Childhood Memories

The old barn had always been something that interested little Maryann Hunters. She was fascinated by the old red wood that was peeling in multiple spots, at the doors that hung precariously on their hinges, by the setting sun behind it, lighting up the barn and making it look like it was glowing. She was only 5, the first time she saw it, and while everyone else in her family commented that it should probably be torn down before it fell on its on, Maryann could only find it the most beautiful thing in the world.

As she grew older, that old barn grew even more beautiful to her.

When she was 12, Maryann and her friends decided to spend the night in the barn. There were 5 of them, the eldest being Lilly at 14, the youngest Drew, who was 11. They arrived there by four-wheeler, which Lilly drove, as she learned how to just a few months before the sleepover. Lilly took over all the supplies first, and then took each girl one by one until they were all gathered in front of the decaying red doors.

"This place is creepy." Danni spoke up, tucking some of her brown her behind her ears.

Maryann giggled. "I don't think so. I think it's pretty."

"You're joking, right? Mary you can't honestly think we'll sleep in here now that we've seen it." Ashley whispered, shivering slightly.

"Oh, come on guys!" Drew said. "We've already brought all our stuff. And it'll be fun!"

Maryann grinned, pointing at her friends, "Believe it!"

Lilly rolled her eyes as the girls around her dissolved into giggles. "No quotes please, for my health." Her words only made the laughter get bigger.

They walked into the barn, and the night began.

They explored, ate food, talked, played games, and all sorts of things until finally, one by one, the girls all drifted off to sleep, leaving Maryann the only one awake.

She stared peacefully up at the barn roof from where she lay, observing the dark corners lit up by the full moon outside that snuck in through the crevices of the building. Her last thought before falling asleep was: one day, I'll live here.

At 17, she went to her first party.

Bill Wheeler was the most popular kid at school, and his parties were infamous. Everyone wanted to go, and being his girlfriend, Maryann got first pick at where the party would take place this year.

"How about that old barn just pass 11th street?" she suggested, smiling at him. Bill glanced over at her in confusion.

"That old thing? Isn't it, like, falling apart?" he asked.

Maryann blinked. "Well, yes. But it's also a really good spot. Nobody would call in for noise complaints."

Bill nodded. "That's true." he tapped his chin. "I'll go check the place out with Mark later. See how it looks. Then we'll decide."

Maryann smiled, kissing his cheek and standing up. "I've got to go to the library. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay. I'll see you later."

The party did end up being at that old barn. It was the best party Bill had ever thrown, according to whispers later that week.

It wasn't until she was 22 that the barn was finally torn down.

Maryann had been living in the city, following her dream of being an artist, and visited home from college for Christmas break when she found out about it.

"What do you mean it's being torn down?" she had cried out. "It's been like that for years and it hasn't hurt anybody!!"

Her father shook his head. "I know you loved that place, Annie." he said. "But it's long overdue. It's dangerous, and so many kids want to explore it. Don't think we don't know about all those nights you spent over there. Children all over town are following in your footsteps and Georgie Mason fell from the roof the other day. He broke his leg."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Well, I'm sorry he got hurt but that's his own fault! The barn didn't ask to be climbed."

Her mom sighed. "Maryann you're not hearing us. The roof caved in from under him. It almost hurt his friends underneath. We're lucky nobody died. It's too dangerous."

That week, Maryann had to watch as the barn was taken down. A single tear fell from her eye.

That was her childhood, her escape from life when it got hard. She had so many memories there. So much laughter had echoed off those old red walls, and now they were gone.

Taken away because it was old.

It was a tragedy.

3 years later, Maryann had still been unsuccessful as an artist. Nobody was buying her pieces, and each time it happened she fell deeper into a deep sadness that shook her bones.

On a phone call with Lilly, she finally figured out why.

"It's because it's not you, Mary." Lilly said. "You're drawing portraits, people you see on the street, and they're beautiful pieces, but everyone can tell you're not into it. You aren't creating something that you love. That's what your problem is."

And finally, finally, Maryann figured out what was wrong. Lilly was right. She wasn't attached to her artwork. Not like she was to the barn.

To the barn...

"Lilly, you're a genius! I've got to go, bye!"

She barely heard Lilly's stammered goodbye of surprise.

It took a long time, but she finished the drawing by the end of the week. All that was left was to paint it.

When the painting was done, she stepped back and surveyed her artwork.

It was, without a doubt, the best painting she'd ever created.

The rough wood stood out against the grey clouds and bright sunset. The old grass seemed to dance in the wind, twirling this way and that. It was beautiful. And it looked exactly like how she'd seen it that first time, at the little age of five.

A place to make memories.

And those are the best types of places.