Chapter 2~
The walk through the Wood to the City’s gates was deathly quiet. The pull of Fin’s eyes as he bore a hole into Cos’ back as she walked away haunts her still. The four had passed a plethora of different shaped houses, some long or tall, short or stout, all covered in a rainbow of color choices. Upon arrival at her house the sound of disappointment oozes from the boys. A sturdy two story cabin-like house is going to be their “vacation”. No tree houses hiding in three trees in the center of the Wood creating a triangle and a getaway for each Lost. No splashing in the stream whenever the sun gets ready for bed. No hide and seek in the dead of night or scary stories around the fire pit with Fin rocking Calla to sleep. Everything the boys had begun to trust is now gone.
The bright turquoise door opens easily as Calla stood up on tiptoes to twist the knob. No open mouthed cave to watch the sun wake up, the Lost snuggling together in the big bed with Fin just getting up to go fishing. The inside was worse. Four walls locking the three rambunctious boys and Cos in. The one long room has the purpose of three. Kitchen to the right, eating room center and to the left a cozy sitting room. Gently pushing the Lost to the back wall in the left corner up the stairs to the second floor put a little light back in their eyes.
The upper part was similar except all four walls had large windows and the upper half of those windows could be pulled down letting the brisk spring air come inside. The front part of the room had ten desks pushed up against the two side walls with two large toy boxes on the back wall. A door was closed in between those boxes.
Noticing the curiosity, Cossette nudged Libtree forward. As he went dashing across the floor to the door, Calla waddls toward one of the toy boxes and lifts the lid up. Coal goes to the left wall, the one facing the City’s wall, and stood on one of the desks to see through the top window, to the Wood Fin taught him to love.
Though the back door only lead to a hallway with a couple bedrooms and a bathroom, the magic of a closed door broke the awkward strain.
“You guys can share this room.” Swaying into the hallway and opening the first door on the left. “My room is this one.” She stretches out her arm and touches the door knob on the right wall. “And that second door to the left is the bathroom.”
The room was bare. No fun hidey-holes or tall trees to climb in. Just one big bed pushed up against the back wall under the window and a dresser on the right wall. Unpacking didn’t take long.
“Look Coal! If we stand on the bed and open the window we can crawl right out and into the tree out here!”
“Your right Lib! Do you guys want to play out there before dinner?”
“Is that ok Cossette?”
“As long as you guys are careful it doesn’t matter to me Coal.”
Smiles, laughter, a little freedom in the tree and a light dinner created a relaxing first night in the new place. And tucked snuggly in bed, the Lost slept well as Cossette crept downstairs and out to the night sky.
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