Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Family Home (05/29/08)
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TITLE: A Day in the Life... | Previous Challenge Entry
By Annora Williams
06/01/08 -
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“Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep.” The alarm clock splits the silence. First one up is Mom. She rises to begin her morning ritual- clothes, make-up, hair. Then it is down the hall to awaken Child One, Child Two, and Child Three. Back in her room again, she starts the shower for Dad. There is lots of activity in the individual rooms as the day begins.
Soon the bustling will move downstairs for breakfast and the preparations to leave for work and school. I love the sounds in the morning- cabinets opening and closing, toaster popping out frozen waffles, slurping of milk, little ones searching for shoes, packing of last minute items into backpacks. The routine is somewhat chaotic yet strangely comforting to me. I know that within a short while I will be left alone to anticipate their return this evening.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am but a building; a frame atop a foundation with walls to divide my interior into rooms, but I have become more than simply a house thanks to the family that dwells within me. They have made me a home by painting my walls, adding personal touches to each room, sharing secrets in the dark of night when no one other than me- and God-is listening, and filling me with laughter and purpose. Through their daily lives, they continue to bring the warmth of love into the still, lifeless air that was in me before their arrival.
I sit and mull over these things as I take stock of my interior. My family takes care of me, but I still bear the marks of living. A few stains on the carpet and dings in the walls add to my personality, character if you will. They are like bumps and bruises on a youngster-badges worn proudly to prove that adventures have come and gone. I enjoy remembering how I obtained some of these marks. The slight dent in the wall in the dining room came from Child One playing with his Hot Wheels cars and flying one across the room at a high rate of speed. Child Two provided the stain of pink nail polish that is conveniently hidden beneath her clothes hamper. My garage possesses a hole courtesy of Child Three from when he was learning to ride his bike and did not quite have the hang of brakes just yet. And of course there are the marks that were purposely placed on my door frames to record the growth of these same children over the years.
The day passes slowly as my memories wash over me; the sun moves across the sky and I gaze across the yard. Patiently I wait. As late afternoon approaches I finally see the truck turn the corner that carries most of my family, and my garage door begins to lift. Mom parks, and the children spill into the yard to run and play before starting homework. I stand watch and smile to myself at their antics knowing that Mom has dinner preparations underway and Dad will be arriving home soon. Thus the evening passes: Supper is cooked and eaten, homework is completed, baths are taken, and each child is tucked into bed with a story followed by a kiss after prayers are said.
Mom and Dad stay up awhile to tend to other tasks and talk to each other as they wind down from their day. Before long they will make their way upstairs, but only after each door has been double checked and lights turned off. Mom makes one last round to re-tuck and kiss each child before retiring for the night herself.
I settle in with the knowledge that my family will soon be asleep, and I will be left to protect them. Alone once again with my thoughts, but this time with the people who have made me a home-not just a house-safely tucked within the loving embrace of my walls.
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"They are like bumps and bruises on a youngster-badges worn proudly to prove that adventures have come and gone."
This is one of the better pieces that I have read in intermediate so far this week. Good job!
When I said this is one of the "better" entries this week in intermediate, I didn't mean it as though the other entries aren't as good. I just really liked this entry a lot. It stood out to me, but that doesn't mean that the other entries are poor.
I just wanted to make that clarification. :)