Drooping less than gracefully from age and time and weather the porch roof clung steadily to the pillars, which had supported it for so many years. The tar slats the had once so effectively shielded each of the Bakers in turn, now were torn and worn, if even still there a all. So the rain dripped heedlessly through onto the rotting planks below that dismal afternoon. Faraway, down the drive, Lonely House heard the occasional swish of a car as it hurried by on the slick road. None stopped. None hesitated at the drive to reminisce with her of better days. All the Bakers were gone. They had come when old Mr. Baker had slipped and hurt his hip one day. They had come home! But the visit was brief, long enough to hurriedly pack old MR. Bakers things and him into the car and drive away. Not long there after a moving van came and left Lonely House naked and desolate.
“They will come back when MR. Baker gets better.” she comforted herself. Year after year she waited, longing for someone to fix her roof, to lift her foundations, just to smile at her and remember when she was Loved House.
__________________________________________
“Ok Jake Honey!” sweet young Mrs. Baker cried. Her belly bulged slightly in a way that New House had never seen before. “It’s perfect! I’ve never seen a more lovely house in all my life!”
New house stuck out her chest a little more and quickly checked to make sure her chimney was stand up straight.
“Now Dear, let’s look inside before we decide. The floor plan is more important than the exterior.” Said Young Mr. Baker.
“But Love, don’t you feel like we’ve lived here always? Can’t you feel this house was made for us?” Young Mrs. Baker laughed pleasantly and walked up the porch.
` “I do not. And don’t talk like that in front of the realtor.”
New House put on her best face when the realtor came and opened her pretty door with the etched glass window. Even young Mr. Baker grunted with approval when all was seen.
Soon New House became Loved House as young Mrs. Baker brought tables and sofas, lamps and bookshelves and filled Loved House with things that made her a home. Soon little Tommy Baker was brought home. Loved House was so excited! She tried more than ever to keep the cold out and make the little blue nursery room shadier. Young Mrs. Baker loved Loved House so much she kept her clean and spent hours within her walls singing. Little Tommy Baker grew up but Little Mandy Baker was soon brought home. Little Mandy Baker grew up but Little George Baker wasn’t far behind.
How kind Not-so-Young Mr. Baker had become. He fixed her leeks and put a pretty swing on her porch. When little George Baker was playing ball with Little Tommy Baker and broke her pretty glass window in the front door, Mr. Baker chastised them a bought her a new door. As little Tommy became big Tommy, he mowed her lawn and trimmed the tree branches so they didn’t fall on her roof. Big Mandy Baker planted flowers below her porch and helped Mrs. Baker decorate Loved House with pretty new thing that were in fashion, so that when their friends came Loved House heard them exclaim “What a Lovely House!”
When Big Tommy brought home Amy Jones, Loved House’s porch sheltered them from the rain as he kissed her and proposed. When Big Mandy Baker had her wedding and became Mrs. Smith, Loved House opened her doors for many parties and watched as they were married in her yard beneath the trees. Then Big George Baker was left. How Mrs. Baker and Loved House cried when he left, dressed in a smart brown army uniform.
MR. Baker and Mrs. Baker were never lonely. Sometimes Tommy and Mandy came to visit with their children. Sometimes George would come with his pretty dark headed little wife. Sometimes they would sit all alone in the twilight and hold each other’s hand as they swung on the porch.
Loved House liked these times the best. Mrs. Baker would sigh and touch one of Loved House’s pillars tenderly saying “This house has been good to us, hasn’t it Love?”
“Yes,” Mr. Baker would agree. “I never wish to leave it.”
But no one can have all their wishes. One day Mrs. Baker got sick and went to the hospital. She never came back and Loved House cried with Mrs. Baker. It got harder for Mr. Baker to take care of himself but he fought to stay with Loved House and yelled when his children asked him to leave. But then he could hold out no longer and Lonely House watched as they drove away saying “I wish you could have stayed forever.”
Yes, Lonely House was very lonely. She had been alone for so long, even her “For Sale” sign was faded.
____________________________________________
The sun came out and warmed her tired eves. Then she started. Someone was coming up the drive.
“Oh David! It’s perfect!” cried a pretty woman. “It needs SO much fixing up… but I’ll bet we can do it!”
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” smiled David as he put his arm around her and looked up at the house. “My Grandparents lived here. Dad grew up here. I visited it when I was little. It has a lovely floor plan.” Lonely House looked hard at the man and saw he looked like Tommy Baker. “It’s ours if you want it Love.”
“Oh yes!” she responded twisting to look up at his face. “Don’t you feel like we’ve lived here always?”
Lonely House smiled her Loved House smile and thought with gratitude “The Bakers have come home.”
Mar 27, 2007
I need a name for this one...any ideas?
