{"id":35110,"date":"2020-12-25T00:09:21","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T05:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35110"},"modified":"2025-10-27T15:23:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:23:44","slug":"heirlooms-by-faust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35110","title":{"rendered":"Heirlooms (by faust)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;color: #ff0000\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500\">Bonanza<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;color: #ff0000\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500\">~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~<br \/>\n* Day 9 *<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summary:\u00a0 The most treasured family heirloom are our sweet family memories.<\/p>\n<p>Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 3,115 words<\/p>\n<p><em>Note:\u00a0 This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>My <a href=\"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?page_id=25807\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Story Index<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: center\"><strong style=\"font-weight: 500\">Heirlooms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">By nature, Henry Cartwright was patient towards grown-ups, tolerating their antics graciously (as long as they didn\u2019t ruffle his hair, but that\u2019s neither here nor there)\u2014in particular if they were accompanied by home baked biscuits, hot chocolate, and stories from his father Adam\u2019s childhood\u2014but his uncle Hoss making gooey eyes at Miss Susan instead of playing games or pulling funny faces at Henry from across the table was hard to bear. And so the six-year-old wasn\u2019t too enthusiastic when Hoss brought Miss Susan to the second of this year\u2019s family Advent teas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">His mother, of course, who was good friends with Miss Susan, was very happy to see her. She hugged Miss Susan extra tightly, and then they both tiptoed to baby Florence\u2019s cradle near the fireplace, peeked into it, cooed softly and had a short conversation that was too soft to understand and they exchanged that knowing smile that grown-ups smiled when they had secrets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">But then Miss Susan admired the flurry of paper snowflakes hanging from the chandelier above the coffee table and Henry, who\u2019d singlehandedly made them all by himself with only the tiniest little assistance from his Mama, thought that maybe it wouldn\u2019t be so bad after all. Besides, Henry\u2019s other uncle, Joe, hadn\u2019t brought anyone and therefore was at Henry\u2019s disposal. And the best and most easily persuadable storyteller was Henry\u2019s grandfather anyway.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mama had set the coffee table with her best porcelain and silverware, she\u2019d spent the week prior with baking biscuits (which by now every Cartwright and other person who wanted to get their share of the best cookies available in the whole Comstock area called them) and Christmas pudding and cooking quince bread. Everything was arranged on silver trays, and the table was decorated with fir sprigs and cranberries. It looked almost as fine as the arrangement Mr. Hop had laid out for them the Sunday before. There was something missing, though. Something that had occupied Henry\u2019s thoughts for days now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">That was why he blurted out, \u201cI\u2019m sorry we don\u2019t have a broken sugar bowl, grandpa,\u201d as soon as they\u2019d settled around the table. \u201cI wanted to break one, but Mama didn\u2019t let me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grandpa almost laughed, but he bit his lip and glanced at Mama, who, to Henry\u2019s utmost astonishment, smiled and rolled her eyes and shook her head at the same time, and then Grandpa smiled, too. \u201cHenry,\u201d he said, \u201cthat would have been an exceptionally bad idea. You know better than to break things on purpose. And one broken sugar bowl tradition is enough for this family anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Papa leaned over and ruffled Henry\u2019s hair. \u201cWe\u2019ll have our own Christmas traditions, Son. You can\u2019t just adopt some, they\u2019ll have to arise of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell, I might help with that,\u201d Grandpa said. \u201cThe story I told you last Sunday\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAbout the sugar bowl,\u201d Henry interrupted. Then, turning to Miss Susan, he added, \u201cIt was Grandma Inger\u2019s, and Hoss broke it and my Pa mended it when they were small, and Grandpa wanted to tan Pa then, but he didn\u2019t because he found out it was Hoss who broke it, and it was an accident anyway, and now the bowl\u2019s a Christmas tradition and reminds Grandpa of Inger and much more, and\u2026and\u2026so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYes, that\u2019s the gist of it,\u201d Papa said, ruffling Henry\u2019s hair yet again. \u201cMore or less. You were saying, Pa\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell, yes, anyway\u2026 The story brought back many memories. Of Inger, and then of Joe\u2019s mama, Marie and your Pa\u2019s mama, Elizabeth, too. And of the little heirlooms I\u2019ve left from them, things that carry memories. Things like this.\u201d He pulled something out of the pocket of his vest and handed them to Henry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">It was two woollen socks, approximately Henry\u2019s size, but clearly old and worn. They were of a greenish colour, with white ribbons threaded through the cuffs and some frilly lace edging. On further investigation, both were filled with tiny candy canes, walnuts and small candies in colourful wrappers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cChristmas stockings?\u201d Henry asked incredulous. \u201cYou can\u2019t have them before Christmas morning, Mama says.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThey aren\u2019t Christmas stockings. They are Advent stockings, and you can have what\u2019s inside right now.