The Home in the Hollow

I gagged as I walked through the doorway. The smell of cigarettes mingled with the smell of pet urine and the staleness of a house left neglected for months. The walls were covered with a layer of dark film from years of smoke. I walked forward and into the living room. Dark walls and carpet made it feel like a cave. Narrow doorways lead back to the kitchen. I paused and wrinkled my nose. This had to be the worst smelling room. "Well at least the kitchen isn’t too bad. A good scrubbing and fresh coat of paint will freshen it right up.” I thought to myself.

Caleb guided me up to the second floor. Three small bedrooms and one large bathroom, with hideous wallpaper, were waiting at the top of the steps. Only one closet between all three bedrooms. The first was small and cluttered with remnants from the previous owner. An ugly shade of purplish blue covered the walls. On the bright side this room had a closet.

The next was the biggest of the 3 bedrooms. An old, pink, striped wallpaper covered crumbly horsehair plaster. “We’ll probably make this one the master bedroom” Caleb and I agreed. On to the bathroom we went. Surly it hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time. Layers of soap scum, and hard water marks lined the sink, tub, and toilet. I sighed. Hours of work laid ahead of us.

The final bedroom was the smallest with a tiny door leading to the attic. You almost couldn’t open the attic door with all the junk piled in the room. We pressed on and wiggled our way through the mess towards the attic. A stifling hot wave of air rushed over me. The unusually warm autumn day made the small attic feel like an oven. Not much space, but lovely pine boards lined the old floor.

“Well, what do you think?” He asked me as we retreated back outside to the fresh air. “I love it! It’s a dream come true. As we headed back to our townhouse, we discussed the possibilities for our new property. We had so many hopes for our new place. I envisioned gardens, animals, fruit trees, and of course, a cozy place to call home. This was the start of something great.