The Kitchen
Walking through the kitchen again now, but this time with the agent on her left, Charlie sees her Grandparent’s kitchen completely redone. Redesigned to remove the house from its dated appeal, the kitchen was now bespeckled with a white backsplash, the countertops no longer the linoleum of the past but instead a marble white countertop, resembling every kitchen she’s walked into over the last few years. It was all too bright.
“This kitchen was just remodeled by the former owners to make the house a bit more appealing for buyers,” the agent says in her pitch to Charlie. “Of course it comes with cosmetic appeal as well as functional, the appliances are all new and picked to last.”
Charlies understands that she should care about the new appliances and the recent renovations — she knew that the countertops she most recognized could not last forever and that it was unrealistic to believe it would be the same house greeting her 30 years later. But as she swivels the chair, one she can’t actually remember being the same one she sat in all those years ago, she can’t help but notice the smooth rotation around. How instead of only going so far to the right and then centering itself, it goes in one complete circle. How strange.
The agent, Charlie realizes, has been going on and on about the decision making process of the current owners, now talking emphatically about their intentions behind an environmentally friendly setup. “... of course you can’t go wrong with solar power but in such a wooded area of Michigan—”
“How long have the current owners lived here?” Charlie can’t stop herself from interrupting the agent, knowing how little she cares about the sustainability of the house. Wondering what she even does care about when it comes to this house in the woods.
“They’ve lived here for the past 30 years actually,” the Agent replies — if she is taken aback by Charlie’s rudeness, she doesn’t show it. “They really just fell in love with the house and its corner in the woods. They only finally gave it up to be closer to family.” The Agent continues.
“Should we move on? Would you like to see the garage or continue through to the house?”
Garage
“I’d like to see the garage actually,” Charlie replies, suddenly remembering the countless times she pulled into the driveway, straight into the garage. The smell of dryer sheets, the stain of grease from the bikes hanging on the wall. The agent walks over to the door on the right of the kitchen and opens it.
Continue
“I’d like to keep going through the house,” Charlie replies, already moving through the kitchen and under the archway on the left. Not waiting for the Agent to guide her herself.