The Cottage - by: Michele Torres (2011)
Every October, Audrey and Frank would drive to their cottage to prepare it for the winter- that would soon be approaching. Audrey had just finished putting her pie in the oven and went to go sit on the porch just as she was admiring the changing colors of the trees and listening to the chirping birds that were nearby. The weather was beautiful- an Indian Summer feel, as Audrey would just breathe in the fresh air blowing in her face. Audrey thought pretty soon the trees will be bare, the lake would be frozen solid and their property would be covered in a thick blanket of white snow. The air would be mute as the birds flew south for the winter. As Audrey was pushing her feet off the porch to rock her chair, she started to think about her children that are now grown-the couple had two boys and one girl, the girl was the middle child and they were all 2 years apart from each other. Where did the time go, she wondered? The wind started to blow persistently, and the leaves were falling from the many trees that surrounded the cottage, blowing in the direction of Audrey, surrounding her as if she was the centerpiece in a snow globe, when all of a sudden it stopped, there was dead silence and an unusual leaf had fell in her lap. The leaf was quite different from any other she had ever seen- this leaf was gold. Audrey picked it up from her lap in amazement and took the sleeve of her flannel coat and wiped it to further investigate, as she was wiping the leaf the shiner it got and a big gleam came out. Audrey was surprised because as she looked at the golden leaf, she was able to see her children when they were young playing hide and seek with Frank, roasting marshmallows by the bonfire, and telling stories. Audrey was enjoying the moment that she wish could go on forever. Audrey admired how young and beautiful she looked back then and how handsome Frank looked and what a big kid he was with the children. She loved seeing them be a family, being close, having fun and laughing. Things weren't the same since the kids left. Audrey and Frank loved each other, but they both indeed missed the company of their children. It was so upsetting to Audrey and Frank that none of their kids haven’t came to the cottage in a couple of years. Audrey and Frank wanted the cottage to fill the silence inside with laughter and continued conversation that they would all share-especially the “remember when” stories. After several minutes, Audrey raised the leaf up to her eye level and thanked the leaf for allowing her to relive those memories like it was happening right before her. The leaf lifted off of Audrey’s hand and blew away into the air. Audrey kept her eye on the golden leaf as she looked up into the sky until it disappeared. In astonishment, Audrey didn't know whether to tell Frank or not, she decided to kept it to herself as she giggled inside, she figured he wouldn't believe her anyway-he might send her to nursing home for such foolishness. As Audrey continued rocking back and forth, a big smile came across her face as she could smell the scent of her apple pie coming from the kitchen window she couldn't wait to enjoy a slice with Frank, when all of a sudden Audrey heard the humming of car engines and doors slamming shut. Audrey’s ears perked and Frank’s head peaked out of the big shed looking puzzled as he was distracted from cleaning out his tool chest. Who could it be as they both locked eyes looking across from each other, they weren't expecting anyone. Sure enough it was their children that came to spend time with them. Audrey and Frank were so happy and enjoyed listening to the adventures and tales their children had to tell, once again filling their cottage with memories of the way it used to be.
Every October, Audrey and Frank would drive to their cottage to prepare it for the winter- that would soon be approaching. Audrey had just finished putting her pie in the oven and went to go sit on the porch just as she was admiring the changing colors of the trees and listening to the chirping birds that were nearby. The weather was beautiful- an Indian Summer feel, as Audrey would just breathe in the fresh air blowing in her face. Audrey thought pretty soon the trees will be bare, the lake would be frozen solid and their property would be covered in a thick blanket of white snow. The air would be mute as the birds flew south for the winter. As Audrey was pushing her feet off the porch to rock her chair, she started to think about her children that are now grown-the couple had two boys and one girl, the girl was the middle child and they were all 2 years apart from each other. Where did the time go, she wondered? The wind started to blow persistently, and the leaves were falling from the many trees that surrounded the cottage, blowing in the direction of Audrey, surrounding her as if she was the centerpiece in a snow globe, when all of a sudden it stopped, there was dead silence and an unusual leaf had fell in her lap. The leaf was quite different from any other she had ever seen- this leaf was gold. Audrey picked it up from her lap in amazement and took the sleeve of her flannel coat and wiped it to further investigate, as she was wiping the leaf the shiner it got and a big gleam came out. Audrey was surprised because as she looked at the golden leaf, she was able to see her children when they were young playing hide and seek with Frank, roasting marshmallows by the bonfire, and telling stories. Audrey was enjoying the moment that she wish could go on forever. Audrey admired how young and beautiful she looked back then and how handsome Frank looked and what a big kid he was with the children. She loved seeing them be a family, being close, having fun and laughing. Things weren't the same since the kids left. Audrey and Frank loved each other, but they both indeed missed the company of their children. It was so upsetting to Audrey and Frank that none of their kids haven’t came to the cottage in a couple of years. Audrey and Frank wanted the cottage to fill the silence inside with laughter and continued conversation that they would all share-especially the “remember when” stories. After several minutes, Audrey raised the leaf up to her eye level and thanked the leaf for allowing her to relive those memories like it was happening right before her. The leaf lifted off of Audrey’s hand and blew away into the air. Audrey kept her eye on the golden leaf as she looked up into the sky until it disappeared. In astonishment, Audrey didn't know whether to tell Frank or not, she decided to kept it to herself as she giggled inside, she figured he wouldn't believe her anyway-he might send her to nursing home for such foolishness. As Audrey continued rocking back and forth, a big smile came across her face as she could smell the scent of her apple pie coming from the kitchen window she couldn't wait to enjoy a slice with Frank, when all of a sudden Audrey heard the humming of car engines and doors slamming shut. Audrey’s ears perked and Frank’s head peaked out of the big shed looking puzzled as he was distracted from cleaning out his tool chest. Who could it be as they both locked eyes looking across from each other, they weren't expecting anyone. Sure enough it was their children that came to spend time with them. Audrey and Frank were so happy and enjoyed listening to the adventures and tales their children had to tell, once again filling their cottage with memories of the way it used to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment