
Mr. Gibbs


When I pushed the door open, it groaned from a century of rust caked around the orange-colored iron hinges. I immediately heard a skittering and fluttering as forest creatures who had taken up residence in the cabin scurried out of sight and disappeared through small cracks in the walls and floor. An owl flew out the door, its wings making a whooshing sound past my ears.A family of squirrels pushed a shutter open and leaped down to the forest ground. Ravens flew up through the chimney into the darkening sky. A porcupine waddled out from under the single cot, across the floor, and down the front steps. I gave it a wide path, not wanting to be stung by its quills.