the open house

Here are Tessa and Frances, feeling joyful and not a little unhinged, en route to The Open House.

The Open House is a house that is for sale midway down my mother's block in Lancaster. It has a seemingly permanent sign out front that reads "OPEN HOUSE Sunday 2 - 4 pm." No one lives there now. It is a big beautiful house that features many dead cicadas littered around the front steps for bagging up and inspecting with one's friends. The Open House also boasts a dusty porch swing - situated low enough to be accessed by those with very short legs - the lone item on an otherwise eerily empty front porch. I once watched Gabriel tentatively climb the steps by himself and walk to the swing. He looked so nervous as he swung a little leg up, I wondered which child had double dog dared him to do it.

At a certain point I chaperoned a motley gang of six children (aged almost-two to almost-six) who moved with a great sense of purpose and surprising speed between The Open House and my mother's front porch, collecting bugs and bits of mulch and who knows what else. After that day, whenever I'd begin to suggest a new activity or announce the morning's plans, Frances would quickly jump in and derail it all with: you mean The Open House? I'll get Tessa and Annika!! Let's go!!

They LOVED going to The Open House. At least one parent would watch them running down the street and back so it wasn't completely unsupervised...but still. What a thrill, what freedom! It was like their own hideout, fort, bug-collecting site, and house all rolled into one. No one ever went into the house (except those adults who may have peeked in during the actual Open House, at which point we were back on the road to Annapolis). But something about it belonged to the children, just them, and even though there were a few moments when things threatened to get out of hand, I loved it.

I loved the dirtiness, the wildness, the kid-driven play, the sweaty walks, the too-late bedtimes and too-much ice cream that characterized our week in Lancaster. It was a break from the rules; a time to throw open the windows and doors and let some air in. An open house, indeed!

Here are a few scenes from our open week, hanging out in the neighborhood.

Henry suggested everyone cover their eyes for this shot. I think it works.

Gabriel insisted on perfecting his headstand on the hard cement.

 Boys and their...balloons.

The view from my mom's porch Saturday morning around 9 am.

The view in my mother's next-door neighbors' backyard Saturday afternoon.

Little Annika, running back home from The Open House, with Gabriel close behind.

Happy Gabriel, oblivious to the fact that baby Beatrice is about to swipe his peanut butter and jelly.

On the last day of camp, kids were invited to dress up however they wanted. Frances proudly conceived and assembled this "pirate princess" get up.

A quiet moment in my mother's beautiful living room. (Despite the demands of directing an outdoor Shakespearean comedy, my mother found the time and inspiration to create this adorable butterfly dress during our visit).

 

Happy Tessa.

Creative and big-hearted Leslie (Titania) babysat Gabriel while I worked in the mornings and built the HMS Lala with him on their first day together. Besides a lot of fun, it provided a holding pen for stray toys and curious children during our visit.

Gabriel was gaga for our friend Aidan, at least in part because he generously welcomed this less-than-harmonious duet on one of the first evenings in Lancaster.

Here is darling Agatha in the kiddie pool at Buchanan Park. When we arrived, a beautiful boy with long black hair ran up to me and announced: We live in your old house!! He was right. He does live in our old house.

He told me they still find magnet letters under the refrigerator.

...Are those yours?? Did you play with them?

Yes, we used to.