8

8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS TRUTH OR LIES Sirenia the artist It was 2 a.m. and the party was finally ending. Robert was driving home. He was thinking about his promotion, having just become a partner at the most prestigious law firm in Denver, Colorado. However, he could not forget how he was going home with no one to congratulate him. Opening the door at his condo, he looked around and thought, “I am tired of being a selfish bachelor. It’s time for me to purchase a home and find a wife.” He promised himself that he would take more time to date and find his future wife. He undressed and showered, going to bed excited about going hiking the next morning. Even though it was the weekend, Robert did not sleep in, out hiking by 11 a.m. However, he did not meet anyone before or during his hike. “What a day,” he thought. “No beautiful single lady was waiting to meet her beau.” When he returned home he decided he would not bring any woman to his bachelor pad, so he immediately started searching for a home. He made an appointment for the following weekend to view four houses. It took a while, but after seven months of searching he finally found a gem of a house. One Sunday morning Robert was at the grocery store and while in the commodities aisle, he helped a woman who could not reach the top shelf. He introduced himself hoping she was single. Rebeca was single, a petite brunette with a bright warm smile and personality. Robert quickly asked her if she was involved in a relationship. She smiled and answered that she was not dating anyone at the time. He then asked her would she be interested in going to the movies and out to dinner? Rebeca took out a pen from her purse, grabbed his hand and wrote her number in his hand. Robert laughed saying, “Okay, I will call you this evening and we can discuss where you want to go?” They parted ways. On the way home, Robert was feeling warm inside and excited. Returning home, he realized he did not have any furniture — no way she could see his house in this condition. After work the next day he stopped at Madison’s Furniture, an expensive store. He was admiring a leather sectional for his entertainment room while looking for living room furniture. A voice said, “Quite unique, don't you think?” The lady was referring to the picture that hung above the sectional. He turned around to see who was talking to him. She was a beautiful woman with a mysterious, cute look about herself. Robert was drawn to her green eyes and red hair. FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 “How are you?” he asked. “Oh, my. I did not mean to distract you, it’s just a pretty picture, I was talking aloud.” “Well, do you work here?” Robert asked. “Oh, no, I was just shopping for inspiration.” “What does that mean?” Robert asked. “I am an artist just looking for new colors and ideas. By the way, my name is Sirenia.” Robert introduced himself, then asked, “Can you paint me a picture for my entertainment room?” Sirenia replied, “Yes, why not? What are you looking for?” Robert said, something unique and different. He then asked if they could exchange numbers and said that he would be calling her on the weekend. He purchased the sectional. It was perfect. Once he got free that evening he called Rebeca. She answered the phone with a soft voice and they talked until it was his bedtime. Rebeca liked to hike and camp; they had several things in common. That weekend he called Sirenia and invited her over to see the house and the furniture he had purchased. When she arrived, Robert gave her a tour of his house. Sirenia was impressed and inspired, eager to paint the picture for his entertainment room. She decided to stay for dinner to learn more about Robert's desires. Sirenia promised his picture would be complete within two weeks. She was to paint the picture and he was a single, handsome man looking for a wife. Sirenia was thinking about how she had to go to her small condo, always waiting for her big break as an artist. That weekend Robert took Rebeca out to dinner and a movie. He enjoyed talking with her and how pleasant she was. The two weeks before the picture was done seemed forever to Robert. He wanted to impress Rebeca with it. Sirenia finally called on a Saturday morning inviting him to come to her studio to pick up his picture. Robert arrived early, eager for the reveal. Sirenia had several pictures that caught his eye, so he selected two of them. She was pointing to a large picture draped with a tarp. “Remove it already," said Robert. It was an odd picture of a swirling flat pool of water with a city scene in the background. Robert loved the oddness and the colors. “What a picture!” he complimented her. He then purchased it and the other two paintings. Sirenia was pleased and waited for him to ask her out. However, he could not stop talking about wanting to show the picture to Rebeca. When he left, Sirenia was fuming, wondering why he did not ask her out. She decided she was going to marry him no matter what! The next day she broke into his house and retrieved Rebeca’s phone number from his home phone. She returned home and cast a spell on a picture she painted of Robert talking on the phone. Sirenia dialed Rebeca’s number, put the phone on the picture and spoke to it. The picture sounded just like Robert; she invited Rebeca over for lunch, claiming to be in between cases. Rebeca accepted the invitation for lunch the following day. She arrived and she noticed that she did not see Robert's car. Sirenia was waiting for her, explaining she was his new maid. She stated that he would arrive soon, and he had said to come in and wait for him. Rebeca entered the house. The picture was now hanging in the foyer. Rebeca walked over to the picture, admiring it, reaching her hand out saying what a spectacular painting. All of a sudden the swirl of water moved and sucked Rebeca into it. Sirenia laughed while returning the picture to the entertainment room. She then gathered up her items and drove off, abandoning her car in the woods. Robert returned from work excited to call Rebeca over to see his new paintings. He did not get an answer. He left her several messages and continued to call and text her. He wondered why she did not return his calls or texts. It had been three weeks. Sirenia called and inquired about the paintings, asking if he needed any future paintings. Robert returned her call, unaware of her powers. Once he heard her voice, he forgot about Rebeca and thought he was dating Sirenia. He said to her, “Don’t be late for our dinner date tonight.” Sirenia quickly pounced upon him, and during dinner he asked her to marry him. Even though he did not have a ring, she accepted. During lunch the next day, Robert was at the jewelers selecting a ring for Sirenia. They were wed within one month and she had moved in. He thought he loved her, but it was because of the spell she cast. One year passed and he was asking for children. Sirenia knew she was barren and a witch, but she promised him soon they would start a family. Robert thought he was happy, still hiking and working. One weekend she decided it was time she rid herself of him — after all she only wanted the house and money. She cast a spell on the same picture that sucked Rebeca up. Sirenia complained that the house was dusty and she wanted to wipe everything down. Robert's happy, helpful self got a step ladder and approached the picture to dust it down. He reached over the top and disappeared into the picture. That night she waited until it was late, then she held the picture over his car and the car disappeared. Sirenia laughed; she waited 48 hours and reported him missing. The police came over to investigate her claim of him not returning home. During the investigation they found no foul play and could not find him or his auto. As time passed, Sirenia dated seven men whose wealth she stole and then they disappeared into a painting. The insurance investigator Mr. Tucker left Robert’s case dormant for nine years. During the tenth year, three months before the policy would pay, he decided to take a final look. Sirenia was annoyed with him and decided it was time for him to disappear. She was painting a picture of a policeman arresting a strange looking lady. Just as she was chanting over it, the detective walked up on her, never knocking at the door. She was startled, jumping while she turned to see who was in the room with her. Sirenia stumbled, reaching out to catch her balance and was sucked into the picture. Mr. Tucker was speechless and shocked, wondering what just happened right before his eyes. Thank you Truth Or Lies readers you voted right, "Benny the Bully Easter Bunny," published April 7, was based on a TRUE story. Names were changed to protect the privacy of the families MAY 5, 2023

9 Publizr Home