\u201d Grandpa threw Mama a pointed look, just as she interrupted pouring everyone tea, quite clearly to complain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThank you,\u201d Henry said before there could be any objection from either his mother or his father, and proceeded to pull the sweets from the socks and laid them, one after the other, on his cake plate. Then he handed everyone at the table one of the candies, even Miss Susan, and finally went to put a candy cane on the rim of Florence\u2019s cradle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Back at the table, he fiddled with the socks. \u201cThey look old,\u201d he offered, fully aware that there had to be more to them than being \u201cAdvent stockings\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThey are old,\u201d Grandpa confirmed. \u201cThey belonged to your father.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking at his father&#8217;s feet, Henry crossed his arms and raised a single eyebrow (a trait that came naturally with being the son of Adam and Juliet Cartwright.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHoss wore them, too,\u201d Grandpa continued.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now Henry\u00a0<em>knew<\/em>\u00a0he was being made a fool. \u201cNever in a million years would they fit Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry was only six, but he knew when he his leg was being pulled, and there was absolutely no reason for Uncle Hoss to chuckle or for Miss Susan to giggle.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOr Papa,\u201d he added for good measure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOh, but they did fit them once,\u201d Grandpa said. \u201cRemember: Your father once was a little boy, too. Like everyone, he started his life as baby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miss Susan, for whatever reason, giggled again. And Mama, too. \u201cThere are times I cannot believe that myself,\u201d she said, and now everyone chuckled. Even Papa.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAnd then there are times,\u201d Mama went on, \u201cI feel it wasn\u2019t that long ago after all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now Uncle Joe laughed. Everyone else was smart enough to hold their breath.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Papa glared at Joe. And Mama. \u201cOh, really? Would you like to elaborate?\u201d he said, although his tone made clear he didn\u2019t want any elaboration of it at all.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">He should have known his wife was immune to that tone. She smiled brightly. \u201cLet me think.\u201d She put a finger to her temple and looked into nowhere. \u201cAh, yes. Last night? When I caught you red-handed next to the biscuit jar?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now Papa didn\u2019t glare anymore. Instead, he looked rather sheepishly. \u201cI told you I didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou had biscuit crumbs in your stubble,\u201d Mama said and smiled very sweetly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Uncle Joe laughed again, and said, \u201cConvicted by growth of beard. I feel your pain, brother, but I\u2019ve always told you to shave again in the afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">And with that Papa was back at glaring at Joe.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">But before they could pursue further on that rather uninteresting grown-up stuff, Henry brought them back to the really intriguing. \u201cSo Papa wore them socks when he was a baby?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">His grandfather gratefully picked up on that. \u201cYes, he did. Well, not exactly when he was a baby, actually. Although they were meant to be baby socks. But, as you can see, they are huge for baby socks.\u201d He made a pause here, took a sip of tea and put a piece of Christmas pudding on his plate. He played with his fork for a moment, then put it down and continued. \u201cElizabeth knitted them. When she was expecting. She was a woman of many talents, loving, caring, sharp as a whip. She was an avid reader, even aspired to write her own book. She kept the books at your great grandfather\u2019s store.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSo that\u2019s where Papa got it from?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYes, I guess so.\u201d\u00a0Grandpa chuckled.\u00a0\u201cKnitting was her last favourite needle work, though, and I suspect that&#8217;s why she wasn&#8217;t very good at it. But she desperately wanted to follow tradition and create something knitted for her child\u2014so she started to knit socks. I&#8217;m not sure if she had no inkling of how tiny baby feet are or if she simply couldn&#8217;t translate her idea into wool. In any case, when the socks were completed, they were far too big.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAnd you couldn\u2019t put them on your baby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNot at first, no. Although, on our way to the West, when the nights were cold, I pulled them over his feet, right up the thighs. When he was about five he would wear them properly, and he did so until the day Hoss was born.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWho started his life as a baby, too,\u201d Henry helpfully provided. \u201cThe socks couldn\u2019t have fitted him either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou\u2019re right, Hoss was a baby, too. A baby with very big feet, though, and with very cold feet. Hoss\u2019s ma, Inger, had knitted baby socks, too, but she knew how to do needlework and how tiny baby feet are. She didn\u2019t know, though, that her baby would have bigger feet than any other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">At that Miss Susan giggled again, and Uncle Hoss mumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, \u201cyou don\u2019t have to tell everything, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">And Papa said cheerfully, \u201cNo one could have imagined that. He was the largest baby I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHis baby feet were as large as Papa\u2019s at five?