Write again. Write again! It was long past time. But no voices called as long ago to be placed down on blank white paper; longing, pleading to be brought to life. No scenes lingered insistently in her mind until their beauty and realty were captured in ink.
Instead there lived in her mind questions. Questions demanding answers she couldn’t find couldn’t even rightly look for on her own. Now that she shared her life with the man of her dreams, her dreams were finding they had to be adjusted. He no longer stood in the shadows of her imagination conforming to the mood and dream of the hour. Now flesh and blood had dreams of his own, exciting dream that added depth and breadth to her own dreams with out stealing them away. No, he was not the problem. He was the hope.
It was her old nemesis, the same enemy, which had afflicted her with confusion and befuddlement her whole life. Reality. Call it circumstances, call it life, the true name is Reality. Life, not as we perceive it should be, but as it is. Reality flitted through her mind taunting her to solve the mystery of what it would throw at her next and what would be the wisest response no matter the challenge. And so reality laughed as it lead her to think, not of reality itself, but of thousands of imaginary future realities and never got her anywhere.
But no more! No more! The pen in her hand she knew if she could but call to life something that was not, Reality could be left far behind her for a time. Freeing her to explore a world she completely understood. Allowing her to see Reality more clearly when she returned to it. Allowing her to wait till he returned and held her hand as they wondered the wilderness of possibilities together.
And yet… yet nothing came. Her pen moved. Ink in delicate lines spread across the paper forever robbing it of anything but the possibility she then granted it. Words formed, sentences developed… And yet, all that appeared was Reality.
Instead there lived in her mind questions. Questions demanding answers she couldn’t find couldn’t even rightly look for on her own. Now that she shared her life with the man of her dreams, her dreams were finding they had to be adjusted. He no longer stood in the shadows of her imagination conforming to the mood and dream of the hour. Now flesh and blood had dreams of his own, exciting dream that added depth and breadth to her own dreams with out stealing them away. No, he was not the problem. He was the hope.
It was her old nemesis, the same enemy, which had afflicted her with confusion and befuddlement her whole life. Reality. Call it circumstances, call it life, the true name is Reality. Life, not as we perceive it should be, but as it is. Reality flitted through her mind taunting her to solve the mystery of what it would throw at her next and what would be the wisest response no matter the challenge. And so reality laughed as it lead her to think, not of reality itself, but of thousands of imaginary future realities and never got her anywhere.
But no more! No more! The pen in her hand she knew if she could but call to life something that was not, Reality could be left far behind her for a time. Freeing her to explore a world she completely understood. Allowing her to see Reality more clearly when she returned to it. Allowing her to wait till he returned and held her hand as they wondered the wilderness of possibilities together.
And yet… yet nothing came. Her pen moved. Ink in delicate lines spread across the paper forever robbing it of anything but the possibility she then granted it. Words formed, sentences developed… And yet, all that appeared was Reality.
Jan 25, 2007
The Incident
Two men stood in the shadows that night. Two men never found nor identified. The participants were too busy participating to take notice and only a few vaguely recalled the figures standing just out of sight.
The police had a fun time sorting things out. The whole town thought The Incident, as it came to be called, no more than a lark. In the end no one knew quiet who had started it or why it had gown to such a furry in so short amount of time. All that was known was that there was a meeting…
“Come to order! Come to ORDER!” Judge Ponsies commanded, smashing his wooden mallet viscously down onto the small table at the front of the room where he alone presided. His round face was puffed out as though a symbol of his believed power. A hush finally fell but snickers and faint whispers continued to ripple. These town meetings had always been something of a joke to everyone but Ponsies but they continued to happen for entertainment. And, to Ponsies chagrin things had gotten out of his control again. “That’s right.” He blustered taking advantage of the relative silence. “Now, we’ll get no where talking out o’ turn.” He folded his arms and glared across the large group of men as though daring them to speak up. “We have a problem. And no one’s denying it. A family out of house and home, yes. But what’s more, an eyesore! Aint nobody who comes into this town an miss it. And nobodies going to buy property in that area so long as it’s there. They have to be evicted and the house must come down.”
“Now Ponsies,” Came a voice from the crowd. “What are the Macs going to do? Their the poorest family in town. They’ve no where to go.”
“Let them find another eye sore in another town.” Called a harsher voice from the other side of the group.
“Aye! Let them take those bare footed brats down the river where they belong. We’re an upstanding town. The lazy have no place here.”
“Toddy you know they aint lazy. A widow and her aged mother can’t be expected to be anything but poor.”
“So what are we supposed to do? Feed them and house them ourselves? I have a family of my own!” With this the whole group exploded again, hands motioning voices rising. Ponsies smacked his wooden mallet down and stared silently as the crowd hushed once again.
That’s when things got funny.
