The Owl and The Barn

Act One - Alex

"Alex! what is taking so long, dinner is almost ready" says my father with a bello of authority. "ill be down in a minute I have to wash up" I replied, while I'm desperately hiding my paint brushes. I have a hard time with my father. Someone who I respect especially how hard he works with the farm. its been passed down generation to generation in Kent county since our family settled here in 1792 but this isn't the life for me. I've always wanted to move away and become a artist but Mr. Albert Tyler wants me to take over the family business to continue the supply chain of sweet corn.

I make my way down stairs where I see my sister Leanna setting the table just how mom use to do it before she died. she had dreams like me, to live somewhere that doesn't smell of manure. she died 2 years ago. She had long curly black hair, thin and almost olive complexion that most Greek woman have. Mom and dad use to fight about money and how they're struggling to keep the farm but my father loves his family home. "Thea the Tyler's have been here over 300 years and selling the farm is out of the question. ill die before I let that happen" like saying that would help her understand that going down with the ship with the captain isn't so bad. she died the next morning and my father has been struggling more each day.

"You're just in time! I made steak with charred sweetcorn salsa!" says Leanna. "great more corn" said with a hint of resentment while I sit down at the table. "well, people have to eat Alex" snarls my father while sitting at the head of the dinner table. Leanna always wanted to become a chef but like me she's going down with the ship. Leanna makes a plate for all of us and set one plate in front of me "I'm sorry Leanna, it smells great" an attempt to make everyone more at ease. Leanna doesn't say a word puts a plate for dad and sits across from me.

I start to eat when I hear my father "So what are you painting"? with a grueling stare. "what are you talking about"? "don't lie to me, I smell the fumes and you have paint dried on your hand!" as he slammed his fist on the dinning room table like how a bull stomps his hooves like his ready to charge and the red paint doesn't help. "please daddy, no more fighting!" Leanna frantically replies while brushes her hair away from her face. "I'm not trying to fight, I was doing a painting of the barn! its a hobby and no more." dad stairs at me with disappointment. "you know I need both of you here at this farm especially you Alex. your sister cant run this farm by herself and I've sacrificed too much to have my only son finger paint." not only I'm being sucked into this black hole of a conversation, I'm enraged that he my own father mocks my dreams. "what like mom?" I replied with instant regret. "You son of a..." Albert stops as his red face begins to go white. He collapses and splits his head open on the dinning room table. Leanna is in shock. Almost resembling The Scream painting by Edvard munch but with long curly black hair, hands on her cheeks under it all. it takes me a second to run to the phone. "911 what's your emergency?" says the operator.

Act Two - Albert

the last thing I remember I'm grilling my son at the dinner table but now, I'm somewhere else. its dark and I'm laying down in my bed. its cold with the wind howling through the open window. the room is hazy, it's like there's smoke coming from somewhere but I don't smell anything. especially with the wind I should smell the corn field? I go to close the window but when I get up. A barn owl perch itself on the window sill. the haunting stare puts chills down my spine and I cant move. I've never seen this owl but it feels like I've known her for a long time.

"what do you want?" I asked like I'm expecting her to tell me. the owl continues to stare." why are you still here, leave me!" as I rush to the window. I get to the window the owl has flown across the backyard and landed on top of the barn staring back at me. even though the distance between the barn and I is almost a acre, the owl is the only thing focus on. I notice the owl is saying something. I need to know what she's trying to tell me.I close my window and run out of my bed room.

I see my son Alex at the end of the hallway covered in red paint. "I told you to stop painting! this obsession is going to be the death of me!" I run pass him down the stairs to trip and fall on a skillet. steak and charred sweetcorn fly's all over the dinning room floor and I crack my head open on the hardwood. Leanna is in the dinning room and starts to cry. "you've ruined everything" she yells. I cant talk to her right now I need to know what she's trying to tell me I wipe the blood off my forehead and run out of the house.

I go straight to the barn but when I look where the owl was. I see Thea my Ex-wife. I'm in disbelief, I know now this is a dream but she's trying to tell me something. I drop to my knees and ask "what do you want from me!?" I plead. she replies "Beep..... Beep.... Beep....."now all I see is white

Act Three - Leanna

"Daddy your awake!" I scream as I see him put his hands up blocking the light. "where am I?" asked dad. "Mr. Tyler I'm doctor alba your at Chatham-Kent hospital how are you feeling?" says the doctor next to me. "where's your brother?" asked dad. "I'm right here". as Alex stops drawing and go to grabs his fathers hand.

"I'm really sorry" says Alex "No I'm sorry," says daddy. I've been really hard on you guys the past two years. with your mom gone, you guys are the only two I can count on and that's putting pressure on you both. I wont stop you guys from doing what you love. if you want to be a artist or a chef or whatever I don’t care because life is too short to fail at something you don't want so you might as well try at something you do want." he grabs my hand "I love you both" he says while kissing both our hands.

"You are very lucky to be alive Mr. Tyler" says doctor alba "what happened to me?" asked daddy. "you suffered a heart attack Mr. Tyler. you're going to be ok now. I'm going to check the results of your blood work and ill be back. you seem to be in good hands."

Alex picks up his sketch book off the table and walks the doctor to the door and starts small talk with him. I'm not sure what they're saying. "do you really mean that I can become a chef?" I asked. "Yes Leanna just no more steak and sweetcorn ok? I laughed and said "yes dad, what ever you say" he wipes the tears off my face as Alex stands next to the bed. "now show me you've been working on" asked daddy. Alex starts to tear up and asks "are you sure you don't wanna see my finger painting?" then we all start to laugh.

Alex opens the book and shows Daddy. "its our barn but it didn't seem to be enough so I put a owl on top, what do you think?" dads face turns pail white again but for good this time. his grip loosens from my hands and flatlines.

The End