The early morning sun promised a clear, comfortable day ahead. Fifteen miles away, a crew of house movers lifted and transferred a tired, dusty-red cottage from its pillars onto a trailer. The Cottage awoke from a long, abandoned slumber and turned its gaze inward. Another truck gathered the porch that had been removed and set aside for moving purposes, and the cement pillars that held the house up off the ground. Followed by a pickup truck carrying mandated signage indicating a wide load ahead, they caravanned out of the driveway, trundled up the county road to the highway, turned left towards the west. It was a cool, dewy morning on Popcorn Road, like most fall days, except everyone was up a little earlier than usual. This got all the animals’ attention as they wondered what was in it for them. Breakfast earlier than usual? A walk down to the river? In the early days, as the House on Popcorn Road began to take form and awaken, it remembered in particular, a pa
Peanut-butter crackers Two peanut-butter crackers sat waiting on the kitchen counter as a cool, fall night, blanket of air descended. Supper was finished, dishes done, counters wiped. Outside the stoop in the last slivers of light, the dogs played a nightly game of tug-of-war with a long, rugged, old stropping strap, while anticipating the squeak of the screen door. It happened. Silhouetted by the dining hall light, she stood quietly in the doorway. The dogs sat at attention, awaiting the signal. With a flick of the hand, the ok signal, the dogs launched like rockets up the steps, landing on the linoleum, toenails scraping frantically for traction to immediately round the corner to the right, and crash enthusiastically into their awaiting crates, ending in a firm, expectant sit. The reward, a peanut-butter cracker, each. Best part of the day. The crate door was shut, and the canvas pulled down, adding warmth and darkness to their dens. The house on Popcorn R