Rebecca Redd

The Cottage

The Cottage By: Rebecca Redd The old grandfather clock ticked away in the corner of the parlor. Through the glass window pane, she saw large, soft snowflakes whirl around frantically giving the early signs of a snow storm. A fire was lit in the weathered-brick fireplace; it crackled softly, the occasional ember leaping from the fire becoming white ash. She sat there, in the antique, over- stuffed, arm chair sipping her tea. This was her first night in the cottage alone. The cottage was her inheritance from her favorite Uncle Thomas. After 12 years of seeing his face on the missing persons posters and plastered on every police website, Uncle Thomas was declared dead. The little cottage was half a mile outside of a small town, down a bumpy, dirt road, and set deep in the forest. Upon her arrival, she met the groundskeeper, Mr. Jones, who gave her the house keys. He maintained the grounds for years and gave her a quick tour before driving off into the snowy evening. The cottage had two moderate sized bedrooms, a large kitchen, a parlor room, and two bathrooms. It was perfect. The walls of the parlor were covered by large, oak book cases and each case was meticulously lined with old novels and works of great poets. As she gazed around the room, something caught her eye on fireplace mantel. A small, glass globe sat alone, slightly shadowed by a large oil painting. She set her cup of tea on the end table, slipped her feet into her slippers and tightened her sweater around her body. She stood up and walked toward the oil painting to get a better look. The painting was masterfully crafted; the strokes of paint were raised, creating a unique texture with beautiful autumn colours. As she admired the work of art, she wondered why she inherited this coveted cottage. Just before she headed out for the cottage, her family begrudgingly wished her a good trip, the image of their sour, jealous expressions lingered in her mind. She had recently chosen to go back to school to further her education. The University was located 20 minutes outside the little town near the cottage. For her, the timing of the inheritance and her first semester worked out wonderfully.