Originally it was called “The Pibbles Place” or “The Observatory on the Hill” by people in town, the property sits on a hill on the west side overlooking the town and the bay. It’s been there as long as people can remember, and is the town’s only historical site. The white dome of the observatory and attached annex can be seen anywhere in town above the trees. The mansion itself is the largest house in the town, and the plaque on the front gate still reads “Pibble’s Property, 1952”
Todd and I started coming up to the Annex in late July when we became friends with Charles after he moved in. I think I’ve mentioned it other places, but it was on a weekend that he just showed up at Mel’s Diner and Mel put him with us since it was busy. The friendship that followed just happened, and we started visiting him at the annex. It started out as study sessions, then coffee got involved, and then overnights, and it’s like our own private clubhouse.
The Annex is built right into the side of the observatory, and has an open kitchen and living room area. There’s a potbelly stove that keeps the entire place warm in the winter if you close off the observatory side, and there’s a bedroom down the hall.
Charles and Todd put in a bunk bed for Todd and I since we’re over so much, and I think that Charles wanted his bed back. When we’d stay, he would offer me his bed, and he and Todd would stay out in the living room. Now we just all bunk together, and no, there’s no weird love triangle going on. We’re just really good at being friends.
The kitchen area is small but functional. Honestly, the expensive coffee maker takes up the most room. I don’t even know how to use it. I just grab the presspot and put a kettle on the potbelly, or use the pour-over. There’s a toaster and a butter dish that has no butter in it, but Charles keeps it out because it’s a chicken shape that he got at a garage sale for fifty cents. He has a large table that kind of spills over into the living room, and from there, there’s a couple couches, an arm chair, coffee table, and some side tables.
There’s a TV, but we never use it, and it’s been collecting dust. Most of the time, we’re at the table or milling around the living room.
The observatory is a story all of it’s own. That’s why we wrote the books. I’ll just say that on the surface, it looks normal. There’s a control room, a telescope inside the silo, and a small shortwave radio room to the side of the observatory. Read the books if you want all the details.
I’ve never been in the mansion. It’s there. That’s all I can say. Charles says he only goes there to do laundry and heat things up in the microwave some nights, but more often than not, we’re at Mel’s, and that’s the best place to look if you want to find us one of these evenings.