Hey guys, thank you for joining us for this episode of 13.

Before we get started, we want to thank our new patrons.

Fat Brooks, Atticus White, Ashley Hagen, Eric, Ben Carlisle, Vanessa Javier, Kate, Tracy Walters,

Mortified Penguin, Rachel Paul, Dan Flesh, Caleb Murphy, Jenny Fox, Katie Barker, Anita Patterson, Travis Faber, Lisa Watts,

Caitlin A Davidson, Sarah Jane, Cernie S, Okay, Thank goodness, Abigail Shane, Brianna and Jay, Matthew Ericsson,

Jeffrey N Smith, Jennifer Matier, Alost Faye, Debbie Guy, Jonathan Ziffievich, and Podcast Loving.

Thank you guys so much for your support and welcome to the Pod fam.

If you're interested in things like ad-free episodes,

extra stories, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive merch,

or just like, I don't know, hanging out with us,

then you should check us out on Patreon too.

Just click a link in the show notes to learn more.

Today's story is a friend in need by Catherine Nabody. Are you ready? Sit back, turn down the lights, and now on with the

show. The house of Usher, I thought, as the car slid through the gates and rounded toward

Norville Mansion, or maybe Mandirley, but not Hill House.

The gates were copper slats heavy with patina.

They were grand. The sweep of the driveway flanked by rows of Linden trees was majestic.

And the building itself, finally revealed in its clearing, was Art Deco by way of the 50s.

Futurism.

This mansion was the victim of time and family.

Things had been done to it rather than it being proactive in its own demise.

Those are the kinds of thoughts that occur to someone who has spent three months of her layoff reading too many novels instead of freelancing articles.

...