THURSDAY LINGERING LOOK AT WINDOWS – WEEK 10

Dawn @ lingeringvisions is the gracious host of the title post.  She doesn’t ask for a story, but, like a song, I felt one coming on.  This window is part of the Barclay Farmstead in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  During my visit I came across several old buildings, a few trails, a park with swings and slides, a wooden bridge, and more. I decided to skulk around and take a few photos.  Then my imagination took over…

“They say she was carrying that basket when she disappeared.”

With a shiver, I turned.  An elderly man, in a long weathered coat, stood beside me.  Apparently he noticed that his silent approach had startled me.    He appeared apologetic,  his eyes almost tear-filled.

“I’m sorry, ” he whispered.

Without waiting for my acknowledgement, he looked toward the basket in the window and continued, softly.

“There were daffodils in the basket when they found it,” he said turning and pointing in the direction of the woods. “She’d been picking them at the time.  On the trail.  On the other side of the bridge.”

I nodded, not sure if I should say anything.

“It was this time of year, 30 years ago,” he continued in his low voice. “Spring. She had beautiful red curls and a green ribbon in her hair.”  He looked at me, still appearing to be near tears.

“Her mother told the authorities that she had asked to gather flowers before going to a friend’s birthday celebration.”  He lowered his eyes. “The basket sits there.  Has all these years.”

I fixed my gaze on the window and tried to picture a red-headed child in her party attire, green bow clipped to her curls.  When I turned, the man had vanished.  I was drawn to the bridge, and as I started to cautiously cross, something in the distance seemed to move between the trees.  Straining to focus, I just couldn’t be sure.

Being a bit put off, I turned to cross back over the bridge when I spotted something slowly waving in the early spring breeze.  There, tied to a rail, was what appeared to be a tattered green ribbon.

Cross the bridge over to Dawn’s lingeringvisions by clicking here for a look at more windows.

Thanks, Dawn.  You are a fabulous host.  And thanks to you for visiting, liking, and commenting.