(1)
To some, once they’ve rounded the little curve in the lane, it didn’t look like much. But to her, this small cabin, along with its six trailer pads with hookups, was a little slice of heaven. Perfection – sure, she could see the plethora of elbow grease that would be required to make it inhabitable, but oh, the beauty. The cabin sat a few hundred feet from the back of the cove, quietly hidden in the trees, almost forgotten. The exterior certainly showed its years – the patina from the faded redwood stain mixing with the grey barn wood underneath. Part of her just wanted to sand the flakes off, apply a sealer and leave it but….this was to be her main source of income and those that would come would want shiny and new….always shiny and new. Sighing….she wandered slowly around the outside making note of the things that would have to be brought up to snuff before she opened….patching the sandstone walkway, adding new pavers to the top of the sea wall, repairing the bottom two steps to the deck and she really should look into patching the moss covered clay roof tiles. She made special note of the triple oak tree growing up at the side of the cabin – it would be a perfect place to hide a little tree house – just like the little one she wished for when she was a kid. She let herself ponder those days just for a moment before getting back to her list…..a lot of work to do before opening day.
She turned the key in the lock and took a deep breath before pushing open the door. Desperate for a change she had answered an online ad for the property. The ad, complete with glossy pictures, promised a charming trip back in time…..wicker rockers on the porch, geraniums swaying in their hanging pots. The realtor had warned her that, despite all the pretty pictures, it wasn’t much and cautioned her about buying the property sight unseen but she knew in her gut that it was the right thing to do. She wasn’t afraid of hard work….determined that nothing would scare her off. The cabin was nothing more than one large room with a bathroom. Right inside the door to the left, the tiny bathroom was complete with a cobweb covered claw foot tub and pedestal sink. She didn’t venture too far in…the thought of any eight legged, furry critters made her shiver. To the right, a small kitchen, complete with an old green enamel Sears and Roebuck stove. She could see it shined up, gingham curtains hanging at the little window above the sink. Home. Venturing further into the room, the sunlight that poured through the filthy bank of windows took her breath away….there was beauty there. Once scrubbed and shined with vinegar and newspaper, the view of the cove would be amazing. An old iron bed cowered against the back wall, its mattress and linens long gone. She could envision it being covered in quilts and lots of pillows for lazy day lounging and watching the squirrels play through the windows. It would be a while before those days came but it was certainly something to works towards. There was a tiny alcove in the far corner of the room, between a small fireplace and the windows. It would be perfect for her sewing table and quilt frame. And old ladder leaned against the other corner of the room. It led up to a tiny loft, barely big enough for even someone of her small stature to stand. It made her think of a little doll house and would be perfect for any tiny visitors that may come to her door. The old pine board flooring was scuffed and dented. It would need to be sanded and sealed before she could move her simple furnishings in. She would hardly contain her excitement. She would live here, in the cabin, while she worked to get the campground ready. Her hope was that this would become a haven for families. She dreamed of campfires, the smell of marshmallows roasting and children playing.
She had been told that in its day, this little resort had been booming with business. There were some remains of an old cabin or two as well as an old cement building stood on the upper side of the cabin. The metal rungs empty from the carriage doors that once hung there. An old wooden sign, haphazardly thrown in a corner, proclaimed this to be the “game room”. Remnants of a forgotten hopscotch game still showed in the center of the old concrete floor. She could almost hear the voices of the children playing. Behind a stack of boxes filled with long ago newspapers, was a screen door. She pushed it open to reveal what appeared to be a summer kitchen, surrounded by screened windows on three sides – so many possibilities, she couldn’t wait to get her sketchpad out and start dreaming. But, for tonight, she would retreat to her little home on wheels….tomorrow would be soon enough….she would roll up her sleeves and embark upon her new journey.
(I'm writing again....it was a promise I made to myself for the new year. It's fiction....it in no way, outside of my own dreams, has anything to do with real life. And, it's protected under my copyright @grasshopperlanedesigns.)
enjoy –
jen
