Professor Windlenot's Journal

This is the journal of Professor Hubert Windlenot. It can be found on the desk of his bedroom.

The journal contains his memoirs during his stay at Mt. Pleasant and is dedicated to his little son, Geoffrey Windlenot.

Contents

Sept. 1, 1959

Dear Geoffrey,

I am addressing this diary to you. I know you are only four, and too young to read, but it pleases me. Tomorrow, the adventure begins! I start teaching at the college. I have made the decisions to drop the title "Sir", and go by "Professor Windlenot". What do you think?

Sept. 6, 1959

This isn't a college, it's a football fan club! No one wants to talk about archaeology, only the latest football score! They'll wake up when I show them some of my more controversial discoveries! I do, however, have a minor problem, my department head has given me a ridiculous curriculum outline to follow. I have conveniently misplaced it.

Nov. 12, 1959

I miss England. While I like America, it is very lonely. I was hoping to form the kind of relationships with the students here, that I had with my professors at Oxford, but that doesn't seem possible. Today, I heard one of the students refer to me as Windle"nut"! I am going to finish out my teaching contract, and then see what the future brings. I will go to London for a short visit for Christmas.

March 16, 1960

I have purchased some land outside this little town of Mt. Pleasant. When I saw the outcropping of rocks, it reminded me of Cumberland, where the summer house is built. The minute I saw it, I pictured a museum standing tall above the trees for all to see. Can't you see it Geoffrey? An Archaeological museum of the strange and unusual! (A place where only you and I know its secrets!)

June 23, 1960

Today was a momentous occasion! It was the ground-breaking for "Professor [[Windlenot's Museum of the Strange and Unusual". (I have found the Americans like this sort of title.) The entire Chamber of Commerce was there, including the Mayor. Had I attempted to build this museum in England, I would have been laughed at, but here, I am respected and admired, and NOT because of my money.

Oct. 14, 1960

The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce came to visit me today. He can't comprehend the need for secrecy during the museum's construction. (I think he is a construction contractor, and greedier than I first believed!) He grew quite red in the face, as I tried to explain to him that the people of this town must know nothing about the museum's secrets. IF they did, it would defeat the entire purpose of the museum. I must remember to write you a letter extending my apologies for my absence at Christmas this year.

Dec. 25, 1962

This is the third Christmas away from you. The museum is more work than I had ever imagined. Between arguing with the mayor and disputes with the out-of-town contractors, the museum will take much longer than I expected to build. I'm so glad I have your picture to keep me company.

Oct 24, 1965

I just returned From Central America. I found some remarkable artifacts for the museum, but upon my return, the contractor informed me that the stone masons had gone on strike! I don't trust this contractor, and must look for another one. At this rate, the museum will never be finished!

Aug. 17, 1970

I am now totally self-sufficient. When the mayor threatened to deny me an electrical permit, I ordered a generator from Germany. It was installed last week, and the museum is humming along beautifully.

June 1, 1972

Your mother has broken my heart by asking that I refrain from contacting you. It is true that I have forgotten your birthday once or twice but I have always written you and sent gifts. (Perhaps it would have been prudent to have written HER once or twice). But perhaps Mary Elizabeth is right, your future is important. I miss you,and now I can't even let you know it.

Aug. 3, 1972

I received a newspaper clipping from my accountant, Joseph Whitney, regarding your acceptance to Oxford. I'm glad to know what you are doing.

I am having a hard time getting up in the morning. I had a clock added to the tower observatory. I have set it to wake me up every morning at 5:30 AM. It has no AM or PM function, so it will remind me again that it is time to eat at 5:30 PM - if only I will remember to set it!

Oct. 23, 1973

The museum goes forward with several exhibits nearing completion. Today, the laborers installed the finished touches to the Mysteries of the Deep. It is the first completed exhibit,and I wish you could see it. The current laborers are from Mexico and are very patient with my rusty Spanish. We get along well, and the work is going faster with them here.

Feb. 27, 1974

My Spanish is getting better. The Mexican workers have told me a South American legend that I have never heard before. They say that there is proof of the legend in Lima, Peru, among the remains of a German archaeologist. I am more excited than I have been in several years. When the clocked chimed at :15 AM (the opposite of my 3:15 PM tea time) I was so excited, that instead of going back to sleep, I got up and began writing to the authorities in Lima.

May 30, 1977

After lengthy negotiations, I have convinced the local government in Lima, Peru to sell me the possessions of Siegfield Schwartz. I am now anxiously awaiting shipment of the artifacts.

July 12, 1977

The legend, pottery-vessels, and stone tablets are every bit as amazing as the Mexicans had led me to believe. The legend revolves around demon spirits that are imprisoned in the pottery vessels that I am now in possession of. Mr Schwartz was rumored to have been killed by the spirits, and the vessels were so feared that the story made its way into Mexico. I was about to open one of them to investigate, but the Mexican workers panicked and threatened to leave I have decided call in an expert to read the stone tablets.

March 23 1979

Professor Edmund Rasmussen read the stone tablets. He said the original translations were very accurate, if over dramatic. I have placed the vessels in a tomb-like display of their own. The Mexicans became so obsessed and disturbed about the vessels that they left last week. They feared that someone would break the seals. I believe there IS something mysterious about these vessels. I will have to curb my own curiosity!

Jan. 4, 1980

Without the Mexicans, the final touches of the Museum are going very slowly. I fired another team of workers today. I think I will spend the next few months devoted entirely to finishing my collections. I am so tired of fighting with laborers and there are still many display cases that need filling.

Aug. 20, 1980

I made a trip into Mt. Pleasant today, and a very odd thing happened. This strange boy with curly hair kept staring at me and taking notes in his notebook. I say strange, because I thought I knew everyone in Mt. Pleasant, at least by sight, and have never seen him before. He reminds me of myself as a boy.

Sept. 7, 1980

I saw that boy again, or should I say, HE saw me. It was such a nice fall day, that I walked to the post office. Upon my return to the museum, I noticed he was following me. He tried to be discreet, but failed miserably. Every time I paused, he would stop and write in his journal, or tie his shoe. even times he ties his shoe! I wonder why he is following me.

Sept. 13, 1980

I decided to have my hair cut today, just for an excuse to see the young man again. I asked the barber who he was, and he said he didn't know his name, but that his father was the new professor up at the university. As luck would have it, the young man followed me home again. I had to struggle to keep from laughing, because someone else was following him! It appeared to be a rather pretty young lady who was doing a better job of following him than he was of following me! This is becoming quite a good mystery, I almost hate to depart for Africa in a few days.

Sept 17, 1980

Two momentous things happened today. First, I received your letter. It was all I could do to keep from picking up the phone and calling you! Instead, I will write you. I want to use just the right words. After so long a time, words are very important.

The second thing that happened, was that I finally came face-to-face with the young man again. He is working at the book-store. Surprisingly, he asked me several questions about the museum. I purposely stared at him for a long time. I know that was evil of me, and he got quite red in the face. At the very same instant, from behind one of the bookshelves, the girl that had followed him earlier, was staring at him too. When I return fro Africa, I will invite both of them to the museum and test some of my best puzzles on them.