Summers+of+Serenity+by+Margot+Pitney

Summers of Serenity
by Margot Pitney

Kayaks glide across the creek. The destination ahead is shadowed by mountains. Sound draws the ear left to rushing waters. Winter has melted, revealing the Buttonwood. Here they’ll dock as they survey the cabin. Prepare for a summer so serene.

Excitement arouses, no longer serene. Kayaks are pulled on land and out of the creek. Children run to open the cabin. Animals are startled by the sudden commotion on the mountain. The health of the mountain, displayed in the Buttonwood. Cool and crisp, down trickles the water.

Darkness falls over the waters. Birds hush and crickets sing, creating an atmosphere even more serene. Nights are spent retelling stories by the Buttonwood. Echoes of nearby families ring out across the creek. Hinting at the approaching night, a cool breeze runs down the mountain, an indication that it is time to retreat to the cabin.

Sun peaks over the windowpane of the cabin. To welcome the morning, a celebratory dip in the water. Afternoons are spent hiking the mountain. The observed surroundings are quiet and serene. Summer continues with giggles that linger around the creek. Salamanders are caught and released under the mossy rocks of the Buttonwood.

A light coating of leaves suffocate the rippling Buttonwood. Pots and pans, rackets and hammocks, all stored securely in the cabin. Left uncrossed for the following seasons is the creek. Blankets of leaves and ice wrap the water. Never has it been more serene. The animals, left to freely roam the mountain.

A mother and her cubs meander down the mountain. To provide relief from their trek, a sip is taken from the Buttonwood. Noticing to their left, a large figure, tall and serene. They explore the grounds of the uninhabited cabin. Dinner is caught in the nearby water. They sit enjoying raw fish from the waters of Pine Creek.

Colder months maintain an environment peaceful and serene with the only sound being that of the water. Owners annually inhabit the mountain to spend their summer along the creek. They close the cabin when a soft coating of leaves engulfs the Buttonwood.