Childhood Mischiefs In Elizabeth Welch's Home

For many high school students, home feels like a permanent safe haven, but Elizabeth Welch’s house in Winchester, Massachusetts only feels like a temporary destination for her. Andover has usurped the position of primary residence in her life, and her sojourn home on every Sunday never lasts long enough. In her old neighborhood, a new generation has displaced Elizabeth, her twin, and her three older siblings; neighbors put on a façade of kindness as they wait for her family to leave. As Elizabeth drives home, she see these young children frolicking through the trees, playing a complex game fueled by their budding imaginations. She then sees an act of her childhood mischiefs: the familiar paint stain on the sidewalk that her friend spilled four years ago. …show more content…
She both misses and detests her home in Winchester, because it reminds her of the joys she has experienced in her hometown, but it also reminds her that this chapter of her life has ended. Anxiety begins to build up within her as she sits down to start her homework, conversing with her sister and mother. The hours transform into minutes, and she wonders how her twin does not feel apprehensive. Elizabeth knows that she should enjoy the time she has with her family, but balancing two homes is such a daunting task. To Elizabeth, every visit seems to serve as a trivial connection between her house and her beloved dorm. This sanctuary acts only as a brief hiatus in the stresses of everyday life, and she will once again return to