He nodded suddenly as though agreeing and said “Do I have a second to that motion?” This time true silence fell. No one had proposed a motion. “Very well” he nodded again. “All in favor of making a trip to the place say ‘Aye’.” There was a momentary pause Then all at once a unanimous “Aye” rang out. It seemed like the thing to do though even Ponsies could never remember just who had suggested it.
They filed out of the building down the main road toward the river docks. Each one laughing at the lark and assured his point would be seen upon arrival.
The only light by the river side came from an aged Mansion. Once it had been the pride of the town but now even in the twilight it looked sad and tired. The men congregated outside the once white picket fence and fell silent. The single light came from the dinning room where a scene of some tenderness was being played out. The soft voice of the young widow called to her unruly boys while the older woman elegantly placed herself at the head of the table. She had been the Mayor’s wife and was the daughter of the founder who had built the town as well as the mansion. Her daughter, who carefully placed the small pot of soup on the table, looked tired and harried. Everyone knew she bore much. Once the bell of the town, delicate and proper, she was now the town seamstress and not a very successful one. She only received commissions of charity from former friends who knew her plight, for she had no talent with a needle.
Three wild and unruly boys burst into the room, the eldest about the age of ten. Their mother beamed as she watched them calm under their grandmother’s glare. Each one held a piece of the man she had loved and each one was her own special treasure. That is perhaps why she spoiled them, or perhaps because three boys were a lot to handle when your whole life was consumed with how to provide for them. They were after all very strapping and intelligent boys, like their father, but no one ever took time to notice their need of guidance.
This all became oddly clear to each of the men standing there that night. Some stared at their feet and kicked at the dirt like naughty boys who had been caught. Some allowed tears to run down their cheeks, unsure where the strength of emotion had come from but unwilling to check it.
“And why not?” Shouted Pete softly. He had been the widow’s husband’s best friend and now owner of the lumberyard. He had wanted the land to expand his operation despite his kindly feelings toward the widow herself. No one answered for they weren’t sure what he was referring to, though Sam would latter declare he heard someone suggest they rebuild the place. “Why not?!” he shouted again, this time announcing their presence to those inside. “I’ve got a shipment of lumber that’s just come in and goodness knows I didn’t order it. I’ve no need of it. I’m sure there’s enough to replace the fallen and the rotting boards on the house.” He paused looking around. “Sam, aint there a goodly amount of paint left over from the government buildings? We could make her look nice again.”
Sam nodded vigorously and quickly left the group. Another voice piped up. “I’ve got a bunch of nail left over from fixing my roof, and shingles for that matter!” Soon everyone was shouting something they had to contribute and dashing off to fetch it.
The women inside had gathered the boys into a back room and called the police. They knew there had been talk of evicting them but they had not expected a lynch mob.
By the time the police arrived men were returning carrying their offering. In the commotion many were smacked by carelessly swung wooden planks and hammers were dropped carelessly on darkness shrouded feet. Finding no leader and making no sense out of the madness of moving, shouting, excited men, the police had arrested them all.
They returned the next day to finish what they had started with many of the police officers joining them. For a month the mansion became the social gathering place. Women would meet inside to work on upholstery and linens, while the men hammered away at the outside. When it was done the whole town was so proud they declared it a historical sight and paid the widow to take care of it. The older Mrs. Mac married Judge Ponsies, as he found her quiet knowledgeable and useful in all things political. She latter helped him run for Governor and win. The young Mrs. Mac became to head of the social scene once more, for there was no prettier place to spend the afternoon or evening than the mansion you helped build yourself. And her true talent as a mediator and wise counselor made her well loved of all the women. Her sons were now given the proper attention for she had time to make sure they went to school. All three became leaders of the town and under their guidance the town became known for its generosity and charity work.
But that night no one could have known these things. And that night as a lone raft floated away down river carrying a younger gentleman and an older politician, no one could have guessed what a profound difference love could engender.
The police had a fun time sorting things out. The whole town thought The Incident, as it came to be called, no more than a lark. In the end no one knew quiet who had started it or why it had gown to such a furry in so short amount of time. All that was known was that there was a meeting…
“Come to order! Come to ORDER!” Judge Ponsies commanded, smashing his wooden mallet viscously down onto the small table at the front of the room where he alone presided. His round face was puffed out as though a symbol of his believed power. A hush finally fell but snickers and faint whispers continued to ripple. These town meetings had always been something of a joke to everyone but Ponsies but they continued to happen for entertainment. And, to Ponsies chagrin things had gotten out of his control again. “That’s right.” He blustered taking advantage of the relative silence. “Now, we’ll get no where talking out o’ turn.” He folded his arms and glared across the large group of men as though daring them to speak up. “We have a problem. And no one’s denying it. A family out of house and home, yes. But what’s more, an eyesore! Aint nobody who comes into this town an miss it. And nobodies going to buy property in that area so long as it’s there. They have to be evicted and the house must come down.”
