A Place to Call Home.

Janie looked out the window and watched as the moving truck drove away all of their furniture. She followed her older sister to the car, and they boarded a sleek Boeing airplane. She asked one question throughout the whole trip. “Are we there yet?” Janie asked her older sister.1

“No, not yet.” she always replied, and Janie went back to looking out the window. They were going to Maryland, to start things over again. They were trying to find to a place to call home. 2

When they arrived, a taxi was waiting and took the two sisters to a small, cozy, cottage. It was made out of brick and had a big garden surrounding it. Rows and rows of flowers were planted along the sidewalks, and the sun reflected upon the house in a way that made it seem to glow. “We’re home.” her sister told her, “We’re home.”3

Janie, unsure of what this meant at the time, gave her older sister a hug and ran into the intriguing house. She began to unpack her things into her new room and looked forward to the days coming.4

Years passed and Janie made new friends. She explored the many gardens and mazes around the house, as well as helping take care of the house. Her sister supported the two by working at a nearby neighbor’s house. Lazy summer evenings were spent outside on the porch drinking lemonade and laying in the setting sun, and chilly winters passed by inside the house next to a warm and greeting fireplace. Was this the place that they would call home?5

One day, the two girls began to pack up their things and head to the airport again. 6

“Where are we going?” Janie asked. 7

“We’re going to start things over, and try to find a place to call home.” she replied.8

“But my home is right here,” Janie pleaded, “Please don’t make me go!” Tears started to form in her eyes and a sob arose from her.9

“We have to go Janie, it’s for the best,” her big sister replied. “Now get in the car and let’s go.” Janie’s sister stepped into the car and waited for her younger sister to recollect herself and head into the car as well.10

Their new ‘home’ was in New York, in a sky rise apartment. It was very luxurious and had a great view. The wall was splashed with an assortment of bold, yet subtle colors, and the bedrooms were large and spacious. But Janie didn’t feel at home. “What if I never make any new friends?” she asked herself. She began to cry again, lost in her new apartment and bedroom.11

Another year passed, and Janie, much older now, began to make many friends and had fun riding on the subway to places outside of the city. These places, like the park, allowed her to explore herself as well as the forest and grass areas of the park. She did very well in school, receiving praise from all of her teachers, and found herself calling New York home. But was it really?12

Then one day, things suddenly changed. As she came home from school one day, she found her sister packing bags once again. Instead of arguing, she started to do the same and obediently got into the car. When they arrived at the airport, Janie looked out one of the large windows and watched as people ran in and out to fill the airplanes with gas. Faces smiled out at her, some people even waved. but Janie could not do the same. She tried to break a small smile, but it ended up becoming a sulking frown. She left, not wanting to bother the people any longer.13

The siblings arrived at a quaint house, surrounded by an engulfing and sparkling lake. The lake buzzed with excitement, and it seemed to call out to the two girls as they stepped out of their sedan. After being greeted by an elderly woman, who turned out to be their grandmother, they headed inside. An eager chocolate Labrador greeted them, and Janie giggled as it licked her hand.14

After unloading her clothes into one of the room’s dressers, Janie descended down the stairs into a warm kitchen. Her grandmother was laughing, and a pleasant smell drifted into the air. Her older sister was laughing and sipping a cup of freshly roasted coffee. Yet, it just didn’t feel right to Janie.15

“Would you like some cookies dear?” she offered. After a moment of hesitation, Janie screamed, “NO, NO, NO!” and ran back up the stairs into the bedroom.16

For the next few days, Janie lay in her bed all day, thinking about what she had left behind so many times before. She snuggled with her stuffed bunny and tried to bring back the memories of laying out in the summer sun and reading all the signs in the subway transits.17

Her grandmother finally came up and embraced her. “You haven’t eaten anything since you got here. What’s wrong?”18

“I miss home,” Janie admitted, tears forming in her eyes again. A small chuckle came from Janie’s grandma.19

“But home is everywhere, Janie; you can’t miss it because it never leaves your side.”20

“What do you mean?”21

“Home is where the heart is, Janie; it’s with you wherever you go.” A small silence filled the room as Janie pondered the words her grandmother spoke.22

“Then I’ve been home all along,” she said, and a smile erupted from her face. She headed down the stairs to get herself some cookies. After washing them down with a tall glass of milk, she laughed, knowing that she was truly at home. And she was right. She had finally found a place to call home. 23