Fred the cat was happy in the tumbledown, comfortable house he shared with Jake. He liked the soft feel of the worn floor and the way that floor squeaked when Jake shuffled across it. He liked the sag in the ceiling and the way the light swayed and shadows danced when the wind blew hard […]
Time and Again
An old man once lived there, in the small house, years, generations, decades ago. The chimney is left standing and a few walls cling to each other, as if in comfort in this wilderness of bushes, weeds, vines, rose bushes, and oak trees. He was not a hospitable man. He kept to himself, except […]
Houses and Homes
·God bless the corners of this house. This is part of an Irish blessing on a home. May your home be the place, a sanctuary of everlasting peace, begins a Jewish blessing. May the warm winds of heaven blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit bless all who enter there. May your moccasins make happy tracks in […]
Retreat to the Front
When life gets to be a bit much, I retreat to the front porch, my grandparents’ porch. It isn’t far–just a thought, a smile away. The porch is cool and shady, the rocking chair is comfortable. I see past the rock steps at the foot of the yard. I see across the road to Pappy’s […]
The Secret of the Old House
The Secret of the Old House sounds like a Nancy Drew mystery, doesn’t it? However, it isn’t; it’s a Manos mystery, the third one in the Ned McNeil series and although the story is about an old house that has a secret (or more than one secret) that isn’t the title; the title is […]