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Ann and the Barns Where Dreams Were Lived

Barns and playhouses

By Judith JaschaPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Ann and the Barns Where Dreams Were Lived
Photo by Amy Reed on Unsplash

It was a cool autumn evening when Ann stood outside the house that she grew up in. As she stood there, memories bombarded her mind. She had a typical southern childhood. She grew up with a very loving family. They lived in a beautiful white house, and around it stood several old barns that had been there for generations. The barns were now barely standing, but as Ann looked out and the remains, she remembered them as she saw them so many years ago.

When Ann was little, these barns acted as giant play houses for her and her cousin. Each one had different functions, and with that, more fun ideas. The barn nearest to the house was where her grandparents kept their animals. When she was a baby, there were ducks, which Ann would mistakenly call them “dukes,” which her grandma would jokingly remind her of when she got older. There were chickens, where she would collect eggs from. Later, there were goats, which although her grandmother was never fund of, they were kept because her grandfather adored them. Behind the barn was an area where they kept the pigs. Ann always thought they were gross, but she still loved helping her grandfather feed them.

Next to that barn was another one, this one being the one where her grandfather kept his tools. Ann was very seldom allowed in it as her grandmother feared she could get hurt. Inside was a riding lawn mower that she would get to sit on with her grandmother when she was little. There were tools that had been collecting for decades. Most were never used and were merely collecting dust.

Across the yard stood another barn, which was filled with toys from past generations. This had always been Ann’s favorite place to be, and would excitedly plea with her grandmother to allow her to roam in there. Most of the toys were from the sixties and seventies. She loved playing with Barbie dolls from that era. They seemed so much cooler than the newer ones. There were doll houses, balls, toy cars, and even a small kiddie pool. There was also old magazine from the fifties through the seventies, which even as a child, fascinated her.

Across the road, Ann saw the barn that had a ladder leading up to a second floor. She laughed as she remembered getting in trouble for climbing up it and getting splinters all through her hands. All of that just so she could get an exercise trampoline down to play with. She painfully learned her lesson from that adventure and decided to stay away from it.

It had been a long time since Ann had been a child looking for her next adventure on this huge playground that was always at her fingertips. She was now grown, in her thirties. She had her own children, and a college education. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It was a much simpler time, where anything was possible. These old buildings served as playhouses, castles, or a rock stage. She longed to be able to go back to that time, if just for a moment.

By now, the sun was starting to go down. The sky was painted in different colors such as pink, orange, and purple. She remembered her grandmother describing such scenes as a painting. Ann closed her eyes, with a tear gently sliding down her cheek. At that moment, she was taken back. She could feel herself as a child, running around, full of hope and optimism. It was a beautiful feeling. She knew that it was time to go. She looked back one more time before getting into her car. And as she drove off, she felt hopeful for the future. She was ready to take on the world.

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About the Creator

Judith Jascha

Mom, sister, teacher, student, writer. I love to touch on all areas as I like to expose myself to new things. My goal is to use my experience to entertain and educate.

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