About a week after Skylar and Reed returned home, they had the Edsel and all the valuables they purchased in Baton Rouge safely stored. They start looking at what they have. They want to catalogue everything that comes out of the trunks, crates and barrels. They examine each container at their apartment. One night as they examine a trunk, the doorbell rings. It is a special delivery currier with a package for both of them. They give the delivery guy a nice tip and take it back to their living room. As soon as they open it, an old ledger drops on the floor. The lights flicker several times. After their eyes adjust to the lighting, they are shocked to see an old man dressed in a white suit and hat standing before them. It is the guy they saw at the plantation. Only one thing is wrong, they can see right through him. Both Reed and Skylar nearly jump out of their pants. Before they react, the apparition says, 'Relax, boys! I just have a few things to tell you before I make my final journey.' 'You boys are the reason I am able to be here tonight. When you arrived at the old plantation, I was a spirit trapped between worlds. I knew something was different when you two showed up at the plantation. Then it hit me! You are my two oldest sons from when I was still alive during the Civil War. Before I died, I hid all the valuables I could away from those heathen northerners. I had a few trusted men help me create that secret room in the attic. Sadly, we all died one way or another before we could tell anyone else in the family where we hid the treasure. The wealth of many generations of our family is in all those containers. Everything is from the original artists and craftsmen who created them. Our family was very wealthy in the old country before coming to America. You are wondering why you were able to see me in the flesh. Well, I was able to enter Jasper's body with his permission of course. I nearly scared him to death when I appreared to him, but when I explained to him what I needed to do, he was more than willing to assist. You two, being my blood relatives, saw me as I really am, but everyone else saw good old Jasper. He is here with me right now with a big smile on his face cause he was so glad things worked out the way they did. So now comes the fun part. Since you two were my sons all those years ago, you are wondering how it could be you are still my family. The answer comes from my two daughters that left the family after the war. They turned their backs on the family and pretended they never knew about their southern heritge. But each one of you can trace your ancestry right back to one of those sisters. I just wanted you boys to know what you had done for the family and for me especially. Use the wealth wisely and you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. I give you both my blessing now and bid you farewell until me meet again in the next life.' With that remark, the boys great great great grandfather disappeared from sight. 'Holy crap!' exclaimed Reed. 'I'm in shock? Did you have any idea?' 'Not a clue!' says Skylar. The guys open the book from the packet and out drops an old photograph. They can't help but notice their strong resemblance to the men in the photos. 'That is incredible!' says Reed. 'Now what do we do?' 'I hope we do justice to all this wealth.' says Skylar. 'This will take a lot of planning!' says Reed. The old book is an inventory of the items from the old plantation. Skylar and Reed are the only living heirs of the family so it is up to them to make good use of that wealth. They donate much of the artwork to museums and set up trust funds to care for the homeless and do medical research. When the final estimate comes in on the wealth involved, they wind up with over 760 million dollars. Not bad for a $10,000 investment. ----- M4 & M3 characters. Rendered in Poser 9. Post work in Photoshop 7. Thank you for taking a peek! Your support is greatly appreciated!