\u201d Henry\u2019s infinite adoration for his uncle grew even more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grandpa laughed. \u201cNo, not quite that big. But they were too big for Inger\u2019s socks, and so she threaded ribbons in to secure them around Hoss\u2019s ankles. Those yellow ribbons, they are from Inger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNow you\u2019re sayin\u2019 that, I remember them socks.\u201d Hoss reached across the table and picked one sock up. He fingered the green wool, and, reverently, the ribbon. \u201cI\u2019ve done wore them a couple of years. Didn\u2019t need the strings anymore one day, but Adam told me they were from my Ma so I left them in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIt\u2019s remarkable that you do remember that,\u201d Papa chimed in. \u201cYou cannot have worn them beyond being three, four at most. After that you almost fit in my shoes.\u201d He smiled at Henry\u2019s incredulous face. \u201cWell, almost. But everything I\u2019d outgrown was handed down to Hoss immediately, and it never took too long for things to fit him perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry wondered if it would be the same with him and Florence, who were six years apart, just like Papa and Hoss. But Florence was by no means a very large baby, not that Henry had much experience with that, just everyone always said how tiny she was. And she was a girl. She wouldn\u2019t wear his hand-me-downs anyway.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking at the socks again, Henry found one more thing to investigate. \u201cDid Inger put the lace on them, too?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNo,\u201d Grandpa said, \u201cthat was Marie. The morning after Joe\u2019s birth, I took Adam and Hoss to see Marie and their new brother. Very solemnly, each of them gave Marie one of the socks then. At first, she didn\u2019t know what to make of it, but after I explained their history, she felt very honoured. The socks didn\u2019t match anything Marie had prepared for Joe, though. They were plainer than everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cTruer words were never uttered. Marie did love frilly things, there\u2019s no way around it,\u201d Papa said, and then he pursed his lips and his shoulders started shaking.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hoss didn\u2019t show that much restraint. \u201cLordy, I remember Joe\u2019s baby outfits. He looked like a custard pie with all them ruffles and frills. And everything was white or pastel pink or yellow, and he always got himself dirty after the shortest time. But Marie always had enough fresh clothing to redress him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mama and Miss Susan could hardly contain themselves. Hands pressed to their mouths, they both shook with silent laughter, Henry, smiling brightly, looked at Uncle Joe and tried to picture him in frills, all the while Joe was squirming in his seat and still trying to look as if he wasn\u2019t even there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell,\u201d Grandpa said after everyone had calmed down, \u201cbe it as it may, Marie added the lace to the socks to make them match the rest of his attire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">And the room erupted with giggles yet again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking at Joe, Grandpa shrugged his shoulders. \u201cWhat can I say? It\u2019s how it was.\u201d He took another sip of tea, and Henry was certain he did it more to hide his smile than to enjoy the taste of Lapsang\u00a0\u00a0Oolong with a dash of cinnamon and coriander. \u201cI have to admit I almost had forgotten those socks. But when I was in the reminiscing mood after last Sunday\u2019s story, I went through the strong box that I keep in my office for memorabilia of the old days. If you want, I can show you more of them the next time you come to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry nodded eagerly. \u201cYes, Grandpa, I want that. Can I come tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201c<em>May<\/em>\u00a0I,\u201d Papa said in his stern-father-voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou wanta come, too?\u201d Henry gave him a broad smile.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">His father returned a smile, albeit one that looked a little strained. He eventually shook his head and smiled properly, and said, \u201cTomorrow you\u2019re going to school. I guess you\u2019ll have to wait for next Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019ll show you then,\u201d Grandpa said and held an arm out to Henry, who instantly rounded the table and slid into the space next to him on the settee, snuggling up against the man who kept all the secrets of the years past.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe socks,\u201d Grandpa went on while he ruffled Henry\u2019s hair, \u201cI found at the bottom of the box. I thought you should have them. They might even fit you for a year or so. I regret I didn\u2019t think of them earlier or I\u2019d have given them to your mother on your birth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grandpa ruffled Henry\u2019s hair yet again while he looked at his daughter-in-law with a tender smile on his lips. She lowered her head, then gazed up again and smiled back. It was that sort of silent communication that usually only Henry\u2019s father could have with his mother, but his grandfather seemed to have finally mastered it, too. When Henry looked up, he saw an expression of surprised content on Grandpa\u2019s face.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019m gonna wear them, promised,\u201d said Henry making the conversation audible again. \u201cNot at school, though.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWise decision,\u201d Joe deadpanned.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAnd when they\u2019re too small I give them to Florence, and when they\u2019re too small for her, we\u2019ll give them to\u2014 Give them to\u2026\u201d He looked at his parents.