for Sochien

The house was beautiful. It sat in a clearing on the edge of a forest, overgrown with vines and looking forlorn. It had once been a stately house. Italianate in style with ornate woodwork, ceiling medallions, and at one time a portico. She loved exploring these grand houses that had been left abandoned. She loved to imagine what life was like there. How the previous occupants lived and work. Adelaide had been to this location numerous times before. It was a favorite of hers. That’s why when it was listed for sale at a bargain price of $5,000 she jumped at the chance to buy it. As she drove down the dirt road toward the house she couldn’t believe how lucky she was.

The house was 30 minutes outside of Benne, a quaint town in upper Michigan. Adelaide had grown up here with her parents and two older brothers. Her parents Ruth and Joe still lived in the house she had grown up in and ran the local Storeporium, an all in one box store. Her brother Caleb lived in Gatesville with his wife Jenny and their kids and her other brother Liam lived a street over from their parents. Adelaide had gone to college in Gatesville and had been working at a garden store in the marketing department until a few months ago when she decided to move back to Benne and do the marketing for her parents’ store.

Adelaide first saw the house fifteen years ago when she and her friends were out exploring the nearby woods and had inadvertently turned down the dirt road that led to the house. The house was still occupied at the time by a reclusive old lady named Margaret. Margaret used to be a very social part of the community until her husband passed away when Adelaide was still in elementary. After that she just retreated to her home and lived out the rest of her days. The house had been vacant since, in some kind of legal limbo between Margaret’s children. Adelaide didn’t know exactly what that meant or why they just decided to sell at a loss all these years later.

She did know one thing; the house would be lots of work. Margaret’s children never cleaned out their mothers’ possessions and when she asked if they wanted anything they just said no. So before the fun of remodeling and decorating could begin she had to clean up decades of belongings. Luckily the foundation and structure were in good shape and the roof had been replaced the year before Margaret died.

Her friends were waiting to help start the clean up. She was beyond grateful to have them there to lighten the load. She could also bounce ideas off of them for what to do with the place. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to make it her home, a bed and breakfast, youth retreat, or numerous other things. She figured once the space was cleared she could think better. As she got out of the car Vicki, her best friend, had already rallied the crew and was giving directions on where to start and what to keep and discard. Adelaide appreciated that about her. She knew how to take charge when Adelaide didn’t know where to start herself.

Adelaide opened the door to the smell of years of dust and closed windows. It was dark since the windows had been boarded up but as friends pried the boards off the light started to flood in. Adelaide figured the best place to start would be the living room. She pulled on her gloves and mask and slid the massive pocket doors open. There was stuff everywhere. Margaret and her husband had been collectors of all things. Crazy art pieces, beautiful glass, ornate furnishings, and so much more. She started with the family pictures that covered almost every surface. Vacation photos, birthdays, holidays, and everyday shots. There were even old photos of the house that Adelaide was definitely going to keep.

As she sorted she could hear her friends all around her, talking, laughing, and music blaring. The house started to feel alive again. Happy for what was to come, whatever it would be. This house needed to become something great. Something where laughter filled the rooms and there was always something going on.

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