#they led people up a set of stairs towards heaven I'm guessing

[overmyemptycoffin]

excerpt from my novel

hope y'all enjoy a small bit of the novel I'm attempting to write. wish me luck!

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Summer 25 was a summer to remember.

I was twenty, young, and full of life. The Maine coast stretched beneath my fingertips, and I drifted lazily through the pleasant days that late May offered me. I felt more alive than I had in any summer since I was sixteen and yet, as the May days lengthened into June sunsets, I couldn’t help but wonder why I had come to visit my grandparents, this year of all years. Since starting college in the Midwest, Maine had felt further and further away. But now as my plane landed in Boston, and I dragged myself onto the bus homeward, I felt the child in me stir once again. Yes, the highway and the distinct lack of people greeted me as I rode toward Milo in my grandfather’s Subaru. Yes, I thought to myself, this summer. This summer is going to be different.

The midmorning sun filtered down on my skin as I woke in the third-floor room that had once belonged to my mother. I stretched widely and remembered my surroundings. Maine. My home before all other homes. Born and bred, I was back with my roots once more. As I stood up from the antique metal bed frame and ever so slightly lumpy mattress that creaked with the morning freshness, I became giddy with the joy of my youth. I was twenty years old, with a decent frame and I had a new haircut. In all ways but emotional range, I was a very comely bachelorette. I had dreamed of this summer all dreary semester long, as I slaved at university. My books weren’t my focus like they had been in the beginning. After one failed romance after another, I was worn thin. I wanted to be young at heart again, so with very little thought for my financial well-being, I planned my 4-month trip to my hometown. As it was then, Milo held some very keen resemblance to the university town I had spent most of my time in, but to my fresh eyes, it was beautiful in every way. For, wasn’t it over the hill that my father lay six feet below? And wasn’t it over the next hill that I had my first kiss? And then, behind the elementary school, my favorite swing set in all of Piscataquis County? It was going to be the best four months of my whole college career, and I had promised myself that much. This promise of good times was only one piece of the vow I had made to myself. The second aspect is far more unlikely and masochistic. I promised myself that no matter the young man, I would not fall in love. Damn love and all expressions of it, I said to the dresser mirror as I slipped on a cardigan. Damn, love to heaven whence it came.

 These thoughts rang out as I finished preparing my outfit and scampered down the two flights of stairs, which led to the ground floor of my grandparents’ hundred- and eighty-year-old home. The floors creaked beneath the weight of my exuberance for the surprises that waited on my gram’s kitchen table. Doughnuts from the café down the road! And my favorite kind at that.

“Ah Elaine’s been up all night baking again, I guess. Thanks to her for these splendid Boston cremes.” I proclaimed merrily to the ear of my favorite grandparents out of them all.

“Got the ones you like best, if I remember rightly,” Gramp said with a foggy twinkle in his eye.

“Yes, but you have to have a proper breakfast as well Annie Grace.” My gram cautioned with a careful tone. “wouldn’t want to spoil your whole day with one sweet too soon.” Gram’s voice was gentle and stern all at once. It felt good to be home, with them encouraging and chiding in waves and bouts.

“Course Gramp, you always remember. I’ll make an egg or some Gram, I won’t spoil myself just yet. I haven’t even been a day or so yet without my college chaps beating on me for my food.” I teased. Gram smiled and turned back to the stove. Gramp chuckled thickly and stood at the door.

“Bobby and I are headed down to the lake to see about the last of the gravel getting laid down for the road Melanie. If you two want to go out later tomorrow to open the camp I can take us out after my appointment in Bangor. But I’ll have to nap after, or I’ll be ill for it.” Gramp told Gram with a look of hesitation. But Gram had no such hesitation about her.

“Sure Bob, I think it’ll do Annie and me some good to stay here today. That way we can finish packing up the last of the things from the attic to bring down to the lake with us. Then Annie can drive with you tomorrow, so your head won't hurt so badly after the shots.” Gram smiled warmly and glanced my way as if getting my approval of this plan.

“Sounds about right to me,” I replied.

Gramp nodded and then left to meet Bobby on the road out of town toward Bradford. They had a gravel road, and Gram and I headed to the attic. We had memories to uncover.  

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the end, for now.