The Dollhouse
By kiri | July 12, 2008
This weekend was the weekend for sorting through my grandfather’s things.
Mom left yesterday and, as she was leaving, I asked if the dollhouse was still in the shed. She said yes. I asked if he had any of Grandma’s other things and she said she wasn’t sure. Shortly after J left with K, my dad sent me pictures. I couldn’t see much but it was enough to get me on the road to my grandfather’s.
I stopped by Amo’s but he wasn’t home so I tucked the card I’d bought in his door and went on.
Things were winding down by the time I got to the house and, after a few trips out to the truck for my mom, she asked if I’d gone out to the shed yet. I hadn’t, so she walked me out there and explained what I’d see.
The poor thing was on wobbly old legs and infested with mud bugs. I didn’t care.
That dollhouse is one of the few special memories to me and I’m not quite sure why. I may have seen it a handful of times and I never played with it. I didn’t even remember what it looked like. I just remembered it being there.
I didn’t think it’d have survived her death, honestly. I’m glad it did, though.
I spent a good little bit outside sifting through twigs and things Grandma had bought to put in the house. Once I was sure I had everything of hers out, I took a shop vac to the remainders of the bugs and sprayed it well with pesticide. I wanted to scrub it down, but it was late afternoon by the time I got there and I knew I wouldn’t have time before it got dark.
A man who lives across the street came over to move some things from the front porch and I asked him if he’d give me a hand getting the dollhouse into my truck. We were both a bit concerned with the size but I wanted to give it a shot. I hated the idea of leaving it there if I didn’t have to.
There was a moment of panic when we tried to get it out the door. It seemed like, no matter which way we turned it, it just was not going to cooperate with us.
Then the floor fell through under my feet. Luckily it was only a foot or so off the ground or I’d have been in serious pain. That was enough to get us to stop and really look at the house. The top piece had two screws on either side holding it together. We took those out, set the top aside, and barely squeezed it out the door.
And it fit in my truck with centimeters to spare.
Once I was through loading it and the man had gone, I went back inside to talk to my grandfather’s caretaker. She’s pretty cool and she made me smile. We talked about men and family for a bit and I left.
Once I’d stopped by to see my mom, I got back on the road and headed to Amo’s house one more time.
I was a bit worried, as I rounded the corner, that he still wasn’t home. There was a car outside, though, so I figured I had a chance of catching him. I almost fainted when he opened the door! -laughs-
He was sitting in the dark playing a racing game…smiling, laughing, and joking with his roommate. I sat there for a while listening to him play. Once I figured the rain I was waiting on had passed by, I asked him to walk me outside.
I barely let him get the door closed before I was moving in for a hug. I got two good ones and managed to plant lots of kisses. I told him I missed him and he didn’t try to tell me I was full of shit. We talked about my business a bit and I tried to convince him he should work with me but, thankfully, he’s got his own ideas on how to make a living now. His idea is a much better fit for him, I think.
I have a few theories on how things could play out from this point but I’ll keep those to myself for now.
As I was leaving, I was lamenting about how difficult it is to get up with him. He’s refusing to get his phone turned back on because he’s enjoying the peace. No phone means no internet. And he doesn’t want a cell phone. I asked him how the hell I was supposed to get in touch with him and he fucked up.
He suggested snail mail.
Now given that I’ve already shown myself that I have a propensity to writing for him…he’ll be getting novels!
As soon as I have some funds to play with, I’m going to buy some nice envelopes, maybe some stationary (if I can find any larger pads, anyway), and invest in stamps.
The best part? He’ll write me back.
I ended up coming home with a bunch of stuff that mom chose to keep. There’s a box I haven’t had a chance to dig through but I did get to go through an old jewelry box of hers. I set aside some things I’d like to have and I’ll be asking mom if it’s okay tomorrow. Someone, probably the caretaker, had an old school Parker Brothers Ouija board. I was told I could have that and a ceramic pot with an Oriental-looking design on it.
It seems as though I’m forgetting something but oh well…
It’s a bit early yet so I think I’m going to wear my hand out before I pass out.
I have every intention of doing a picture post tomorrow. You have all been warned!
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