If Walls Could Talk

If walls could talk at the Old Lake Mont Resort, they would tell a story of the day Maggie Tate came to live. That is the day a thin break of light in the darkness began to grow as a force was exerted upon the wall outside the dark room. Dust particles danced in and out of the beam as the air was stirred up. Harsh scraping of wood across the floor broke seven years of silence. With a final push of force and a grunt of exertion the bright sunlight came flooding into the building, the darkness retreating into the corners. Layers of dust and cobweb covered mounds began to take the shape of large plastic drop clothes draped over tables and chairs.

The Old Lake Mont Resort got the first look at its new owner as a middle-aged woman dressed in jeans and a plaid work shirt took her first steps into the darkness. She took in a deep breath and coughed slightly as the dust she had just disturbed tickled her throat. She pulled up her face mask covering her nose and mouth but her excitement and wonder could still be seen in the rosy apples of her cheeks that peeked over the top of her mask and in the smile her eyes reflected as she looked around.

Feeling the wall, she looked for a light switch but found nothing but sticky cobwebs that gave her shivers as she pulled her hand back quickly. “Hank, do we have power to the main building yet?” Her voice was pleasant and kind as she raised her volume to be heard by another unknown presence outside. The old resort watched and reserved judgment for the moment.

“The schematic says the main breaker is in the back room I’ll see if I can trace it out.” The second voice belonged to an older man that stepped in the building. He walked with heavy steps and the purpose of someone who got work done. The darkness retreated further into the corners and behind objects as Hank turned on a work light strapped around his baseball cap, it then closed back in behind him as he walked off into the back rooms.

The woman held a phone in her hand with a bright light coming from a small point on the back. She held it high trying to get a look at her new investment. Her Hazel eyes could be seen clearly now, they had an inner calm and her sandy blond hair which was pulled back in a messy bun at the top of her head looked soft and curly. The resort regarded her for a moment as if deciding something.

The distant click of metal being pushed into place heralded a series of pops and hums as the lights began to flicker on.

“Well Ms. Tate. We have light. A few of the fixtures seem to need some attention but give me a day or two and it’ll be as bright as day in here.” Hank looked around taking note of several things that needed immediate attention. “Looks like we might need to set a few traps and bug bombs to discourage the mice and insects.” As if answering that statement with distaste the building creaked.

“All in due time Hank, lets get to know the place before we start handing out eviction notices to the wildlife, after all they have been here longer than us at this point. And call me Maggie I left the formality of Ms. Tate back in Chicago.”

“I’ll call you ma’am; it just doesn’t feel right being so informal with my boss.”

Maggie shivered jokingly, “Ok, you win, Ms. Tate is fine. Just don’t call me Ma’am I may be in my 40’s I’m just not ready to come to terms with that yet.” A playful grin could still be inferred from behind the blue facemask.

Hank nodded; a jovial smile crossed his face that pulled the laugh lines tight around his dark brown eyes. “Well Ms. Tate, If you draw up a list of things that need to be fixed and addressed, I’ll get started on them first thing tomorrow. I’m going to look around and familiarize myself with the old place.”

“Thank you Hank I’ll holler if I need you. I’m going to do the same.” Maggie Tate stood alone in the main building an overwhelmed sigh escaping from her. “Well, I wanted a change of pace, I just wish I had realized this dream 20 years ago when I had more energy.” She snorted a resigned laugh, “I do like the place though.”

The Old Lake Mont Resort decided that it too liked this new owner, this Maggie Tate with the smiling eyes.