“Now Ponsies,” Came a voice from the crowd. “What are the Macs going to do? Their the poorest family in town. They’ve no where to go.”
“Let them find another eye sore in another town.” Called a harsher voice from the other side of the group.
“Aye! Let them take those bare footed brats down the river where they belong. We’re an upstanding town. The lazy have no place here.”
“Toddy you know they aint lazy. A widow and her aged mother can’t be expected to be anything but poor.”
“So what are we supposed to do? Feed them and house them ourselves? I have a family of my own!” With this the whole group exploded again, hands motioning voices rising. Ponsies smacked his wooden mallet down and stared silently as the crowd hushed once again.
That’s when things got funny.
He nodded suddenly as though agreeing and said “Do I have a second to that motion?” This time true silence fell. No one had proposed a motion. “Very well” he nodded again. “All in favor of making a trip to the place say ‘Aye’.” There was a momentary pause Then all at once a unanimous “Aye” rang out. It seemed like the thing to do though even Ponsies could never remember just who had suggested it.
They filed out of the building down the main road toward the river docks. Each one laughing at the lark and assured his point would be seen upon arrival.
The only light by the river side came from an aged Mansion. Once it had been the pride of the town but now even in the twilight it looked sad and tired. The men congregated outside the once white picket fence and fell silent. The single light came from the dinning room where a scene of some tenderness was being played out. The soft voice of the young widow called to her unruly boys while the older woman elegantly placed herself at the head of the table. She had been the Mayor’s wife and was the daughter of the founder who had built the town as well as the mansion. Her daughter, who carefully placed the small pot of soup on the table, looked tired and harried. Everyone knew she bore much. Once the bell of the town, delicate and proper, she was now the town seamstress and not a very successful one. She only received commissions of charity from former friends who knew her plight, for she had no talent with a needle.
Three wild and unruly boys burst into the room, the eldest about the age of ten. Their mother beamed as she watched them calm under their grandmother’s glare. Each one held a piece of the man she had loved and each one was her own special treasure. That is perhaps why she spoiled them, or perhaps because three boys were a lot to handle when your whole life was consumed with how to provide for them. They were after all very strapping and intelligent boys, like their father, but no one ever took time to notice their need of guidance.
This all became oddly clear to each of the men standing there that night. Some stared at their feet and kicked at the dirt like naughty boys who had been caught. Some allowed tears to run down their cheeks, unsure where the strength of emotion had come from but unwilling to check it.
“And why not?” Shouted Pete softly. He had been the widow’s husband’s best friend and now owner of the lumberyard. He had wanted the land to expand his operation despite his kindly feelings toward the widow herself. No one answered for they weren’t sure what he was referring to, though Sam would latter declare he heard someone suggest they rebuild the place. “Why not?!” he shouted again, this time announcing their presence to those inside. “I’ve got a shipment of lumber that’s just come in and goodness knows I didn’t order it. I’ve no need of it. I’m sure there’s enough to replace the fallen and the rotting boards on the house.” He paused looking around. “Sam, aint there a goodly amount of paint left over from the government buildings? We could make her look nice again.”
Sam nodded vigorously and quickly left the group. Another voice piped up. “I’ve got a bunch of nail left over from fixing my roof, and shingles for that matter!” Soon everyone was shouting something they had to contribute and dashing off to fetch it.
The women inside had gathered the boys into a back room and called the police. They knew there had been talk of evicting them but they had not expected a lynch mob.
By the time the police arrived men were returning carrying their offering. In the commotion many were smacked by carelessly swung wooden planks and hammers were dropped carelessly on darkness shrouded feet. Finding no leader and making no sense out of the madness of moving, shouting, excited men, the police had arrested them all.
They returned the next day to finish what they had started with many of the police officers joining them. For a month the mansion became the social gathering place. Women would meet inside to work on upholstery and linens, while the men hammered away at the outside. When it was done the whole town was so proud they declared it a historical sight and paid the widow to take care of it. The older Mrs. Mac married Judge Ponsies, as he found her quiet knowledgeable and useful in all things political. She latter helped him run for Governor and win. The young Mrs. Mac became to head of the social scene once more, for there was no prettier place to spend the afternoon or evening than the mansion you helped build yourself. And her true talent as a mediator and wise counselor made her well loved of all the women. Her sons were now given the proper attention for she had time to make sure they went to school. All three became leaders of the town and under their guidance the town became known for its generosity and charity work.
But that night no one could have known these things. And that night as a lone raft floated away down river carrying a younger gentleman and an older politician, no one could have guessed what a profound difference love could engender.
Jan 24, 2007
7 wierd thing about me....
