Dirka, Dirka

Burning Manor continues to rise again.

The main floor is partially finished. The weather has been much better this week, but work is still proceeding slowly.

The workers are hampered by the absence of any blueprints as they try to rebuild the house to its original layout. The only way they can do this is by looking inside similar homes in the Sack. If they can take measurements in these homes, they say it really helps.

Elizabeth's house is identical to Burning Manor. Unfortunately, she won't let them in her house. She has sworn not to do anything that might benefit Dirk and Dora.

The foreman on the construction crew told me Elizabeth was the second nastiest person he'd met since the project started.

The nastiest person so far? According to the foreman, that would be Dora.

***

Oscar is in the dog house with a few sensitive Sack residents.

Gordon has set up an email group for the Sack Resident's Society. It's supposed to enhance communication and facilitate the dissemination of information. That's what Gordon said in his introductory email.

Oscar sent his first email to the group yesterday. In his message, he wrote:

"Boy, Dirk's erection is getting bigger every day."

"Dirk's Erection" is what Oscar calls the partially rebuilt shell of Burning Manor.

***

Britney Bitterman has now been seen in the company of this character named Maxwell.

Little Doug reports he saw the two of them walking together at the local mall. He said they were holding hands as they walked along.

He also said Britney was "tearing a blue strip" off the loutish Maxwell.

Oscar says he doesn't think this whole matter will end well. I think he could be right.

***

I'm also told that Maxwell is not quite as idle as originally described.

Apparently, he identifies his occupation as a painter. He's the kind of painter who works on the interiors and exteriors of homes, not the artistic type.

He doesn't work for any particular company. In fact, he's not working at all, right now. But when he's in the mood for labour, painting is what he does.

On a positive note, Oscar tells me that Maxwell is supposed to be very good at bowling.

***

Gordon has never met Maxwell, but he has an opinion about the young guy already.

"He sounds like a young Dirk," Gordon said, "without a steady job."

***

Dirk and Dora continue to be on Gordon's mind.

Apparently, he gleaned some information about the insurance end of the Burning Manor affair. He says Dirk is only getting the bare minimum to replace the house.

Gordon's worried that Dirk will only have enough money to put the house up and nothing left for any landscaping. He thinks the outside will remain a pile of mud and debris.

Oscar thinks Gordon should take up bowling. It'll keep him busy, Oscar says, and soothe his mind.

I think he could be right.

***