa I don't want to die yet!" Sobbing and crying the rest of the women cannot help screamed and asked for assistance from the men. But the men cannot hear their loud cry for help. There was a big storm and cold water splashing the boat, tossing it to the right and left side of the ocean water. The men were able to maneuver the stirring wheel and have the boat away from the oncoming turbulent wind. Shattering loud noises were heard and the gushing water started to fill in through the open haul of the boat.

Nerve-wrecking situation lead the whole clan in panic. They escaped the fascist nazis but they think they wont be able to escape nature's fury of the Pacific storm.


THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Written by: E. VERNA TURNER

The Sprit Of Verona - Page One

The City of Verona once a lovely beautiful town with a population of ten thousands, old and young people from different walks of life. Majority of them from the descendants of the natives from the Northern hemisphere, they were called the Hokkaidos. The Hokkaidos are somewhat related from the populous region of the Ifugaos. As a matter of fact the old chieftain once said that they were also related to the Ainu. The Ainus are native Japanese people from long time ago. To set straight of those facts embodied in the old ancient book that Robert Lordy Green  was holding when he gathered some artifacts from the old, old trunk of his late grandfather Logan. Robert was an Archeologist by occupation and Archaeology is his number one source of income. It is his favourite subject in Yale University and his findings led him to his first expedition together with his 3 brothers: Tyre Volt Green, Ramon Viktor Green, William Joseph Green and two scholar students from his own class in Yale. Together they will seek to find the hidden treasures of the Hokkaidos, the Ainus and what it will bring them to Yale and to their families who are most excited when they see the map. An old map ancient as its been torn on edges and stinky smelling almost rotten yet very helpful to their cause.

"I don't mind the fishy smell of this old rotten map as long as its equivalence is gold, silver  and diamond." Robert Lordy said to his three brothers. The brothers laughed. "That's right! " Tyre Volt Green  laughed with much enthusiasm and eagerness to lead the expedition right away.

While they were all busy packing their gear for the long journey to the unknown place of abundant wealth let us have a momentary scenery of what's happening at the other  part  of the world.

Year 1900. It was after the taking over of the country Philippines "La Islas La Filipinas" from Spain, the Americans decided to settle to this archipelago. At first it was the American soldiers and their families first to settle comfortably later thousands new Americans came in to stay and live like normal inhabitants of the island. They managed to live for years without complaint and without hesitation. They built their homes in the most frugal colonial way, established better schools, church and government. The Spanish speaking Filipinos learned their culture and their language. It was hard at first but knowing they were out of the bondage of the Spanish regime wherein they had imposed so much tax they have to try this new government. What else to do? They were liberated from the Spaniards who they thought their enemies for five hundred years.

After that Spanish American revolution other countries followed such an unruly succession of trying a new form of government. Philippines from Spanish to American way and then the Italians from Facism to Nazism to Mussolinis and years of turmoil and war after war many wealthy families moved out of the country. One of these well to do movers were the clan of Signorina Bianca. The rich Italian family worried about their wealth being sequestered and their children wont be given the proper education and the lunacy about a form of government that they dislike and feared led them  packing their whole lot of wealth, from the smallest biggest furniture that they had were given to the Church but chosen work of art, household keepsake and memorabilia that belongs from their family inheritance and the many important goods and basic needs to survive they will take along their escape from hell.

There is so much corruption and they disliked the kind of environment that settles on greed and misuse of power that they have to leave. They must leave before December 31. They want to celebrate the New Year in another country, in another land. Whatever it takes.


THE SPIRIT OF VERONA
Written by: E. VERNA TURNER
January 16, 2011