Well I love being weird and I think that to be normal is horrible... I mean have you seen what's normal?? No tatoos for me thank you.
But let's see....
1: I actually like doing the dishes... Because it's something I know how to do and people like it when I do it, so I consider it one of my talents.
2: I married a rocket Scientist,literally, which anyone who knows me knows that's pretty wierd.
3: I maintian that I was a unicorn but they de-horned me when I was sixteen and claimed it was cancer cause they couldn't come up with anything else... it's a horn hello?
4: I like to talk to trees... I maintain they whisper stories on the winds, some thousands of years old. And I teach children how to build fairy castles and duel dragons.
5: I enjoy following my husband around everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. I even snuck into an Airospace Convention, without paying, just to hang out with him.
6: I adore fashion and beautiful design, but you would never know it to look at my clothes as they are all hand me downs and don't fit my body or my style, but I'd rather where them than be uncomfortable in something that looks beautiful.
7: I studied Home Ec so that I could be a good mother and discovered I don't like cooking, sewing, laundry, tracking the finances, or anything else that traditional mothers do. But my life's ambition is still to be a great mother and wife.
Ummm so as to sending this to other people... well the other people I know were already tagged... so... here's the deal...
TAG you're it
That is if you havn't done it already.
The Rules are each player of this game starts with the 7 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 7 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 7 people to be tagged and list their names. (What if you don't KNOW 7 people??? I guess don't worry about it then!) Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
Then End
But let's see....
1: I actually like doing the dishes... Because it's something I know how to do and people like it when I do it, so I consider it one of my talents.
2: I married a rocket Scientist,literally, which anyone who knows me knows that's pretty wierd.
3: I maintian that I was a unicorn but they de-horned me when I was sixteen and claimed it was cancer cause they couldn't come up with anything else... it's a horn hello?
4: I like to talk to trees... I maintain they whisper stories on the winds, some thousands of years old. And I teach children how to build fairy castles and duel dragons.
5: I enjoy following my husband around everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. I even snuck into an Airospace Convention, without paying, just to hang out with him.
6: I adore fashion and beautiful design, but you would never know it to look at my clothes as they are all hand me downs and don't fit my body or my style, but I'd rather where them than be uncomfortable in something that looks beautiful.
7: I studied Home Ec so that I could be a good mother and discovered I don't like cooking, sewing, laundry, tracking the finances, or anything else that traditional mothers do. But my life's ambition is still to be a great mother and wife.
Ummm so as to sending this to other people... well the other people I know were already tagged... so... here's the deal...
TAG you're it
That is if you havn't done it already.
The Rules are each player of this game starts with the 7 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 7 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 7 people to be tagged and list their names. (What if you don't KNOW 7 people??? I guess don't worry about it then!) Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
Then End
Nov 3, 2006
Bored
I had so much fun with this one... the moral of the story is it's all about drive.
I’m bored. So very bored.
I could go clean my room. It’s piled high with laundry that needs to be done. But I’m really not in the mood. I’m bored.
They invited me to the fun park. The one with all the rides and games. But that doesn’t seem to interest me today. I’m bored.
The latest book in my favorite series in sitting just beyond my reach. I really don’t care to extend my arm for it. That’s much to much effort for me. I’m bored.
The dishes are now a mile high, I guess I could sweep the floor. But I really don’t want to. I’m bored.
The new mall just opened, right down the street. I guess I could check it out. But I have no money to spend and really I’m bored.
Mary just called. I found an excuse. She’s a good friend but she talks so long and I really don’t have time. I’m bored.
I could go out for a bike ride. The sky is clear and the weather just right. But that would mean standing up and I just found the right spot. Jee wiz am I bored.
I have nothing to do. No where to go. No one to talk to. Nothing to see. I’m bored. So very bored. Wouldn’t you be, if you were me?
I’m bored. So very bored.
I could go clean my room. It’s piled high with laundry that needs to be done. But I’m really not in the mood. I’m bored.
They invited me to the fun park. The one with all the rides and games. But that doesn’t seem to interest me today. I’m bored.
The latest book in my favorite series in sitting just beyond my reach. I really don’t care to extend my arm for it. That’s much to much effort for me. I’m bored.
The dishes are now a mile high, I guess I could sweep the floor. But I really don’t want to. I’m bored.
The new mall just opened, right down the street. I guess I could check it out. But I have no money to spend and really I’m bored.
Mary just called. I found an excuse. She’s a good friend but she talks so long and I really don’t have time. I’m bored.
I could go out for a bike ride. The sky is clear and the weather just right. But that would mean standing up and I just found the right spot. Jee wiz am I bored.
I have nothing to do. No where to go. No one to talk to. Nothing to see. I’m bored. So very bored. Wouldn’t you be, if you were me?
