Inspire

The Most Magical House

I like my job. I work for a real estate for magical houses. I enjoy the thrill of introducing an enchanted house full of adventures, wonders, and unexpected shocks to the eager customers who sought for adobes. I put on my red bowtie, striped blazer, and a pair of gleaming black shoes, ready to greet the customers for today.

My boss escorted an elderly man with wispy white beard, hunched back, and pale blue eyes. He has the most wrinkly and freckly sin I've ever seen. The freckles have paled with age and his skin sags so much it makes him resemble a bull dog. "Hello, I am Sybella Chevalier, what can I do for you?" I plastered a dutiful smile at the old man. "H'lo, I'm Maximilien Lopinsky. I- my wife passed away this Spring, and I would like to move away from my house, it's just so nostalgic, and somber without her." I clicked my tongue and hummed. "Ah. I see. What you need is just a bit of fun to enlighten your day and leave the past behind, huh?" I took out a file from my drawer and flipped through it. "The house of wobbly stairs...No, too inconvenient for your old bones... The All-You-Can-Eat hut? Nah... Aha! The house of elderly delights. Follow me this way, Maximilien." I jostled out of my working space and signaled for Mr Lopinsky to follow on. I led him to a bright yellow house with a oak wood door with a large sun painted on it. Little blue flowers are dotted on the wall and a humungous flamingo on the porch. "Ummm, Ms Chevalier?" Maximilien began. "Ah, call me Sybella." I interrupted. "Uh, Sybella, dearie, are you sure this is the house of elderly delights?" he continued. I chuckled, "Ha, of course. All you old folks need is a bit of loosening up. C'mon in. Look at this umbrella stand." I pointed at a hot pink umbrella stand that was talking, "Ayo, matey, how ya doin' today?" Maximilien backed away but managed to reveal the slightest smile. "This enchanted little house is full of adventures, dreams, and the sunshiny things old people need. Elderlies tend to forget that they are children at heart. The objects in this house cater to your needs and they chat with you to brighten your day." I explained as confetti fell out of the ceiling. "Yea. That is true..." Maximilien agreed. He sat down on the sofa and it squeaked out, " Hey, pal. You need a massage?" "No, thanks." Maximilien sighed and crouched on the sofa, pale eyes dazed and looking off into the empty space. "Um, sir? Do you need to check out some other houses?" My voice trailed off. Maximilien looked up at me and for the first time I truly looked at him. His eyes aren't pale blue, they are a warm shade of hazel under the sunlight. "Oh Sybella... You remind me so much of Rosaline." "Rosaline? Oh." I questioned but then I knew the answer when I gaze into Maximilien's welcoming eyes. "Your wife... I do? Oh, that is such a compliment." I gushed and sat down beside this weary man. "Look, Sybella. All I need is a home. Not just a house. I'm sure you have plenty of enchanted and wonderful little houses here but I do not need a house. I want a home." He sighed and tears filled his eyes, threatening to spill. He looked up at me with glistening eyes and continued, "I love the house I have right now. No, loved. Past tense. It used to be my home when Rosaline was with me. That house was so much like this one, bright, sunny, delightful and magical. She used to decorate our home with elaborate paintings of the glorious sunsets, she would put scattered daisies around the house. I used to love the smell of fresh daisies so much... Now, it's just an empty shell. The sunny wallpapers are peeling, the old radio that played the merriest of songs is topped with dust." Tears fell out of his eyes like crystal, liquid stars. I felt a lump in my throat. Then, it hit me like a slate. The most enchanted house is a home. And to Maximilien, a home is where his heart belongs to; his heart belongs to Rosaline. Whichever house Rosaline is, whichever house is the most magical, most enchanted home to him. I reached out my arms and wrapped them around the homeless man. This is a pain of a magnitude I cannot comprehend. The pain of losing joy, losing love, losing a home. No matter how magical a house is, nothing compares to a home. I did not say "I'm sorry." I did not say "I know what it feels." Because I do not. I do not know what it's like to be homeless. Literally homeless. Then, it clicked. I know exactly what house to give to Maximilien. "Maximilien! Please return to your house now, come back in a week, be sure to bring the old radio and some pictures of Rosaline!" Maximilien returned from his reminiscence. "May I ask why?" He stuttered. "Just do what I asked. Please. I may not provide you a true home, but I'll try my best to give you something close to a home." Maximilien genuinely smiled and nodded solemnly.

A week later...

I led Maximilien to the exact same house I brought him to the last time. This time, I fixed up pictures of Rosaline beaming down, framed in the most exquisite wooden frames I can find. I used my magic key to alter the voices of the speaking furniture into the loving sound of Rosaline. I repainted every wall into a sunny shade of yellow. I checked out the pictures of Maximilien's home and added all the elements I can spot into this house. Porcelain teapots, petit daisies, paintings of sunsets, and an apron that belonged to Rosaline. I placed the old radio on the lunch table and played the merry songs Rosaline used to play. I unlocked the door for old Maximilien and the jolly, vintage music flowed out the door, touching the depths of Maximilien's soul. The smell of fresh daisies permeated from the room and Maximilien tingled with emotions. The umbrella stand spoke in Rosaline's welcoming accent "Welcome home, Maximilien." Maximilien cried his sparkling tears once more and embraced me while mumbling "this is truly the most magical home of all. Thank you, Sybella."