LJ Idol Week #4: My House, Her Home

[chasing_silver]

As I descend the stairs, I pass pictures of her on the wall. Her hair colour is like mine, eyes hazel, too. Lines showing on her dainty face, her arm slung around a daughter who looks just like her. The photographic gaze meets mine, almost in recognition. I half-smile in response, and pass the frames by.

In the kitchen, she's left a dish on the counter. Old-fashioned Pyrex, the snowflake pattern. I touch it in delight. "She likes Pyrex, too!"

My wife turns from the island, where she's examining the countertops. "These will have to go. Who does concrete slabs on islands anymore?"

I touch the Pyrex dish again, and gently place it further back on the counter so it doesn't get broken. I collect old-fashioned Pyrex; this one is valuable. The light from the inlaid stained-glass kitchen window falls across my hands. I feel a strong sense of deja vu, but my wife is already exclaiming over the cunning understairs cabinet. I turn away.

Upstairs, there's a lump in the master bed. A note with careful cursive writing is taped to the iron-wrought foot. "Our kitty is a little scared of showings! Forgive the lump in the bed; we couldn't bear to take her out."

I laugh. "Athena used to do that when visitors came over."

My wife grins. "I love that she thought to write us a note. This is so cute." She gently pets the lump in the bed and we hear a rusty "meow" from under the handmade quilt. The hospital corners are perfect; just like my mother taught me to make beds, too.

As we discuss the master bath and our plans for enlarging, I picture her combing her long hair in front of the mirror. As I raise my head to meet my reflection, for a split second, I see her face instead of mine.

She has dishes of crystals and tumbled rocks, glinting in the light from the spotless windows. A squat black cat with huge yellow eyes, like a Studio Ghibli soot sprite, watches me accusingly as I stir them with a finger, listening to them clink together. I smile at him. "I won't hurt your mommy's things."

He just stares back at me, but then as he leaves the room, rubs against my legs.

She's painted the walls a light green, like a springtime green. The haze that blooms on trees in early May green. She likes lace valances for the windows, Bible verses embroidered in samplers on the walls. But the hardwood floor is hand-laid, and the colours match the room perfectly. "She really loves this house," I say.

"Great. I hope she'll accept the offer without a problem," says my wife, examining the three windows to the screened-in porch. "Man, the decor in here ... well, I'm just glad the sellers can't hear us."

I nod. It's old-fashioned. But somehow, it's home. Somehow, it's familiar.

As we leave, I look at the wedding picture in the front hallway. Her husband looks away from us, but she's facing the photographer. Her face is knowing, and I impulsively turn to the image looking me straight in the eyes.

"I promise I'll love it as much as you did."

It could be my imagination, but I swear she smiles in response.

This has been an entry for therealljidol. The prompt this week was "Uncanny Valley", and it struck me that buying someone else's house, having access to all their things during house showings, but never meeting them is an extremely uncanny valley situation. As we prepare to transition from our home to hers, the differences and familiarities become almost overwhelming.

Thank you for reading and voting!

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

I get great vibes from this home-seller. I hope you get the house of your dreams!

[brittdreams]

Maybe I'm odd but I wish I had concrete countertops.

[ragnarok_08]

This is really good, so immersive!

[elwendell]

I am really loving this and your recent writing pieces. You make me want to move into that home, too.

[sound_of_silence]

Aw, that was so sweet! Loved the cat in the bed!

[roina_arwen]

Lots of wonderful details! Great piece!

[tamara_in_jakarta]

Love this

[muchtooarrogant]

This was cool! I enjoyed the interactions between you and your wife, especially the contrast when you're loving something/connecting with the owner, and she's like, "Replace the counter ... hope she excepts the offer." (grin) It gave it a nice touch of reality.

"well, I'm just glad the sellers can't hear us."

Be careful. We had a Nest doorbell in the last house we sold, and caught some interesting conversations prospective buyers and their realtors had in our front entry. :)

Dan

[night_owl_9]

I felt as if I was in the house with you!

[halfshellvenus]

People usually love the houses they sell, and the emotional part of the process seems so out-of-place but may very well drive any final decisions.

[xeena]

I love how beautifully you describe the house, I could see it all so clearly and love the gentle, emotional atmosphere of this.

. A squat black cat with huge yellow eyes, like a Studio Ghibli soot sprite, watches me accusingly as I stir them with a finger, listening to them clink together. I smile at him. "I won't hurt your mommy's things." hehe this is so cute.

