Favorite Place
Do you have a favorite place that you like to go to? No. I’m not talking about for holidays. A favorite place locally that you go to as often as you like. Maybe it’s a particular restaurant, a bar, a room on campus or a window overlooking an attractive sight. Such places often afford a sense of joy, comfort or relaxation, maybe even safety or privacy.
What are the appealing features of this place? Is it a place of action, laughter, loud music that fills you with excitement? Is it a place of silence creating a calming effect for reflection? Perhaps your special place is one of memories of an event, a pet or a person, one who is no longer with you. A place in nature where one experiences peace and order is a blessing for rural residents.
Spending time in such stress-relieving places provides time for recovery. In writing a narrative it is a technique to break from a struggle, an opportunity to recognize that the world or the times is not completely crazy, that life really is good.
In mynovel, Baggage burdens.Joseph and his children have such place. It’s a place away from fields and work, from the household chores. For them it’s a private place where they talk about personal interests. It’s a place under aspens and willows near a stream where water giggles as it jumps down from a ledge three-feet high, a place where fish too small to be caught swim safely and a rabbit hops out into the sun, munches on some blades of grass and hops away as if no one was there. What a relaxing place to contemplate responses to challenges!
When one shares results of a demanding decision a reader knows that stress is no longer unavoidable. Trauma has invaded what should have been a safe sanctuary.
“Daniel. Care to go horseback riding?”
“Sorry, Dad. I was about to leave to see Eve.”
As Daniel walks out of the house, Joseph follows him.
“How about you split the evening, part with me and part with Eve?”
Puzzled by Joseph’s unusual persistence, Daniel stops and looks at his dad. “Something wrong?”
“We need to talk.”
“Our usual place?” asks Daniel as they enter the corral where the horses are penned.
“Yeah.”
Their destination is three large boulders near a stream at the far end of Joseph’s land. Daniel chooses it because it’s on his way to Eve’s place. Joseph likes it because there is a little waterfall no more than three feet high. He loves the sound of trickling water, and there is no sign of roads or buildings. If he had a tough decision to make, he’d ride out here and pray. When he leaves, he always feels at peace, even if a solution escapes him.
Once they ride out of the yard, Daniel says, “Race?”
Joseph nods. They both shoot off.
“Ah,come on!” Daniel arrives two horse lengths ahead of his father.
Joseph usually wins.
“You hardly tried tonight.”
“Maybe I’m distracted.”
“Right,” responds Daniel in disbelief.
“Or you’re becoming a better rider.” Joseph hopes winning tonight might put Daniel in a happier mood.
They both let their horses nibble at the long grass in the midst of the aspens and willows. Once they take their usual seats on the rocks, Daniel begins, “Shoot. What’s up?”
“In a big hurry to see Eve?” Joseph grins.
Daniel smiles and nods.
Joseph takes a deep breath. “Your mom and I have been talking about moving into Camrose.”
“What!” Daniel cuts in. The unrestrained emotional reaction matches Joseph’s expectation. Before Joseph can repeat his statement, an irritated Daniel says, “Hold it. Hold it. It’s not you and Mom. It’s Mom, isn’t it? Honestly?”
Haiku capsule:
A place for you and me,
Intimate conversations
Vault of our secrets
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