Cathy's Creative Corner: Corner of 4th and Pine
“Wow, look at this place!” exclaimed the only boy in the family of five children. “Will I get my own room?”
“There’s a smaller bedroom upstairs at the front of the house your mother and I think will work just fine for you,” answered his father.
“Where’s my room? Where’s my room?” chimed in the four girls.
“Let us get in the house and we’ll show you,” laughed their mother.
The parents could understand the children’s excitement. They were moving back to their small hometown after five years of living on the outskirts of a much bigger city. They basically lived in the country and had no neighbors. Every now and then, a friend from school came out to visit. Arriving at their new neighborhood, the first thing everyone noticed was all the kids.
“Y’all did great with this house, Dad,” commented the oldest daughter. “We’ve got neighbors! A cafe up the street! A playground down the street. A church across the street! It’s got everything.”
“What about the house itself?” joked the family patriarch. “You just described the neighborhood.”
“They’re gonna love it, honey,” his wife assured. “Right now, I just want to get out of this car and into the house before the movers get here with the rest of our things.”
Once inside, the children ran from room to room looking for their beds. Surprisingly, only the parents’ bedroom was located downstairs. They made a quick dash to the hallway composing a symphony of squeaks and creaks as they ascended the wooden staircase. “No running on the stairs!” yelled the mother, to no avail. Next came the choruses of “That’s our room! No, that’s our room. That’s my bed! No, that’s my bed.” The parents stayed downstairs knowing the older girls would handle the upstairs arrangements.
“Dad’s going to the café to get lunch. Anyone wanna walk with him?” the mother shouted up the stairs. The two youngest ran out of their room and slid down the stairs. Off they went.
The three remaining siblings decided to go downstairs and wait on the movers with their mom. They found her sitting in the swing on the porch. “This is gonna be my spot,” the second oldest made her claim. “There’s so much space out here that you won’t even get wet when it rains. I love this porch!”
“Can I go to the playground?” the young son pleaded.
“Not by yourself. Wait until after we eat and maybe your sisters will walk down with you. From there, y’all can go down the hill to let your grandparents know we’re here. Tell them we don’t have phone service yet but I’ll be coming by tomorrow after we’ve settled in.”
It was nice coming back home. The parents already had family and friends all around town. Some of the parents’ friends had come to visit where they lived before. Their children were already friends. Hopefully, more would be made in school. One big difference with the school system was that it was integrated. This would be the first encounter with white teachers and classmates for the three school-aged siblings. This family, however, foresaw no problem.
“We’re back,” announced the father as he unlatched the fence gate and escorted in the younger girls. “Would’ve been sooner but everyone had to have a look at my li’l princesses here.”
“Look at the corner, dear,” the matriarch directed her husband’s attention. “It didn’t get like that until after the girls came out to join me.”
“I see those knuckleheads,” he laughed, “and they see ME. Just remember, girls, the cool guys hang out on the corner. The athletic ones make their way to the ball courts. Athletes make more money than cool guys. Now, let’s go inside before these burgers get cold.”
That night at bedtime everyone had something to be thankful for: from the fabulous burgers, to the big front porch, to having his own room, to the blessing of having enough rooms to house this family of seven. In essence, it was one harmonious feeling. Thank you for our new beginning at the corner of 4th and Pine!