Not sure what to call this yet
The night air hung thick and heavy even inside the bus station. Few people moved about waiting for their bus but most curled up on benches coats and baggage for pillows. A long black haired man sat behind the counter staring blankly at Peter. His blood shot eyes piercing into and through Peter’s all too thin body. Nothing seemed right about this place. He had been in many bus stations during his last three years of wondering but this one seemed eerily still. The passengers didn’t seem to notice one another let alone converse one with another. The normal stench of smoke the drifted in from the regular chain smokers right outside the door didn’t cling to every person who walked by. The smell of coffee from those trying to pull all-nighters didn’t hang on the air. It was the least loathsome station he had been in and yet it was somehow deadest place he had ever been.
“It must be the time of the morning.” He told himself trying to get up the energy to stretch but deciding instead he didn’t want to wake the ticket man’s attention. He wasn’t sure he could remember what time it was. He couldn’t even remember what time he had gotten off his last bus or what time his next one left. It seemed like it was a short lay over though. He knew if he lay down like the other’s he would miss it. Sighing deeply he took out his ticket.
Suddenly two hands rested softly upon the back of his neck. A chill ran down his spine. The fingers, long and graceful, were equally cold and light. Though he didn’t know who it was, he felt his instincts tell him that moving would be futile if not disastrous.
“Hello Peter.” A soft strangely familiar voice spoke from behind him. Peter tried to clear his throat but only felt his heartbeat speed up. The fingers lifted with a parting squeeze as the woman moved around him into view. Her eyes caught him immediately, large a soft gray blue. They pierced through him but unlike the teller’s they saw everything inside him. See want the prettiest woman he had ever seen but she was familiar in a way an event seems familiar once you had dreamt of it before. She smiled revealing perfect teeth inside a tiny mouth surrounded by pouty lips. “Do you evaluate every woman’s looks immediately that way” she asked softly as though not to disturb anyone, though even the teller hadn’t stirred his gaze straight through her now. “or am I just that strange to you?”
“I … I” Peter stammered not sure he was even awake at this point. Suddenly a picture of the apartment he had just left ran through his mind, him laying on the bed covered with white sheets and his bag sitting next to the door waiting for the trip he thought he was on now. “I can’t seem to remember where we’ve meet before.” He finally managed.
“I’ve known you for a long time but I’m sure you wouldn’t remember me. My name is Adwedd.” A lock of straight black hair floated across her face as she reached out to take his hand.
“I’m sure I would remember someone like you, Adwedd?” she nodded as he took her hand in his firm business grip, his heart had calmed some but his instincts were still calling out warning to him.
“You’d be surprised how forgettable I am.” She smiled releasing his hand and taking a seat next to him. “Take that man behind the counter, he and I are old friends and yet he can’t even clear his thoughts of his next hit long enough to recognize how close I am.”
“I’ve never been here before.” Peter said as soon as she paused. “Are sure you’ve met me before?”
“Of course I’m sure, Peter. I know you very well.” Adwedd responded lazily. Turning her glance from the man back to Peter.
“When did we meet?” Peter asked finding it even more eerie that she knew his name and was so relaxed using it even though all his acquaintances knew him only by his business name of Benny.
“The day you let Danny go…”
A small puppy yapped excitedly as Peter reached from the stool toward the hook on the wall where his leash was. “Mommy, I can’t reach it.” Peter cried out in frustration.
“If you’ll wait just one more minute, I’ll come get it.” His mother’s voice come out of her bedroom.
“Like hell you’ll be right there.” The strange man’s voice came causing Peter’s mother to giggle and the door suddenly shut completely though Peter could still here the man chastise his mother for Peter being there.
Peter looked down at the small puppy with his small brown eyes squinched up in anger. “Come on Danny, just stick close to me ok?” his small six year old hands could barely force the sliding side door open but he finally managed just enough space for his body to slip through, then he turned to see where the puppy was who had slipped out before him. The puppy was headed across the back yard toward the larger of the two streets that bordered Peter’s house. “Wait, Danny come back…” Peter called but it was too late the puppy ran out into the street just as a small black sports car speed past. Suddenly there was a great deal of yelping and Peter ran toward Danny as fast as he could. His eyes filled with tears as he stumbled the last few yards toward the road.
A small hand grabbed his shoulders pulling him to a stumbling halt. “Wait.” A little girl’s voice told him as another car zoomed past right where Peter had been headed. “Ok,” she said letting Peter bend down into the road and scoop up the now still silent puppy and carry him back to the grass. He looked up at the strange calm blue eyes just as his mother had run out shouting and jerking him back into the house.
