Arnold’s 93rd birthday wish was simple but meaningful: to hear his children’s laughter in his home one last time. The table was set beautifully, with fine linens, a golden turkey, and flickering candles casting soft light. But as the hours passed, there was no sound of laughter, just quiet. Then, there was a knock at the door—but it wasn’t who Arnold had been waiting for.
Arnold’s little cottage at the end of Maple Street had seen better days, just like Arnold. The house, now aged and worn, reflected the toll time had taken on both. Arnold sat in his old armchair, the leather cracked from years of use, with Joe, his loyal orange tabby, curled up on his lap. Though his hands were shaky, they moved gently through Joe’s fur, finding comfort in the simple, quiet act of companionship.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the dusty windows, casting a soft glow over the photos on the mantle. The pictures told stories of a life once full of laughter and love. Arnold gazed at the images: Bobby’s cheeky grin and scraped knees, Jenny with her doll Bella, Michael proudly holding his first trophy, Sarah glowing in her graduation gown, and Tommy on his wedding day—so much like Arnold had looked in his younger years.
“The house remembers them, Joe,” Arnold whispered, his voice filled with longing. He ran his finger over old pencil marks on the wall, each one marking a moment from his children’s childhood. These were the milestones he had recorded with Mariam, his late wife. “This one’s from when Bobby thought baseball practice should be inside,” Arnold said with a faint chuckle, wiping away a tear. “Mariam couldn’t stay mad at him. ‘Mama,’ he’d say, ‘I’m just practicing to be like Daddy.’”
The room was quiet now, but Arnold could still hear the echoes of those memories. He could almost feel Mariam beside him, laughing at the same moments. Time had taken so much from him, but it had also given him these cherished memories. In his heart, the laughter of his children still lived on, even though they were no longer there with him.
Arnold’s thoughts drifted to his children, wondering where they were and why they hadn’t come. He missed them terribly, especially on a day like today. His heart ached with the weight of all the years that had passed without them around. But despite the loneliness, Arnold held onto the memories of better times, when his house had been full of life, love, and laughter.
As the evening wore on, Arnold remained in his chair, the soft purring of Joe the only sound. He didn’t know what the future held, but he knew the love and memories of his family would stay with him forever. For Arnold, that was enough.
