Run

The Tour

The Tour

I’d already seen the kitchen and living room, so we moved to the dining room. The walls were made of thick granite and had candles set back in them. I noticed there was no electricity in this house. In the center of the room, was a big pine table. About ten stools dotted around it. In the middle of the table was a huge, blue vase with many wild flowers inside. There was a hatch in the left wall, where the food was passed across.

“My family have lived here all their lives. Mum lived here before us,” said Penny, proudly.

I smiled and followed her out of the door. The fourth door was Martha and Henry’s room. Penny knocked on the door and Martha called to come in. Inside she had a little bucket full of water and was washing out clothes. Henry was at a desk, writing.

There room was a pale green and had one big bed in the corner. There was also a white wardrobe and an old oak writing desk.

“Hello there,” said Martha, briefly looking up and smiling.

I smiled back and looked at Penny.

“We get our water from the stream; Brooklyn fetches it and Henry trades vegetables for water purifying tablets, so we can use it. Brooklyn usually gets the tank in the evening, after dinner. For food, we are vegetarians, we have our own greenhouse to grow food in,” said Penny.

We left and moved onto the next room. It was Annabelle’s. The door was ajar and I just peeked in, Penny understood that I didn’t want to go in there. The walls were pale cream and a pine wardrobe, bed and dresser lined the walls. Aside everything, I found the room a bit boring, a bit beige.

The next room was Brooklyn’s room. I didn’t know quite what to expect. The door was open and Brooklyn was in the kitchen. The walls were plain white, but had shelves and shelves of books. Another old oak desk was in the corner and an oak bed in the other. I liked Brooklyn’s room; it felt welcoming and weirdly intriguing.

Penny grabbed my hand and led me to her room. Inside was a typical girl’s room, pink walls, pink bed sheets, pink wardrobe, and pink fluffy cushions. I smiled as I remembered going through that same ‘pink and fluffy’ stage.

“Do you like it? You will be staying here for a bit,” she said, bouncing on her bed.

“Love it,” I grinned.

She bounced off her bed and led me to Sophia’s room, the door was slightly open and I peered through. Inside was a simple white cot, with the sleeping baby inside. Soft toys littered the floor and candles were lit, high in the air.

“We have our own toilet system. We sort of illegally linked ourselves up with a sewage system, so we do have flushing toilets,” said Penny, pointing at the blue-tiled bathroom.

Clive and Caroline’s room was next, but Penny explained that in respect we didn’t go in there.

Last but not least, I guessed was the greenhouse. Penny told me to take a deep breath because it was warm inside.

I stepped in and was amazed by the beautiful sight. Rows and rows of vegetables, fruits and plants, all with different light settings and nutrients. Water trickled through the ceiling, occasionally watering the plants. Juicy red peppers, crunchy cucumbers, sweet strawberries, to name just a few of the plants inside.

“This is amazing,” I exclaimed.

“Thanks, Henry and Dad mostly look after it. We all have different jobs in this house, but I suppose Brooklyn has the most. Mum cooks, Martha cleans, Henry trades for supplies in the city, Dad looks after the greenhouse, Annabelle looks after the baby and makes clothes, I clean as well and Brooklyn fetches the water, but  he also helps do all the other jobs. I think Mum wanted you to help her cook,” said Penny.

“Yes, I’ll go help her with breakfast, thanks for the tour Penny,” I said, making my way to the kitchen.

“No problem. When I grow up I want to be just like you,” said Penny, eyes glittering.

“No, no you don’t. You will grow up to be Penny, because Penny is the sweetest and happiest girl I’ve ever met,” I said and gave her a big hug.