Peter blinked confusedly. “Who could you remember
“It must be the time of the morning.” He told himself trying to get up the energy to stretch but deciding instead he didn’t want to wake the ticket man’s attention. He wasn’t sure he could remember what time it was. He couldn’t even remember what time he had gotten off his last bus or what time his next one left. It seemed like it was a short lay over though. He knew if he lay down like the other’s he would miss it. Sighing deeply he took out his ticket.
Suddenly two hands rested softly upon the back of his neck. A chill ran down his spine. The fingers, long and graceful, were equally cold and light. Though he didn’t know who it was, he felt his instincts tell him that moving would be futile if not disastrous.
“Hello Peter.” A soft strangely familiar voice spoke from behind him. Peter tried to clear his throat but only felt his heartbeat speed up. The fingers lifted with a parting squeeze as the woman moved around him into view. Her eyes caught him immediately, large a soft gray blue. They pierced through him but unlike the teller’s they saw everything inside him. See want the prettiest woman he had ever seen but she was familiar in a way an event seems familiar once you had dreamt of it before. She smiled revealing perfect teeth inside a tiny mouth surrounded by pouty lips. “Do you evaluate every woman’s looks immediately that way” she asked softly as though not to disturb anyone, though even the teller hadn’t stirred his gaze straight through her now. “or am I just that strange to you?”
“I … I” Peter stammered not sure he was even awake at this point. Suddenly a picture of the apartment he had just left ran through his mind, him laying on the bed covered with white sheets and his bag sitting next to the door waiting for the trip he thought he was on now. “I can’t seem to remember where we’ve meet before.” He finally managed.
“I’ve known you for a long time but I’m sure you wouldn’t remember me. My name is Adwedd.” A lock of straight black hair floated across her face as she reached out to take his hand.
“I’m sure I would remember someone like you, Adwedd?” she nodded as he took her hand in his firm business grip, his heart had calmed some but his instincts were still calling out warning to him.
“You’d be surprised how forgettable I am.” She smiled releasing his hand and taking a seat next to him. “Take that man behind the counter, he and I are old friends and yet he can’t even clear his thoughts of his next hit long enough to recognize how close I am.”
“I’ve never been here before.” Peter said as soon as she paused. “Are sure you’ve met me before?”
“Of course I’m sure, Peter. I know you very well.” Adwedd responded lazily. Turning her glance from the man back to Peter.
“When did we meet?” Peter asked finding it even more eerie that she knew his name and was so relaxed using it even though all his acquaintances knew him only by his business name of Benny.
“The day you let Danny go…”
A small puppy yapped excitedly as Peter reached from the stool toward the hook on the wall where his leash was. “Mommy, I can’t reach it.” Peter cried out in frustration.
“If you’ll wait just one more minute, I’ll come get it.” His mother’s voice come out of her bedroom.
“Like hell you’ll be right there.” The strange man’s voice came causing Peter’s mother to giggle and the door suddenly shut completely though Peter could still here the man chastise his mother for Peter being there.
Peter looked down at the small puppy with his small brown eyes squinched up in anger. “Come on Danny, just stick close to me ok?” his small six year old hands could barely force the sliding side door open but he finally managed just enough space for his body to slip through, then he turned to see where the puppy was who had slipped out before him. The puppy was headed across the back yard toward the larger of the two streets that bordered Peter’s house. “Wait, Danny come back…” Peter called but it was too late the puppy ran out into the street just as a small black sports car speed past. Suddenly there was a great deal of yelping and Peter ran toward Danny as fast as he could. His eyes filled with tears as he stumbled the last few yards toward the road.
A small hand grabbed his shoulders pulling him to a stumbling halt. “Wait.” A little girl’s voice told him as another car zoomed past right where Peter had been headed. “Ok,” she said letting Peter bend down into the road and scoop up the now still silent puppy and carry him back to the grass. He looked up at the strange calm blue eyes just as his mother had run out shouting and jerking him back into the house.
Peter blinked confusedly. “Who could you remember
Oct 12, 2006
Second in the "Small Moments" Series
Fire Light Romance
Joe shivered as they stepped into the cold trailer. The heat from the day had slipped away too quickly. He knew it would be at least thirty minutes before they had a fire warm enough to take off his coat. Mily sat right down next to the fire and placing a log on top of the stove she began to build up the kindling. So Joe gave her a quick hug before heading back to warm the bathroom quickly with some hot water. Twenty minutes later he immerged having spent most of it trying to convince himself to take care of business in the cold. “Hey Joe, you ok?” Came Mily’s voice from the living room slightly concerned.
“Yep, just rather too chilly for comfort that’s all.” As Joe entered the living room his eyes began to burn. Mily’s face was shinny with sweat from being that close to the fire for that long. She smiled up at him briefly returning back to her computer home work. Joe walked into the kitchen feeling unable to focus on anything. “Mily, does it seem smoky in here to you?” He asked finally.
“No, not really.” she responded.
