House

Outside, the wind bounces the baked leaves of the nearby trees. Inside, the air conditioner ruffles my hair and the pages of books and notes recently unpacked. It is dim and hot outside, overcast with rain withheld. I sit in the cooler dimness of our shelter's interior, conserving energy for air conditioner and for unpacking.

The house is filling up with our smells, of food and furniture, of detergent and soap and cat litter. Sometimes it surprises us with one of its own; this morning I panicked at the smell of burning wood in the living room, only to discover that the cat had flipped open the lid to the ash catcher below the fireplace. (At least, that is what I assume it is; why else would there be a hole in the bottom of the fireplace, with a metal lid atop it?)

As we race and plod up stairs and down, our bodies are mapping the landscapes of creaks and groans, of silent boards and complaining ones. The cat thunders on the stairs, despite her small size, and creeps around boxes and into closets, the tinkling of her bell the only comment on her presence. The air conditioners whoosh like tides in my attic and the living room, and rush like brooks in the rooms on the second floor. The grinding and rattles of traffic drift through the trees to us; through gaps in the calm green foliage we see cars darting frantically through space.

It is a good house, but large and complicated in its quirks. Will we live here long enough to understand it? I do not know.

Comments

[jo(e)]

What great descriptions in this post! I love the idea of your bodies getting to know the house.

[Rana]

Well, so far it's mostly been a physical experience! We haven't gotten it to the point where we can just sit and think about it.

It is funny, though, how much of our inhabitation of space has shifted; things that were on one side are now on the opposite, the kitchen's layout is so different, the house is oriented on the vertical rather than the horizontal...

[marja-leena]

Lovely and thoughtful words indeed, as jo(e) said. Wishing you happiness in your new home, whether it's for a long time or short!

[Artist Friend]

Doesn't jo(e)'s comment sound so like her? Your descriptions are beautiful.

[Rana]

Thank you!

And, AF, yes it does. Which, of course, makes sense. ;)

[bridget]

your descriptions are great!

[Rana]

Thanks! I do try!