Seasons

Chapter 3 - The Boardwalk

The wheels of my suitcase suddenly went quiet as they hit the marble floor. I was cloaked in a sudden coolness as I stepped inside the great front doors and instantly felt my breath leave my throat.

The floor was a faint grey marble with silvery trails, almost like smoke, frozen into its surface. It was polished to perfection, so much so that I could see the huge staircase reflected in it. This began at either side of the foyer and swept round to meet in the middle, ascending to the floor above. Through the door in the middle I could see a glimpse of the kitchen beyond, with glass doors revealing the back garden.

I whistled out slowly.

I gently set my suitcase down just inside the door and padded towards the right side of the the staircase, my sneakers squeaking.

I could hear the echoes of James's cries upstairs as I took them two at a time until I reached the floor above. Creamy carpet rolled down each of the corridors that lead to multiple rooms, each piled with our old boxes that seemed out of place compared to the modern bathrooms and the bedrooms with their heavy silken curtains.

I followed the sound of my brother's voice until I stopped outside a door. I reached out a hand for the doorknob when it was pulled open to reveal a tiny figure complete with a gappy smile that just screamed happiness.

James swung the door open wider, allowing me to step into the room, completing the action with a mock salute and a puffed out chest which quickly deflated with another wave of giggles.

I have to admit, if I was an eight year old boy, this would definitely be my dream room.

Dad must have sent the builders ahead to redecorate because this just yelled James. The huge room was a light blue colour, with swirls of clouds and planes carefully painted so they flew around the walls, trailing banners that read "James Grey" and antique models hung suspended from the ceiling. The floor had a circular carpet like a bullseye which spiralled outwards from the centre of the room and a bunk bed occupied one side, complete with a slide twirling from the end of it.

"Wow Jamesy..." I breathed out, "this is amazing! Do you like it?"

He nodded furiously before spinning off with his arms extended, making whirring engine noises like the machines surrounding him.

I turned around, leaving him to it, and gently closed the door behind me before setting off to look for my own room, buzzing with excitement.

I quietly padded down endless corridors leading to more furnished bedrooms and marble bathrooms and what looked like a kids' playroom, but none of them seemed, well, particularly me.

I suddenly stopped as I came to another staircase, this one smaller and lead upwards, light pouring down the carpeted steps.

Curiosity took over and I jogged up them, two at a time.

I reached the top and was unable to stop my mouth from dropping open. Huge windows arched across the wall to my left, the midday sun pouring through the glass as it overlooked the garden, neighbourhood, and a sliver of glistening blue sea.

Thick, cream carpet covered the floor, right the way to the white walls. On my right, a huge king sized bed with silvery pillows and headboard looked straight out onto the view, the light falling directly onto the cotton sheets. Heavy grey curtains were draped either side of the windows and several easels were standing in the corner. Dad knew me too well.

I wandered over to one of the doors next to the bed and gasped at the deep bath and the marble floors with an open shower, sunlight cascading through the skylight to illuminate the curve of the sinks and glint off the mirrors. It was incredible.