Potter's Field

“Honey, you are going to love the house” said David Augno (pronounce ‘oh no’) to his wife of 10 years. “The development is built on acres of land from a large farm purchased by Soil. They bought the farm and several other acres to build a large compost facility. You’ll love it there I promise.” Deidra Augno said nothing. She quietly stared out the window watching the scenery go by.

"Mom, can I choose my own room at the new house” inquired Teresa, the Augno’s six-year-old daughter.

        “Yes dear, you can choose your own room” Deidra said with a calm voice. She wasn’t happy about selling and moving out of her well-maintained blonde brick four-square single-family home. She loved that house but selling it and moving was something she and David discussed and agreed. David got a new job as a Facility Manager at Soil which came with a larger salary and family benefits; the only thing, the Augnos had to move to the country.

        “I’ll need enough room for my dolls and books. Daddy, will you build me a bookshelf if my room doesn’t have one? I want one like the one at the old house.”

        “Will see, Teresa. I think the room you choose will have two bookshelves that reach from floor to ceiling. One for your dolls and the other for your books.”

        “That will be nice, won’t it Mrs. Cornflower” Mrs. Cornflower was Teresa’s organic cotton rag doll with a blue cornflower dress her mother made her when Teresa turned five. It was Teresa’s favorite doll. Securely sitting in the back seat, Teresa played with her doll while imagining, all sorts of make believe.

An hour later, David made a left turn, drove down Humus Lane and pulled into the driveway of 222 Humus Lane. It was a large white stone modern farmhouse trimmed in dark charcoal gray paint. The walkway was wide, lined with plants and led to two steps that took the Augnos to the front patio porch. Directly across the porch from the steps, was a wide double entry front door with panes of glass trimmed in a steel frame painted dark charcoal gray. It was beautiful. “David” said Deidra “is this for us?”

“Yes, my love. This is all for us.” David gave his wife a side hug and overwhelmed with joy, Deidra cried a few tears.

"I never imagined ... it is bigger than our old house” Deidra said with a little chuckle as she wiped the tears rolling down her face.

“Mommy, can we go in now. I want to see my room.”

"Yes, we can go in.” Deidra, David, and Teresa each grabbed a bag from the car and went inside their new home. “Wow, this is a beautiful foyer. I love the black and white tiled floor and the stairs; I love how it curves to the upstairs. David, this place … I love it.” Deidra gave her husband a hug and kiss.

“Mommy, I’m going to pick my room” said Teresa as she carried upstairs her dolls’ carrying case and Mrs. Cornflower.

“Okay honey, be careful and don’t climb any bookshelves” said Deidra as she walked across the foyer to the kitchen at the back of the house.

“Okay mommy, I won’t.” When David walked back outside to finish unloading the car, the moving truck pulled in the driveway behind the car.

“Mr. Augno (pronounced ‘Oh no’)” inquired the driver?

“Yes, that is I.”

“We have your stuff. Where do you want it?”

“Everything is boxed and labeled. The boxes and stuff labeled Office should go into the room off the right of the foyer and down the hall. When you get to the bedroom stuff, let me or Mrs. Augno know, and we’ll let you know where to place the boxes and furniture.”

“Okay, will do” said the driver as he and his helper went to the back of the truck and started to unload. David was carrying the last of the luggage from the car into the house when Deidra called him.

“Be with you in one minute honey. The movers are here, and they are unloading the stuff” said David as he sat the last of the luggage down then walked into the kitchen.

Deidra was standing in front of the kitchen sink when David walked in. Looking to her left, she saw a paneled glass room extended from the kitchen. “Is that an atrium” she asked?

“Yes, that is an atrium. It was one of the things I insisted the house had when I took the job. I know you always wanted your own herb garden and a place to nurse your houseplants. The Gift Basket of clay pots, garden accessories and a sample bag of their newest product, ‘Potter’s Soil’ is from Soil to you."

“Oh David, thank you” Deidra hugged her husband around the neck and gave him a kiss. “I can’t wait to buy more plants, planters, pots …” Deidra rattled off the list of things in excitement as she released her husband. Once she finished, she looked out of the picture window above the sink, and someone caught her eye. “Who is that” she asked about the man riding on the mower cutting their lawn.

“He's one of the Groundkeepers. The company maintains the property. They cut the grass, trim, and prune the trees, bushes, and shrubs. Also, they planted flowers along the walkway out front.”

“Good, that’s several things I don’t have to think about. I can focus on my house plants and herb garden.”

“Yes. Also, you don’t have to buy fertilizer, potting soil, plant food, etc... Soil will provide all the things you will need or use for planting or gardening. That’s one of the benefits of working for a composting company. Also, here is a membership card for the plant and grocery stores” David pulled out his wallet and gave Deidra a copy of his Employee Family Membership Card. “You can use this when you go shopping. You will either get a discount, or the items will be marked ‘No charge’ at the cash register.”

