“The Old Cartwright Home” Part I

        The plain, square white house with green shutters had always blemished the face of the picturesque countryside. There was nothing dirty or grotesque about the house or property. As a matter of fact, the house appeared absolutely normal on the inside. The bank maintained the lawn and kept the place looking presentable for hopes it would attract a buyer. The house had a foreboding presence like that of a venomous snake lying in wait within a pile of debris.

The old house had windows that didn't reflect the cars that drove by and there was an empty, hollow appearance. Years of vacancy showed no scars to reflect any sort of livelihood that inhabited the place. Locals, when driving by the house, would always turn and look as if it were a horrific side show, all the while those green shuttered eyes cast loneliness deep into the hearts of onlookers.

No one really knew the history of the house except that its tenants always rented briefly and left quickly. Since the last tenant, the house had sat for years, but was still maintained by the bank as if there was a glimmer of hope that the house might sell. But, who in their right mind would rent or buy a place so forbidden and strange.

Leonard James had finished packing the rest of his possessions and was closing the front door of his house of 25 years when he paused. It was odd locking the door as he and his wife never had. He began to well with tears, so many memories flooded Leonard's mind. He felt as if he was leaving her, but the move was all he could do to cope.

Leonard remembered bracing and then clinching when the doctor delivered the news that Janet had an acute form of cancer. It greatly upset them both, and immediately brought them to tears. From that day, Janet lived for three more months and then passed away. Leonard loved his wife and still had trouble accepting the events of the previous year. Continuing to live in the same house only brought up memories and caused more sadness, so he sold the old place and purchased another home.

The real estate broker was quite surprised when he received an offer on the little green shuttered white house. He asked Leonard had he even seen the inside, and Leonard replied he had stopped by and the back door was unlocked so he went in and took a tour. After closing, Leonard went by the house during the evenings to drop some of his belongings off. The little house was positioned on a nice piece of property that had a barn, a maple tree in front of the house, and a barbed wire fence that went around the entire property, which was about 3 acres. The nearest neighbor was several miles down the road so it was a very private place to live with a beautiful natural pastoral landscape.

Leonard drove over to the new place right after locking up the old house. Leonard thought the outside and inside of the house was very nice and found it odd that the real estate broker told him the place had been on the market for years now. That evening, Leonard stood at the kitchen counter and sliced a tomato for a BLT sandwich. He thought of his wife once and mentally shunned the thought . He went over to the kitchen sink to wash his hands, and glanced outside to admire the rolling hills in the dull gray light of early evening. Noticing the fence line, his passing glance became a stare when he saw what looked like someone or something standing just beyond the back yard. With curiosity, he walked over to switch on the porch light. Before he did so, he looked out the small window in the back door, and was somewhat relieved the figure was gone.


                                                    Copyright 2014 M.G. Wylder