"The Life Within"

by Steven J. McDaniel
The old house was in slight disarray. The windows didn't seem to close as tightly as they once did. The lawn was over due for a mowing. The front door had small finger prints from little hands that had recently played in the dirt. The roof was lightly sprinkled with needles from the enormous pine tree that stood triumphantly in the neighbor's backyard. The sidewalk was cracked in several places, obviously from the years of earth's constant movement. From the road, it appeared to be just another house.
Children ran to the front door from somewhere in the side yard. A young boy of about five years old led the way, followed by a tottering three year girl, curls bouncing as she walked. Directly behind the two children came a beautiful young woman, locking the gate to the side yard as she came through. She smiled at the two young ones and told them, "Hurry up, Daddy'll be home soon." She walked with the grace of one blessed by the hand of God himself.
The little boy opened the door and ran inside, followed by his sister. The young woman stepped onto the porch, looked down the street as if hoping to see someone coming. She looked down at the flower bed by the front door. After staring for several moments, she took one more look down the road, then walked inside, and closed the door.
The life of the house was not reflected by the outside; the life was within.