UFC - #146 - Serenity

Here's what I (Lady Harley) have challenged the other authors, in the group, to write about...

In whatever format you wish... your challenge today, if you choose to accept, is to write a "1st person" piece about "your perfect sanctuary for writing... if money were no issue".

Please detail the sights, sound & smells that would soothe you into a rhythm of continuous writing.
It would help, but not necessary, if you were to add... why you would go & how would you get to the hideout.

If you wish... you may include a line or two (or more) of the story (or, novel, poem, song, etc.) you are working on while at your perfect spot. (Yes it can be something you're currently working on... if you wish. Who knows, maybe it will be the start of a new project for you???)

(IF you do, be sure to italicize those parts so that we can tell it's not part of the main story.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SUBMISSIONS.

SERENITY

©LadyHarley©
"Not again?" I mumbled, as I heard car screech up the alley in between our house and the neighbors. Then came the sound of the horn. HONK HONK HONK!

One of these days, I swear, I'm going to get up & yell out the door: "Hey, can't you all just go to the door & knock? Don't you know I'm trying to write a best selling novel in here?"

But of course, I won't. That is not in my nature. Instead I turn to my husband and tell him, "If this keeps up I'm going to MY hideout!"

He laughs knowing there is no such place.

"Just you wait, you'll see. Soon as I publish my first book, I'll have enough money to buy a little cabin in the woods for me to disappear to."

"And just how would you get there?" He inquires.

I knew he was just trying to get my mind away from the inconsiderate noises coming from next door. "Oh, didn't I tell you? We have a tele-port pad, so I can just transport myself in an instant!" I replied.

Later that night as I'm sitting on the couch typing away on my laptop, I heard the bouncing of a basketball. One of the kids in the neighborhood was on his way home, from the school courts down the road, and insists on dribbling the whole way.

"That's IT! I can't take it anymore!" I exclaim as I slam the lid on my computer. "How am I supposed to write with these kind of distractions?"

I lower my head into my hands and with my eyes closed I whispered to the angels in heaven, "Am I asking too much to have some peace and quiet so I can finish this novel?"

With my eyes still closed I leaned back and began to shiver. Not wanting to open my eyes, I asked my husband to go close the windows. Waiting for some tongue and cheek reply I thought how nice it would be to in front of a fireplace with the snow falling outside and no one around for miles. "Serenity at it's finest." I said.

When he didn't reply, through the slit of one eye, I checked to see if my better half was asleep in his lounge chair. Not only was he not in his chair, but also his chair wasn't there. With both eyes now wide open I see that I'm not even in my own house. Starting to panic, I stood up slowly in case someone was listening for me to stir, so they could pounce on me.

At that moment a cool breeze shuffled the curtain hanging near a slightly opened door on my left. In front of me was a crackling fire in a rustic fireplace. I walked slowly to my right where the smell of fresh brewed coffee and chocolate cake wafted.

Half expecting someone to jump me I peeked into the empty kitchen and wondered how I even got to this serene place. A note with my name, on the counter, caught my attention. Carefully, I picked it up, hoping it was not some kind of trap.

"Welcome to Serenity, the place for you to escape to when you need a little alone time to concentrate on your novel. I hope it was everything you imagined it would be."

With my jaw dropped I flipped the paper over to look for a signature, but it was blank. I did not recognize the writing and I just stood there with many questions buzzing through my head. Just then a timer went off on the stove. As a matter of reflex I opened the drawer next to me to pull out an oven mitt and pulled the cake out of the oven.

When I pulled the mitt off my hand another note fell to the floor. This time I wasted no time to pluck it from the floor and read, "Enjoy the cake! Frosting is in the fridge."

"Hmm, someone knows me fairly well." I said aloud, finding the chocolate frosting. "Now I just need... " I stopped and turned around to find a coffee mug with cream and sugar next to it.

"Ohhh... this is just too good." I fixed myself a cup of coffee and walked back out to the room I started.

Greeted by the cool air, I went to the door to close it. I looked out the big picture window and saw snow lightly falling around the cabin. "Yes, this is perfect!"

Turning back around I saw my laptop sitting open waiting for me to continue writing. Trying to figure out how I missed seeing it moments ago, I sat down to find another note staring at me on my computer screen.

"No worries. Just write!"

I clicked opened the file which my book was saved, and began to type:

Something told Lily that she needed to listen to Trip. So, she raced to the drawer where she kept the flashlight, quickly checking it and ran down the stairs. She started to pace with worry that Sammie would not come out from under the bed for Trip. Lily started to ascend the stairs in time to grab Sammie from Trip as he turned to pull the door shut.

Winds howled around the buildings in the town. Thunder cracked so loud that made Sammie yelp, and Lily give out a shout. Trip pulled them both close to him and reassured Lily they would be ok.
The lights flickered several times, however the when the winds finally calmed down the lights came back to their full brightness. Lily looked up to Trip with relief the storm seemed to be over.

“I have never experienced such a thing. What was that?”

“A tornado.” He responded quietly. “I could not sleep and so I turned the radio on when they broke in with the warning. My legs could not move fast enough to get to you.

I was lulled into a rhythm with some soothing sounds of my favorite instrumental melodies. It seemed like hours before I decided to take a break. Making my way into the kitchen for another cup of coffee, I ended up frosting the now cooled cake. I easily found the silverware and plates I needed to sample the delectable masterpiece.

After a well-deserved respite and my chocolate craving satisfied, I decided to take a gander around this lovely cabin to find more clues as to who pulled off such a feat. When I could not find any other evidence, I went back to my work.

A few more hours passed when I finally leaned back again, closed my eyes and sighed. "I can't believe I finished it."

"Seriously?" came the voice of my husband.

Once again my eyes flew open wide and I looked at him with a panic look.
 
"Seriously, you finished your book?" He asked again.

Still shaking, I muttered, "Huh?"

"You said you couldn't believe you finished it. Were you talking about your novel?"

"I did?" I replied.

Again, my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. He heard me say that? What in the world is happening to me?

Still confused, I looked down at my screen and saw the last line written. It was complete.

"I guess I did."

"That's wonderful, now how about cutting me a slice of that cake?"

Knowing full well that I had not baked anything in this heat wave. "What cake?"

"The one that I can smell coming from that room over there." He gestured toward our kitchen.

Walking slowly to my kitchen and low & behold there is a frosted chocolate cake, but was missing one slice.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the male voice behind me said, "You just couldn't wait, could you?"

Beside the cake was another note with the now familiar handwriting... "Anytime you're stuck, just imagine 'Serenity'... and you'll be there."
 
Looking up at my grinning hubby, I smiled and said, "I guess dreams to come true after all!!"

©LadyHarley©