Golden pine glowed upon the walls, and from the door frame and lintel, with dark knots adding to the welcoming beauty of the old wood. [25 words]
The threshold and flooring of earthy terracotta tiles reminded the visitor of harvest days, hinting of the bountiful cornucopia to be found within the kitchen of such a warm home. The door itself, a panelled affair of dark cherry wood, urged all to enter. Only one thing marred the effect. [50 words]
The problem was a small one, and simple: The welcome mat was too small, so small that it wasn’t able to accommodate the visitor’s feet. Tentatively, he knocked upon the door. As the brass doorknob turned and someone flung open the door, the resident shouted joyously, “Welcome, welcome! Please come in, dear friend!” The visitor stepped into the entryway, and the savory smell of baking bread and roasting apples belied the tiny doormat’s warning. Noticing the guest’s surprised glances, the host explained, “You should never judge a book by its cover... nor a welcome by the size of the doormat.” [100 words]
Frances opened the door slowly, her eyes widening.
“You brought your children today.”
The mother stepped forward, accepting the carrots before turning to each fawn.
50 words
The rutted road led them home for the past 50 years. It had never bothered Mavis and Jeremiah in the least. It kept their home private. As they stepped out the door for the last time Mavis felt a tear slide down her cheek. Things would never be the same.
100 words
The laughter of her grandchildren filled Skye’s heart with joy. She watched them bounding from leaf pile to leaf pile, the leaves rising high before floating gently to the ground. She was always grateful to see them but this year was extra special. Janie’s kids had joined the rest for Thanksgiving. That was a first. Janie had taken a long time to come around.
“Grandma, come and join us!” They squealed loudly as she buried herself under a bed of leaves. Minutes lasted a long time.
“Can we have hot chocolate?” they asked. She nodded, racing them to the door.
150 words
“You put a door in with no windows,” stated Joanne. “Why would you do that mom? You need to be safe. It’s a dangerous world out there.”
“Honey, come with me,” replied her mother. She opened the door and stepped outside.
“Take a look. What do you see?”
Joanne looked around. The lengthy tree lined driveway made it hard to see the old country road that they had driven up on. She looked left and right to see magnificent forests of pine, spruce and maple for as far as the eye could see. She walked to the corner of the house and looked at the rather large lake with the massive dock structure.
As she walked back to her mom she noted, “Maybe I was wrong. The only problem I can see is there could be a forest fire.”
Her mom smiled. “That certainly won’t be knocking on our door.”
The Unwelcoming Welcome Mat
[StoryStack] - Continuation Method
The door looked warm, yet forbidding. [6 words]
Golden pine glowed upon the walls, and from the door frame and lintel, with dark knots adding to the welcoming beauty of the old wood. [25 words]
The threshold and flooring of earthy terracotta tiles reminded the visitor of harvest days, hinting of the bountiful cornucopia to be found within the kitchen of such a warm home. The door itself, a panelled affair of dark cherry wood, urged all to enter. Only one thing marred the effect. [50 words]
The problem was a small one, and simple: The welcome mat was too small, so small that it wasn’t able to accommodate the visitor’s feet. Tentatively, he knocked upon the door. As the brass doorknob turned and someone flung open the door, the resident shouted joyously, “Welcome, welcome! Please come in, dear friend!” The visitor stepped into the entryway, and the savory smell of baking bread and roasting apples belied the tiny doormat’s warning. Noticing the guest’s surprised glances, the host explained, “You should never judge a book by its cover... nor a welcome by the size of the doormat.” [100 words]
“You brought your children today.”
That humanizing statement was my favorite!
A Simpler Life
A Story Stack: The Separation Method
6 words
Falling leaves accented the rustic ambiance.
25 words
Frances opened the door slowly, her eyes widening.
“You brought your children today.”
The mother stepped forward, accepting the carrots before turning to each fawn.
50 words
The rutted road led them home for the past 50 years. It had never bothered Mavis and Jeremiah in the least. It kept their home private. As they stepped out the door for the last time Mavis felt a tear slide down her cheek. Things would never be the same.
100 words
The laughter of her grandchildren filled Skye’s heart with joy. She watched them bounding from leaf pile to leaf pile, the leaves rising high before floating gently to the ground. She was always grateful to see them but this year was extra special. Janie’s kids had joined the rest for Thanksgiving. That was a first. Janie had taken a long time to come around.
“Grandma, come and join us!” They squealed loudly as she buried herself under a bed of leaves. Minutes lasted a long time.
“Can we have hot chocolate?” they asked. She nodded, racing them to the door.
150 words
“You put a door in with no windows,” stated Joanne. “Why would you do that mom? You need to be safe. It’s a dangerous world out there.”
“Honey, come with me,” replied her mother. She opened the door and stepped outside.
“Take a look. What do you see?”
Joanne looked around. The lengthy tree lined driveway made it hard to see the old country road that they had driven up on. She looked left and right to see magnificent forests of pine, spruce and maple for as far as the eye could see. She walked to the corner of the house and looked at the rather large lake with the massive dock structure.
As she walked back to her mom she noted, “Maybe I was wrong. The only problem I can see is there could be a forest fire.”
Her mom smiled. “That certainly won’t be knocking on our door.”