The Yellow House

Snow covered the rolling hills surrounding a lone farmhouse. The faded and chipped yellow paint standing out like a beacon. The only other color in the area was the faded red barn behind the house. Smoke rose from the chimney of the house into the air. The sounds of the various animals in the barn were the only thing breaking the peaceful quiet. Marie sat in her favorite rocking chair near the window that looked out into the empty hills.

Her and her husband Jake bought these fifteen acres from an elderly couple who could no longer keep up with the needs of the animal’s or the land. Currently Marie wasn’t much help either leaving poor Jake to do most things himself. She rubbed her extended stomach happily. She was pregnant with their first child and was getting close to her delivery date. Using the arms of the wooden chair Marie heaves herself up waddles her way to the kitchen to start supper. She was making Jake's favorite, fried chicken with chunky mashed potatoes and green beans. And she was also making an apple pie for afterwards. Jake has been working so hard lately she felt the need to spoil him.

Jake lifts his left arm to wipe his brow. He’s been cleaning the stalls for the cows and horses most of the afternoon. He would have been sooner but one of the barn cats had her kittens in one of the stalls and was putting up a fight when he tried to move her and the kittens to a safer place. “Blasted Jellybean, I’m just trying to help ya!” he calls to the feisty cat who is still occasionally glaring and snarling at him as he passes by. The tabby has held a grudge against Jake since they bought the farm five years ago. It liked Marie just fine but for some reason hated Jake. He puts the worn brown gloves he had on onto the work bench near the big sliding barn doors. It was nearing supper time and Marie got fussy when he was late coming in. Jake walked to each stall double checking that he gave enough feed and water to the animals.

On his way back to the doors he grabs a sack of chicken feed and heads to the East side of the barn where the chicken coop is. He uses a shovel that is placed against the shed to move the snow out of the pen before taking a few handfuls and sprinkling it out for the chickens. He returns the bag and pulls the barn doors shut to keep some warmth trapped inside.

As he turns back towards the house he spots something on the railing that goes all the way around the house. Frowning in confusion Jake walks closer and notices it’s a tawny colored barn owl. It’s circular white face aimed at him. He can feel the beady black eyes following his movements. One the toe of Jake's work boot hit the bottom step the bird spread it’s beautiful wings and took flight into the darkening sky. Jake shook his head in bewilderment and made his way to the back door. He made sure to stomp off and much show as he could off the boots. Marie would skin him alive if he tracked a wet muddy mess into the house. He tied them off and slid his feet into his house shoes.

Marie adds the finishing touches to the baked apple pie before setting it on the counter. As Jake comes into the kitchen area she is pulling out the dinner plates to start setting the table. Jake wraps his arms around her extended stomach and plants a kiss to the base of her neck. “What’s for dinner? It smells wonderful.” He moves to the sink to start washing his hands as Marie replies, “Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. I figured you deserved your favorite meal since you’ve been working so hard now that I can’t help much.”

The table gets set and they both pile food onto their plates. They talk about plans they have to improve their farm and hiring someone to help Jake since Marie will be busy taking care of the baby most of the time. Jake brings up the owl he saw on his way in and the strangeness of it. After dinner they both have a helping of the apple pie before retiring to bed. A new family starting a new life in their little yellow house.