[chasing_silver]

I think we will! The inspection was just about perfect and they've already fixed all the stuff we've asked for (which was please get rid of the bats in the attic lol).

[chasing_silver]

We were horrified at first but honestly they're growing on me. They just looked horrendous with the backsplash they had chosen, but with a different one, they're going to look cool.

[chasing_silver]

Thank you!

[chasing_silver]

Please one day come visit us there!

[chasing_silver]

OMG, that cat. I wanted to snuggle her so badly. My Athena used to do that <3

[chasing_silver]

Thank you so much!

[chasing_silver]

Thank you!

[chasing_silver]

Haha, she's very practical. But she loves this house so much, too!

We checked carefully for cameras, as we also had them in the house when buyers came through ours! We found none but the Ring at the front door so we were careful not to say anything there, but honestly most of what we had to say was good.

[chasing_silver]

I hope one day you and Julie can come and visit on your way to Chicago!

[chasing_silver]

Honestly, the fact they chose us is a long story too. They're about as different from us as can be lol. But they knew we loved it so much and they let another better offer go to accept ours.

[chasing_silver]

Thank you! The first thing I said was "OMG they have a Soot Sprite" and my wife was like "what???" - I had to show her the soot sprites and then we just called him the soot sprite for the rest of the time we were there haha.

[brittdreams]

I wonder if it's regional... They were quite common in southern AZ and they're durable and less maintenance than any kind of stone countertop.

[mollywheezy]

Excellent use of the prompt! I loved the note about the cat. We were left a note about the dog once. The dog was on the back porch, and a note on the kitchen table said, "Our dog's name is Sadie. She sounds terrifying but is actually very friendly. Please feel free to look around outside--she won't bother you." ;)

[thephantomq]

That home sounds well loved, honestly. Glad your offer was accepted!

[static_abyss]

I'd never thought about what it would be like to walk into someone else's house as a buyer. But I can see how that might feel strange, especially in a well-loved house.

[murielle]

This is so lovely. I'm smitten. And if course, I love the cat bit. ❤

Well done! 😊

[n3m3sis43]

This was really well written. I loved all the detail and I wasn’t 100% sure until I got to the end if I was reading a post about you and your wife actually house hunting or if it was going to take a turn and become a fictional piece. It is uncanny seeing so much of someone else’s life.

[inkstainedfingertips]

I remember the old Pyrex dishes well. I enjoyed the details you have layered throughout your piece. Very enjoyable read.

[banana_galaxy]

I found this really engaging. I've never had this kind of house buying experience (it just occurred to me I've only ever bought sight-unseen or viewed a place when the place was completely empty), but this kinda made me want to go to some showings even if I'm not in the market.

[chasing_silver]

Thank you! I love when sellers leave notes about their pets, haha. We will take our kitten with us whenever our buyers come by to do their inspection - I don't trust her not to run outside at the slightest of chances!

[chasing_silver]

They built it themselves and it really shows. The craftsmanship is amazing. Thank you!

[chasing_silver]

It definitely felt as if we were there to visit as opposed to buy it. It was so personalized, and the realtors usually tell you to depersonalize. They didn't, however, and I was kind of glad. They seemed so real to me (in a knowledge way, not in a "these people are of course real" way, lol).

[chasing_silver]

Thank you! <3 I loved that little soot sprite and his bed sister lol.

[chasing_silver]

Honestly it really was the first time I've ever felt that way house hunting! Usually they depersonalize so much (we were told to do so in our home before it sold). These people didn't, and it honestly was so amazing to really "know them" through their things.

[chasing_silver]

Thank you so much! I love the old Pyrex, lol.

[chasing_silver]

We viewed a lot of homes that were totally empty and they seemed so sad to me. I like to see homes that look like homes. Thank you! We love going to showings when we aren't house hunting, too. It's fun to see inside others' homes!

[rayaso]

You're right, viewing a home is kind of an uncanny valley experience. I love that there are already plans for remodelling. Remodelling is its own special kind of hell. Excellent dialog as well.

[erulissedances]

I imagine there was a lot in this that happened to you while you were looking for your new house. If your new one is even half as nice as you just described, it's lovely.

- Erulisse (one L)

PS - I think concrete on the kitchen island is just fine! LOL