“Everything looks blurry, I wonder if there’s something up with my eyes.”
Mily got up and walked to the back rooms then back again. “You’re right.” She conceded. “I couldn’t tell I’ve been in here so long.” She began looking for smoke coming out of the stove, then noticed the log she had placed on top. Lifting it quickly they saw the black under side and laughed. Mily tossed it into the fire and it burst into flames. “Well, glad we didn’t leave it alone there.” Joe chuckled sliding his arms around Mily’s waist.
“Why don’t we go for a walk?” Mily said suddenly shutting her lap top and standing up.
“Sure.” Joe responded grabbing his coat.
The night was windy and chilly but the air was much fresher than in the small smoke filled trailer. They pushed each other into pretend snow banks practicing for when the real snow came. Mily played with the umbrella like a light saber with fascination. They had gone half way to campus when Mily looked down at Joe and asked. “Want to go visit Sabrina?”
Joe nodded and they turned toward the freshman dorms where Sabrina, Mily’s cousin lived. Joe hated the feel of the small cramped dorms so when Mily invited Sabrina over to roast marshmallows, Joe loved the idea.
They walked back as quickly as they could fighting the now high speed bone bighting winds. Joe and Sabrina took turns walking behind Mily who served as a great wind break.
By the time they got back most of the smoke had gone. It only took moments before they had hot cocoa going and marshmallow sticks in the making. They laughed and read web comics. Sabrina talked about the frustration of chemistry and Mily showed them the funnier web comics. Joe sat sipping cocoa enjoying them both.
The clock finally said Sabrina still had more homework to do in an evening than time was going to let her finish so Mily put on a coat and drove her home.
Joe sat waiting thinking of Mily and how she had started the fire, how she had reached out to her lonely cousin though she had homework that was unfinished as well, how she had laughed at her own silliness when the log was being burnt from the outside of the stove.
Mily walked back in a few moments later to find Joe waiting for her in front of the fire, very much in love.
Joe shivered as they stepped into the cold trailer. The heat from the day had slipped away too quickly. He knew it would be at least thirty minutes before they had a fire warm enough to take off his coat. Mily sat right down next to the fire and placing a log on top of the stove she began to build up the kindling. So Joe gave her a quick hug before heading back to warm the bathroom quickly with some hot water. Twenty minutes later he immerged having spent most of it trying to convince himself to take care of business in the cold. “Hey Joe, you ok?” Came Mily’s voice from the living room slightly concerned.
“Yep, just rather too chilly for comfort that’s all.” As Joe entered the living room his eyes began to burn. Mily’s face was shinny with sweat from being that close to the fire for that long. She smiled up at him briefly returning back to her computer home work. Joe walked into the kitchen feeling unable to focus on anything. “Mily, does it seem smoky in here to you?” He asked finally.
“No, not really.” she responded.
“Everything looks blurry, I wonder if there’s something up with my eyes.”
Mily got up and walked to the back rooms then back again. “You’re right.” She conceded. “I couldn’t tell I’ve been in here so long.” She began looking for smoke coming out of the stove, then noticed the log she had placed on top. Lifting it quickly they saw the black under side and laughed. Mily tossed it into the fire and it burst into flames. “Well, glad we didn’t leave it alone there.” Joe chuckled sliding his arms around Mily’s waist.
“Why don’t we go for a walk?” Mily said suddenly shutting her lap top and standing up.
“Sure.” Joe responded grabbing his coat.
The night was windy and chilly but the air was much fresher than in the small smoke filled trailer. They pushed each other into pretend snow banks practicing for when the real snow came. Mily played with the umbrella like a light saber with fascination. They had gone half way to campus when Mily looked down at Joe and asked. “Want to go visit Sabrina?”
Joe nodded and they turned toward the freshman dorms where Sabrina, Mily’s cousin lived. Joe hated the feel of the small cramped dorms so when Mily invited Sabrina over to roast marshmallows, Joe loved the idea.
They walked back as quickly as they could fighting the now high speed bone bighting winds. Joe and Sabrina took turns walking behind Mily who served as a great wind break.
By the time they got back most of the smoke had gone. It only took moments before they had hot cocoa going and marshmallow sticks in the making. They laughed and read web comics. Sabrina talked about the frustration of chemistry and Mily showed them the funnier web comics. Joe sat sipping cocoa enjoying them both.
The clock finally said Sabrina still had more homework to do in an evening than time was going to let her finish so Mily put on a coat and drove her home.
Joe sat waiting thinking of Mily and how she had started the fire, how she had reached out to her lonely cousin though she had homework that was unfinished as well, how she had laughed at her own silliness when the log was being burnt from the outside of the stove.
Mily walked back in a few moments later to find Joe waiting for her in front of the fire, very much in love.
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