Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Story-Time Tuesday Chapter 17

If you missed TALES FROM HOME - Chapter 16 just click here to read it.
Jenny Matlock

TALES FROM HOME - Chapter Seventeen

The three sisters closed their eyes and fell asleep almost as soon as their heads touched their pillows.

They fell asleep to the memories of the day’s adventures.

They fell asleep thinking of all the joyful times they had shared in the happy little house.

They fell asleep to the comfort and safety of being together in a place that was home.

The sadness the little house had felt from being empty for so long had been almost, but not quite, forgotten. Once you have suffered great loss, there is always a small amount of sorrow left inside you. Once you have been lonely and afraid, some of your loneliness and fear always remains, no matter how wonderful the present is.

But perhaps, once you have experienced loss and loneliness and fear, that suffering makes you able to seek out joy wherever you can find it. The dark times become a gift when they open your eyes to what is truly important. And if you watch very carefully, the worry train always offers a different track leading to another journey filled with hopeful possibilities.

As the girls slept, the happy little house pondered these truths.

And, although the happy little house remembered the stormy times when the sky had been filled with menacing clouds and thunder, and recalled the times forest fires had threatened with destruction, it chose, at that very moment, to remember other things instead.

Once upon a time the little house’s front door had been painted a cheerful, bright red and opened into a hallway cluttered with shoes and bookbags. Now, although the front door was faded red, the dead leaves and dirt had been swept away. The treasures of small children cluttered the space in happy disarray.

Once upon a time the little house’s clean and sparkling windows had become cracked and so covered with grime, sunlight could hardly find its way inside. Now, although the windows were still cracked, they had been cleaned and shined to let light flood throughout the swept and cared for little house.

Once upon a time the sad little house was filled with chaos and clatter and the chatter of children and the steady, calm voices of a mother and a father. Now, although the kitchen was free of the chipmunks constant scolding, and the squirrels and tiny, brown field mice had decided to live away from little feet running everywhere, the calm voices of a mother and a father had been replaced by the happy little house’s own steady reassurance.

And while the happy little house sifted and sorted through its thoughts and memories, the three little girls slept on.

To be continued on Tuesday, August 17th.

(c) 2010 Jennifer R. Matlock
This publication is the exclusive property of Jennifer R. Matlock and is protected
under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Jennifer R. Matlock. All rights reserved.

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14 comments:

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

With each passing chapter, I want to read more slowly and savor what's left of the tale......

Pat Wahler said...

If houses could speak...what stories they would tell!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I wonder what our house will think when we are gone.

Jeanie said...

The house sounds like a wise woman who has lived a full life.

Terry said...

I know I don't often comment on Tuesdays but I really am enjoying your story! Thanks for sharing it with us! :0)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

a story from a house's perspective?
what fun take.
it must be packed with memories,
the way u told them...
Happy Tuesday!

Susan Anderson said...

I think this is my favorite chapter so far.

It's quite lovely, Jenny.

=)

Marlene said...

WHEW...I thought this was THE END. Glad to see it's being continued! I need to know what happened to the chipmunks!

Mrs. M said...

So much history for this little house to ponder!

Terra said...

This chapter filled me with a heavy heart, a longing for truth and understanding. My favorite part? "The dark times become a gift when they open your eyes to what is truly important. And if you watch very carefully, the worry train always offers a different track leading to another journey filled with hopeful possibilities." whether house or human, fact or fiction - it is in fact reality - and the possibilities are endless!

Linda Medrano said...

Jenny, this is wonderful. The house has such wisdom and charm and sometimes I feel it smiling through your words.

Lourie said...

Every week it is the same...I can't wait to see what happens next!!! I suppose when it ends, I will have to go back and read it straight through. No waiting then. :D

The Words Crafter said...

I hope nothing comes back to disturb the happy little house's wonderful mood! I'm trying to get caught up from two insanely busy weeks and a computer that's acting like it has old timer's disease!!! Have a great week!

Tina said...

That's a very smart little house ;-) Nice chapter.