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Augno” called the voice from the foyer. “We are starting to unload the bedroom furniture.”

“Okay, I will be right there” David replied. “Honey, let me go and direct the movers and I will be back.” Deidra started opening kitchen boxes and putting things away. Glancing out of the window, she noticed someone standing midway on the lawn by one of the Thuja Green Giant Trees. The person wasn’t dressed like one of the Groundkeepers. They had on business like attire or Sunday Best clothing. Just as she raised her hand to wave, the person disappeared between the trees.

The next day, Deidra and Teresa took David to work. The drive was about a mile to two miles away from home. David gave Deidra, Teresa, and Mrs. Cornflower kiss goodbye. “What time do you want me to pick you up” asked Deidra?

“4:00 pm. I’m getting off an hour early today, because the Car Dealer is delivering your new car around 5:00 pm and I want to be home when it arrives.”

“Are you serious” Deidra inquired with widen eyes and excited smile? “A new car.” 

“Yes, there isn’t a subway or bus transportation around and I need the car to get to work; therefore, I bought you a new one.” Deidra grabbed her husband and gave him a long loving kiss.

“Come on, mommy and daddy, Mrs. Cornflower wants to go back home and play.”

“Okay, we’re leaving,” said Deidra. “I will see you at four” Deidra said to David flirtingly.

Later that morning, Deidra and Teresa continued to unpack and put things away. “Mommy, can I go in the kitchen and get a juice box? All this unpacking, has made me thirsty.”

“Yes, you can get something to drink, but not a juice box” replied Deidra. “Get a bottle of water. We’ll be eating lunch soon then you can have juice.”

“Ah, okay,” said Teresa. Teresa went downstairs to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator looking for a bottle of water. After retrieving the water, she shut the door and twisted off the cap. Just as she began taking a sip, out of the corner of her right eye, she saw someone standing in the atrium. She slowly turned her head and saw a kind face elderly woman standing there. Teresa screamed, dropped her bottle of water, yelled for her mom as she ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Deidra reacted like any loving parent, ran out of the room to her daughter’s aid. “Teresa, what is it honey” she asked as she held her daughter at the top of the stairs?

“I saw someone in the kitchen, in the atrium” Teresa said frightened. “It was an old lady. She looked like the cookie lady from where we use to live.”

“You mean Mrs. Martin. Honey, you know she passed away about a month before we moved.”

 “I’m telling you mom; it looked like her.” Deidra continued to hold Teresa and stroke her head. She believed Teresa saw something, because when Deidra was that age, she saw her grandmother standing at the foot of her bed the morning after her grandmother’s funeral.

“I tell you what, let’s go somewhere for lunch. It will do us good to get a bit of fresh air. We’ve been cooped up in the house all morning unpacking and putting things away.”

“Can we go to the plant store; I would like a plant for my room.” 

“Yes, after lunch we will go to the ‘Plants, Potts, and Soil’ Shop where you can pick out a plant for your room.”

“Okay” said Teresa.

“Now, wipe your tears and go grab Mrs. Cornflower while I get my purse and hat.” Teresa and her mom walked down the hallway towards the bedrooms. Teresa stopped in her room while her mom continued to the master bedroom. After grabbing Mrs. Cornflower Teresa waited for her mom in the hallway. Moments later, Deidra emerged with crossbody draped and baseball cap on. “Okay, ready? Let’s go. We’re going to lunch, then to the plant store to pick out a plant.” Deidra and Teresa went downstairs where Deidra got the car keys out of the bowl on the credenza in the foyer. Just before walking out the door, Deidra thought about something she wanted from the atrium. “Teresa, honey I want you to stand right here. Mommy must get something from the atrium.”

“No mommy. What if that lady is still there?”

“Then, I will kindly ask her to leave, because she is upsetting my daughter.” Teresa agreed to stand in the foyer while her mother went into the kitchen atrium. Deidra took a pen and piece of paper out of her purse and wrote the name of the potting soil. As she was leaving, she heard a soft voice say, ‘potter’s field'. Deidra stopped briefly then shook her head slightly and kept walking.

After a filling lunch, Deidra and Teresa drove to the ‘Plants, Potts, and Soil’ Shop. Getting out of the car, Teresa saw what she thought were strange people standing around the plants, trees, bushes, and shrubbery. She noticed some of the people were dressed in their Sunday Best. “Mommy, who are those people standing around the plants” asked Teresa?

Not paying attention to what Teresa was pointing to, Deidra answered “They are the people that work here dear. They are the store’s helpers. Do you want this plant? I know purple is your favorite color and it doesn't need much water” said Deidra as she held up an African Violet.

When Teresa turned to look at the plant, she saw the same elder woman from the kitchen atrium standing over her mother’s right shoulder nodding in agreement. “Nor potter’s field” the elderly woman said in a soft voice. “It is pieces of me.” Scared and not knowing what to say, Teresa nodded yes to her mother.

“Okay, this one it is. What’s wrong dear? Do you feel okay? You look a little pale” said Deidra as she placed her free hand on her daughter's forehead.

“I’m fine mommy” Teresa said as she held Mrs. Cornflower tight and close to her.

“Okay, I have to get one more thing, then we will pay for our items and head home.” As Deidra walked towards the fertilizer, she saw an employee wearing a store apron and enlisted his help. “Excuse me, will you help me. I’m looking for this potting soil. It’s a new product manufactured by Soil.”

“Yes ma’am. We just got some in stock. We only have a few bags.”

“Why is that” questioned Deidra?

“Because the main ingredient for the compost is hard to acquire and the process for natural organic reduction takes about a month; give or take.”

Not knowing what the employee was talking about, Deidra could only say, “I’m glad the soil is organic; but it is a shame it takes so long to produce. I’ll take the smallest bags you have. I already have a sample bag at home.”

“Okay, here you go.” The employee grabbed a small bag of ‘Potter’s Soil’ off the palette and placed it in a small shopping cart for Deidra.

“Thank you,” said Deidra. Teresa held on to the side of the cart as her mom walked and pushed the cart towards the Cashier. Just as Deidra reached into the cart for the plant, she heard a soft voice say, ‘nor potter’s field’. Not knowing what it meant, she ignored it then presented the Cashier with the Soil Employee Family Membership Card. The Cashier scanned the card and the words ‘No charge’ appeared on the display. The Cashier printed the receipt, handed it to Deidra and placed the plant in a brown paper bag. “Thank you” said Deidra as she took the bag, placed it in the cart then walked out the store with Teresa in toe.

The week went by fast. Deidra, David, and Teresa got all the boxes unpacked and their things put away. “Teresa, it’s time for bed.”

“But I’m not sleepy, and tomorrow is Saturday” Teresa said as she tried to hold back a yawn.

“I know honey, but big girls like you have to get their rest.”

“Okay” said Teresa as she held on tight to Mrs. Cornflower. “I’ll go to bed. Daddy, will you tuck me in?”

“Yes sweetheart, I’ll tuck you in. Give me a minute with mommy and I’ll be right up.”

“Okay.” Teresa got off the couch, walked out of the family room and slowly went through the kitchen. When she stepped in the foyer, she opened her eyes to a tall lean man dressed in his Sunday Best standing by the door in the foyer. “Mommy, Daddy … There’s a man standing in the foyer.” Alarmed by their daughter’s scream, Deidra and David jump off the couch and ran to their daughter’s aid.

"Honey, what’s the matter” David asked when he rushed to his daughter’s side.

“A man, Daddy, right there.” Teresa pointed towards the large plant by the front door.

“What man? I don’t see anyone.”

Deidra knelt by her daughter and turned Teresa to look at her face to face. “Teresa, honey, tell me exactly what you saw.”

“A man. He’s like the rest, all dressed in his Sunday Best. He’s standing over by the plant next to the door.”

“Okay, did he say anything to you.”

"No, he’s just standing there, looking.”

“Has any of the others you saw this week said anything to you” Deidra continued to ask?

“Yes, just one. The old lady. She said, 'it is pieces of me' and ‘newer pots fill’.”

“Do you mean ‘NOR Potter’s Field” asked David?

“Yes, I think so” said Teresa trying to remember. Deidra placed her hands over Teresa’s ears and spoke softly to her husband.

“It must have been NOR potter’s field. When we went to the plant store on Monday, I heard a soft voice say, ‘NOR potter’s field’. I didn’t think anything of it, until now. What does it mean David?”

David torn between telling his wife the truth and the NDA he signed, he said to Deidra, “Let’s take Teresa upstairs to bed and I’ll tell you.” David and Deidra took Teresa to bed, tucked her in and waited for her to fall asleep. After leaving Teresa’s room, they went to their room and began to talk.

“What is this about David?”

“Okay, I hope you remember your Sunday School Lessons.”

        “What do you mean?”

"Judas … Matthew 27 verse 7” quoted David.

“Matthew 27 verse 7” Deidra repeated. Trying to get the words exactly right, she grabbed The Holy Bible out the nightstand drawer and opened it to the book of Matthew, chapter 27 verse 7. Softly, she began to read “… bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers … Wait a minute, so you mean … So, what does NOR mean?” David grabbed his attaché bag and pulled out a ‘Potter’s Soil’ brochure given to him during his training. Deidra read the section about ‘natural organic reduction’ then put two and two together. “You mean to tell me; this potting soil is made from human bodies and our house is being haunted by the people used to make the soil.”

David touched the tip of his nose with his finger in agreement. “The section where I work, is called POTTER’S FIELD …"

… And they took counsel, and bought with them (the thirty pieces of silver) the potter's field, to bury strangers in. (Matthew 27:7)

Work Cited

Smithsonian Magazine. Kuta, Sarah. September 2022. California Has Legalized Human Composting. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/california-has-legalized-human-composting-180980809/