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">His father was, strange as it seemed, struggling to find words. His mother just looked pained. No-one uttered a sound.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Papa finally said in a strained voice, \u201cYou know how long it took to have Florence, right? We might not\u2026\u201d and he looked for words again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWe are very happy to have you and Florence,\u201d Mama said then. \u201cEverything else is in the Good Lord\u2019s hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">And there was silence again. Miss Susan had her eyes fixed on her hands, Uncle Joe fiddled with his napkin, and Grandpa squeezed Henry so tight that he almost couldn\u2019t breathe anymore.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Then Uncle Hoss cleared his throat.\u00a0\u201cWell, y\u2019know\u2026ahm\u2026mebbie\u2026er, one day&#8230;if\u2026iffn\u2026in case\u2026or\u2026er\u2026\u201d He shifted a little away from Miss Susan and turned so they were facing each other. \u201cJust, er, mebbie one days you can give them there socks to me. Us. I mean, me and\u2026and\u2026this here\u2026Sus\u2026Miss Susan, that is. I mean\u2026Iffn you\u2019d be of the mind, I mean, if you\u2019d be willing\u2026. What I\u2019m trying to say\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miss Susan sat there ramrod straight, stiff as a poker, quiet as a mouse her face red as a beet. Hoss took one of her hands and kept it between his giant paws, rubbing it tenderly. \u201cWhat I\u2019m about to say is\u2014\u201d He broke off yet again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Joe leaned over and stage-whispered, \u201cGet on your knee, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like a puppet on a string, Hoss slid from the settee and got on his knee. \u201cAs I was sayin\u2019\u2026Do you\u2026I mean\u2026You\u2019ve gotta know, if you say yes, I\u2019d be the luckiest fella in the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nothing in Miss Susan\u2019s behaviour indicated that she \u2018d heard even a single word. She kept staring at Hoss.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cDo you\u2026say\u2026I mean\u2026. What do you say?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou haven\u2019t asked her a question yet, Hoss.\u201d Mama didn\u2019t even try to stage-whisper.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2026oh.\u201d Wide-eyed Uncle Hoss looked at Papa, who smiled and nodded.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cGo ahead, Hoss, you\u2019re doing great.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Henry made a mental note to ask his father later why it was all right for grown-ups to lie so blatantly. And how to accomplish doing that without batting an eye.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">His uncle Hoss apparently fell for the lie. He took a deep breath and, despite the fact that he had to be aware that everyone was watching him closely, suddenly looked confident. And determined. \u201cSusan,\u201d he said with a steady voice, \u201cwould you want to marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">All eyes went to Miss Susan now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Miss Susan, incredible as it seemed, even redder in the face than before, took her fogged spectacles off. \u201cHoss, I\u2026\u201d She looked down at where Hoss still clasped her hand, then up again with a smile. \u201cYes, I would want to marry you. Very much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">And again the room erupted, this time with cheers. Everyone was on their feet suddenly, there were hugs and kisses, congratulations, many male hands that crashed down on Hoss\u2019s shoulder and slapped his back, a female hand that clasped Miss Susan\u2019s, Grandpa\u2019s voice roaring \u201cfinally!\u201d over and over again. Bottles of champagne appeared from somewhere, fine crystal glasses, and even Henry was allowed to have one (\u201ccareful, do not drop it\u201d) with the tiniest sip of the grown-up beverage (which tasted very peculiar. Henry honestly had no idea why they made such a fuss about it.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">It took quite a while for the grown-ups to calm down. When they all were back at their seats again, Hoss and Miss Susan very close to each other, hands clasped and eyes only on one another, Henry picked the socks up. He put what was left of the sweets back into them, fastened Inger\u2019s ribbons to secure the treats from falling out. He arranged the socks in a way that seemed decorative to him next to a plate with candied apples, and then just sat and let the adult\u2019s chitter chatter wash over him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">He had a mug of hot chocolate in front of him, the coffee table bent under all the Christmas delicacies, he\u2019d gotten a lot of glimpses into his family\u2019s past, and Uncle Hoss had a bride now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">A perfect Advent Sunday. Truly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">________<br \/>\nOur most treasured family heirloom are our sweet family memories. The past is never dead, it is not even past.\u00a0~William Faulkner<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">My character was Elizabeth<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">The gift, a pair of socks<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by:\u00a0 Elizabeth, My Love<br \/>\nDirector:\u00a0 Lewis Allen<br \/>\nWritten by:\u00a0 Anthony Lawrence, David Dortort (creator)<\/p>\n<p>Link to Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar &#8211; Day 10 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35147\">Mama&#8217;s Brooch by Sierras<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_35110\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"35110\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 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Forums.<\/p>\n<p>Part of The Art-Universe, links to my stories included 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