 |
Storyteller's Cabin |
Written by Anne Gilstrap
As they wandered off into the cooler woods gathering wildflowers, they came to a clearing. There, in the middle of the clearing, was a small cottage, run down so badly even the shutters hung at an angle - never again to cover the windows that had lost most of their window panes - and a porch with tall grass, growing where there were no boards.
With a sudden burst of recklessness, the girls raced to the cottage. As they reached the half open front door, Cathy called out, "Is there anybody home?" And then they laughed, for of course, there was no one there.
As they came into the front room that at one time may have been pretty, they found it was full of dust and cobwebs, and stuffing falling out of the sofa cushions. Hurrying along to the next room, they found a kitchen with a table set for a meal, looking as if someone had hurriedly left the room, the chair being pushed half way aside at the table.
A growing sense of being watched overwhelmed the girls. They bolted from the room and down the hall.
As they reached the stairs, curiosity overcame their fear, and they climbed the stairs to the second floor. Kathy opened the door to the left of the hallway. "Whew!" she said as she viewed the pretty brass bed with a dirty old quilt that had become home for many different wild animals.
Closing the door, Kathy crossed the hall and gasped as she opened the door. Nan looked over her shoulder and saw a room as neat as a pin, no dust anywhere - a shining floor with an old worn rug, tattered curtains hanging listlessly at the open windows. And there in the middle of the room was a rocking horse, rocking back and forth very fast as if a child had just jumped off.
Return to top
