Four Years of Freedom

Four Years of Freedom



By Sarah Kate

These last several years have been wonderful, Maggie thought as she sat on her back porch, drinking an ice-cold glass of lemonade. She smiled as she listened to the most beautiful sound in the world: silence.

Maggie was finally living on her own, without the constant nagging and noise of her family. Other than work, she was free to do whatever she wanted with her time. She had the entire house to herself, and didn’t have to worry about cleaning up after anybody else, but herself.

Independence was a wonderful thing. The last four years had been the best years of her life! College had been a gift from God, even though it had cost her so much money.

DING-DONG!

Maggie frowned and glanced back into the house through her open back door, debating whether or not to answer the front door. She shrugged her shoulders, and leaned back in her chair.

It’s probably just some kid trying to sell me something, she mused, closing her eyes. I’m not getting up for that—

DING-DONG! DING-DONG, DING-DONG!

Maggie growled as the doorbell continued to ring insistently. She jumped to her feet and rushed inside, her lemonade still in her hand. She muttered to herself, “This had better be important!”

Maggie grimaced as the noisy bell continued to ring. She swore to herself as she grabbed the doorknob, if it was indeed someone trying to sell her something, she was going to slap them so hard for making such a ridiculous racket!

She swung the door open, prepared to shout, but her mouth dropped open in surprise when she saw who stood outside her door.

“Kyle? What are you doing here?” She asked in shock. “I thought you were in New York.”

Kyle, a young man in his early twenties, laughed. “I was, but I was having trouble finding a job, and then I ran out of money, so I thought I would come back here and visit you for a while.”

Maggie’s heart sank as she caught sight of Kyle’s truck, stuffed with all of his belongings. She glanced back at his hopeful face and bright smile, and she wondered about his “visit.”

Suspiciously, Maggie asked, “How long were you planning on staying?”

“I don’t know, mom,” Kyle told her with a small chuckle. “Just until I can find a job. Man, it’s hard to get a job in this economy, even with a college degree!”

Maggie shook her head, and stepped aside to let her son inside her sanctuary of four years.

A sanctuary no more, now that her son was moving back in with her after four years away at college.

Maybe the money I spent on college for him wasn’t worth it, after all. Maggie sighed, rolling her eyes as she followed Kyle inside. Well, college was nice while it lasted.

Word Count: 480