Short Sweet Stories

I was thinking about how much I love my home right now. I don't think I want to leave it, really.

I find it fascinating that we can get attached to inanimate things. I'm not sure if its aesthetics or just nostalgic memories but some things we grow really attached too (like an old car, or a deck), and somethings we can throw away without care (like old furniture).


The light shined dimly threw the sliding backyard doors. The deck was mostly obscured by leaves and vines of the trees and ivy that grew in the yard surrounding the house. The hard wood floors and marble kitchen tiles looked almost like brand new. The house looked amazing except that it was empty.

David Watts stood in the centre of the house staring at the barren walls and empty rooms. He loved this house. His grandparents lived there for over 70 years and every summer he made sure to visit. His grandfather passed away 6 years ago and since then he visited weekly to help his grandmother take care of the place. He'd clean and cook for her every weekend. She passed away last week.

The family had decided to sell the house. If David had the money he would have bought it and moved in. He'd have to get a new job but it would've been worth it.

David walked to the kitchen. The cupboards were all open as if to showcase how spotless they were. He could still smell the cookies he used to bake with his grandmother every Christmas. Chocolate Haystacks, Oatmeal and Raisin cookies, he never did get the recipe for that one.

The old fridge hummed to life. David used to find comfort in that hum late at night when he was kid staying over. His grandfather told him it hummed to keep the monsters away, and when it stopped humming it meant there was no monsters around.

David climbed the steps, each one creaking as he went. He never could sneak out at night because of that. He rounded the top of the stairs and walked down the hall stopping at each bedroom as he passed. He had slept in all of them over his lifetime.

When he first came he slept in the large room at the top of the stairs. It had 2 beds. One big one, where his parents slept, and one small one, where he slept.

When he was older he'd sleep in the middle room. It had a desk where he used to do his homework for school. The window used to open out above the garage and he could climb out and sit on the roof for hours. His grandparents were furious every time he did it.

And the last room was the room his grandparents slept in. He'd slept there once when he was still a young child. His parents had left for the night and he was having nightmares. He asked his grandparents if he could sleep with them. They cleared a small spot on the bed and curled up next to them. David leaned on the doorway to their room. It still smelled like them.

David finally stepped out the front door of the house. He looked as the trees and hedges grew tall enough to block out the sight of any other houses around. He took a deep breathe and said one last silent goodbye to the familiar surroundings.