MEADOW BROOK COTTAGE (DAY 3, LETTER M)

CHAPTER 3

MEADOW BROOK COTTAGE

Goldwynn rested her palm lightly on the door and it opened a crack ! “Hello! Anyone? Hello, Bears! Lost in the woods. Can I rest here a bit before I'm on my way?” The silence was a heavy veil in the cottage. Perplexed, Goldwynn entered with trepidation.

Perhaps the Bears were out collecting honey and berries…

Meadow Brook cottage slumbered amidst the trees, its sturdy interior brick walls holding a gentle patchwork of pinks, blues, and yellows, like a basket of meadow flowers left to dream in the sun.

The air was gently perfumed with woodsy potpourri while the fireplace sighed a tired wisp from the cherry wood logs.

The Bears were here a while ago…they might return soon....

Goldwynn made her way inside.Winsome furniture crouched on the floorboards facing the fireplace. A sunflower yellow couch with plush bear pillows looked so darling. A round ivory white dining table was flaunted near a sunny window around which comfy chairs huddled. The kitchen counter was sprinkled with crumbs of raisin cookies and sticky drops of mushroom risotto…a messy affair indeed to the otherwise stark tidiness.

A grandfather clock ticked sleepily, its pendulum drooping. The setting sun was a tangerine fireball casting leaf patterns on the bare floor through the lace curtains.

Goldwynn walked over to the honey-gold wood mantel place the surface lovingly smoothed by years of polishing The photos that lounged on it were a cozy jumble of mismatched frames.

A burnished silver frame showcased Papa Koala crushing a bouquet of fragrant eucalyptus.

A rustic frame bordered by pinecones showed Mama —Coco Koala holding a wicker basket of acorns, her round glasses perched on the end of her nose.

A strand of leaf-green yarn trailed from the basket. A dainty, powder pink, lace-trimmed frame tilted precariously, showcasing Tasha Koala giggling with a straw sun hat askew, her tiny paws waving.

And in an old, ornate frame with gilt edges was a young girl with a mischievous grin, wearing a flannel dress with puffy sleeves and a ribbon in her hair. Her eyes sparkled like she'd just pocketed a handful of stars. Goldwynn drew in a sharp breath.

The girl looked like her – same spark in the eyes, same curve of the smile. But... that wasn't her. The dress, the hairstyle, the faded sepia tone... this was older. Much older. The name beneath, in a gilded plate read "Goldilocks".

A shiver skittered down her spine. Great-Grandma GOLDILOCKS!!

The one who had wandered into the woods, found the Bears' cottage, and lived with them for a spell. The one who'd brought back tales of adventures, cookies, and porridge.

Goldwynn's fingers brushed the frame, half-expecting a spark of magic. She felt a flutter in her chest. The woods had a lot to unearth. Her mysterious teleportation here!

To Be Continued....

Image Courtesy:Pinterest

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.

https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/meadow-brook-cottage-day-3-letter-m

Comments

ANAM CARA

The waves are soft and frothy. Laced with gossamer frills tenderly kissing the tips of my toes covered with the grainy sand of the rugged seashore where I'm sitting, wistful. A gust of briny breeze tousles my hair as I gaze as far as my eyes can see. A flock of terns wheel overhead, their sharp, shrill cries punctuating the air as they dive and swoop over the surfs. A lone frigate bird , its crimson belly dazzling like a jewel skims majestically above, its long, slender wings outstretched as it rides the thermals high above the ocean. I absorb the sights and sounds of the late afternoon while absentmindedly scooping seashells beside me. As the afternoon phases, the furthest rim of the ocean is fringed in a gilded hem and the sleepy sun yawns, its dipping glow streaking the sky in a mellow tangerine and warm cherry. As I continue sitting there, the ships and yachts appear --specks of light from the portholes glimmering in the distance, reminding me of the phrase “That ship has sai...

ARIEL AND BLUE-BLOOD SHOES

The waves crashed violently against the craggy mountainside and the moonlight shone on the lacy froths. As I waded through the water and stepped on the wet sand, I remembered another night which was many moons ago. The same glinting lights through the palace doorways and windows, the fireworks adorning the night sky like shooting stars and meteors. A royal celebration with all the works and the guests dressed up in their best finery and aristocratic jewelry. Of noble births they all were. Blue blooded as the matriarch had pointedly told me once. That unholy night! That night of icy hearts and howling laughter, the echoes of cackling that followed me till I ran on wobbly legs to find my place of comfort where the land met water… Hot tears streaming down, I regretted those days when I lost my heart to a man so spineless. Had I not dragged him to the shore, he would have been a mangled mass after being torn apart by the piranhas and other monstrous maws. How I regret…Oh!...

HILANG

Chapter 2 Muay, the Maddening Scamp Seasons had gone by with vibrant autumns and chilling winters. Muay Thai had now become very outgoing and social. On a full moon night, this newly transformed scamp had bounded away on some nocturnal adventure. I waited for her return for almost a week. As I searched high and low for Muay Thai, my heart raced with panic with every passing moment. On one of my search treks, I spotted something that made my blood run cold. Lying on the ground, partially hidden by the underbrush on the curbside, was Muay Thai's collar. The vibrant fuchsia leather was faded and dirty, but the delicate zircon pendant still sparkled in the sunlight and that had caught my attention. Holding it gently in my hands, I examined it for any sign of what might have happened to Muay Thai. But there was nothing - no blood, dried or otherwise. Maybe, just maybe, Muay Thai was still out there, wait...

GATOS MEUS QUERIDOS

Chapter 1 Muay The Warrior Cat Muay Thai came to be called so for the feisty and spirited little thing she was, reminiscent of the intense and energetic martial art of Muay Thai . Her bold personality inspired me to give her a name that reflected her sass and vigor. Muay Thai's antics were the stuff of legends. She was a buzz of energy, always getting into mischief and mayhem. Whether she was chasing invisible bugs, leaping over furniture like an acrobat or wrestling with toys, Muay Thai was a force to be reckoned with. Her favorite pastime was "attacking" my hands and feet, using her lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp teeth. It was a game she loved, and one that always left me in stitches. Despite her tough-as-nails persona, Muay Thai was also a total softie at heart. She loved nothing more than curling up in my lap and purring contentedly, her eyes gleaming with adoration before snoozing into the deepest of sl...

A-Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal

Hey everyone! April is almost upon us and it reminds me of my childhood summer vacations, visiting my cousins in different cities, playing with them and watching movies late into the nights, brunches, more outdoor skips and hops and when the boiling sun drove us indoors, how the tangy, icy lemonade pitchers awaited us. April is also about April showers, new beginnings and of late —the month of blogging! I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating in the A-Z April Blogger Challenge , starting on April 1st! This challenge is all about pushing myself to create new content, connect with fellow bloggers, and have immense fun while doing it. Throughout the month, I'll be posting daily(except on Sundays) on a variety of topics, ranging from personal reflections to mixed random bags of thoughts especially bordering on memoirs and non fiction. That's something I excel in apart from writing fantasy and the paranormal. 2025 will see my blog Sanguine Allegory bustling wit...

Sangeetha Kamath

Search This Blog