October Writing: Glass and Marbles
The house is rather dilapidated, like all the others in town. There’s glass in two of the windows; the small one in the bathroom and another tiny one in the bedroom. The entry used to have a half circle stained glass window above the door, but all that remains is part of the lead frame, one tiny piece of red glass, and one sparkly marble. Sitting below, and about 10 feet back from the door, is an old armchair. In it is sitting a boy, about 8 years old, waiting for the sun to rise and shine through that one piece of red glass and the sparkly marble. He had dragged the chair from its normal place with some difficulty, as it was heavy and the floors were carpeted. There was no one home to help him. Didn’t they know that he needed his help? Somehow it just wasn’t fair. After it happened, Daddy didn’t come home from work. Mommy tried to find him, but she didn’t have any luck. And then Mommy had gone too, saying that she had to go somewhere. Where, he couldn’t remember. He remembered watching her walk away. She was clutching a doll that hung limply in her arms and it scared him. He doesn’t know why he didn’t go with her; maybe it was because of the doll. Anyway, she was gone, and he didn’t know where.
He was so lost in his memories that he almost didn’t notice the sunrise. The light was shining through the one piece of red glass and the sparkly marble, just like he knew it would; just like it did every morning. It was the prettiest thing ever. He wondered what it would feel like to be the one piece of red glass, or the sparkly marble. He tried to remember what the window would look like, with all the holes filled with glass and marbles. His tummy rumbled, interrupting his daydreaming, so he went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Empty. Cabinet. Empty. Instead of food, he went out to the stream that ran through the back yard and had a drink. He spent the day playing with army men, coloring with the nubs of his 6 crayons, and daydreaming, and other things that little boys do. He remembers having more crayons, but he used them up and doesn’t know how to get more. He feels so tired, but it’s not dark yet, so he’ll play just a little bit longer. He goes up to his room and curls up in his bed. As he looks out the window, the sun sets and the sky turns dark blue, then black. It was never this black before, but it’s ok, because he can see all the stars. So many. He falls asleep stargazing.
The house is rather fine, like all the others in town. This one has a half circle stained glass window filled with the colors of the morning sun and has little marbles set into it too. A little boy is watching the sunrise as it shines through the glass and the marbles. It’s so sparkly and pretty. “Good morning kiddo!” says his dad from behind him. “Daddy!” The boy turns and runs to his dad, hugging him fiercely. They go into the kitchen and there is his mom making breakfast, and his little sister is in her high chair, waving a wooden spoon around. “Mommy!” He runs to her and gives her a huge hug. “Mommy, I had a really weird dream last night”.
He was so lost in his memories that he almost didn’t notice the sunrise. The light was shining through the one piece of red glass and the sparkly marble, just like he knew it would; just like it did every morning. It was the prettiest thing ever. He wondered what it would feel like to be the one piece of red glass, or the sparkly marble. He tried to remember what the window would look like, with all the holes filled with glass and marbles. His tummy rumbled, interrupting his daydreaming, so he went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Empty. Cabinet. Empty. Instead of food, he went out to the stream that ran through the back yard and had a drink. He spent the day playing with army men, coloring with the nubs of his 6 crayons, and daydreaming, and other things that little boys do. He remembers having more crayons, but he used them up and doesn’t know how to get more. He feels so tired, but it’s not dark yet, so he’ll play just a little bit longer. He goes up to his room and curls up in his bed. As he looks out the window, the sun sets and the sky turns dark blue, then black. It was never this black before, but it’s ok, because he can see all the stars. So many. He falls asleep stargazing.
The house is rather fine, like all the others in town. This one has a half circle stained glass window filled with the colors of the morning sun and has little marbles set into it too. A little boy is watching the sunrise as it shines through the glass and the marbles. It’s so sparkly and pretty. “Good morning kiddo!” says his dad from behind him. “Daddy!” The boy turns and runs to his dad, hugging him fiercely. They go into the kitchen and there is his mom making breakfast, and his little sister is in her high chair, waving a wooden spoon around. “Mommy!” He runs to her and gives her a huge hug. “Mommy, I had a really weird dream last night”.