When Maisie Draws a House

Image of crayons and a drawing of a house.Whenever Maisie draws a house, it’s a square, pointy-roofed affair with four neat windows and a smoking chimney.

We brought her up in a rented terrace. So why this capitalist ideal – this detached manor with lead-lined windows and a wood burning stove?

Is this what she wants?

We bake our bread and visit the community orchard. We even had that talk about the sharing economy, although she was quite sleepy after toddler bounce.

But still she draws people in the windows who are “not mummy and daddy.” I fear she’s putting crayon tenants in there and bleeding them dry.

Mel George lives and writes in Bristol, UK.

Photo Credit: Beret Olsen and Josie Rishniw

One Response to “When Maisie Draws a House”

  1. Emma Corwin says:

    Love how this story brings childhood and parenthood together through the narrator’s observation. And that last line lingers so well. Beautiful work!

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